Elizabeth Ann McGivern, 08 Nov 1924 - 23 Dec 2015

MCGIVERN, SHAULL, BROWN, SYDOR, MALECEK, LUNARDI, BUSS, JACKSON, ROD, OLNEY, HANSEN, SANKO, GANSHERT, EAGLE, RUPPERT, MORALES, MEZA, WAYNE, HANZELKA, KING, SCHUMACHER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 12/31/2015 at 15:57:52

Elizabeth “Bette” McGivern, age 91 of Marengo, Iowa, died Wednesday, December 23, 2015 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral Mass: 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 5, 2016, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Marengo with Fr. Joseph Roost and Fr. Christopher Podhajsky officiating. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Marengo. Visitation: 5 to 8 P.M. Monday, January 4, 2016, Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo with a Scripture Service at 5 P.M. and a Rosary at 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Elizabeth Ann Shaull was born November 8, 1924 in Blairstown, Iowa, the daughter of Clellon Alexander Shaull and Anna Carolyn Brown Shaull. She graduated from Marengo High School in 1942 and received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Bette taught for two years in a one-room schoolhouse.

She married Michael Joseph McGivern on June 13, 1946 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Marengo. The couple raised 10 children. Besides being a wife, mother, and homemaker, Bette worked as a travel agent and was a clerk in the Assessor’s office. She was a wonderful seamstress for over 70 years, providing clothing for her family, including suits and prom dresses. She was known for her quilting, gifting many to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She donated quilts for the annual spaghetti supper at St. Pat’s, and other raffles for friends and associates. It is estimated that she made at least 200 quilts with love and care.
Bette’s devotion to her family was her passion. She was so proud of each and every member and would do anything to help them. Every year, all looked forward to Bette’s Christmas party held in Iowa City. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Marengo, the Altar and Rosary Society, a religious education teacher, and a member of the Marengo Legion Auxiliary.

Bette is survived by her children, Denny (Joyce) of Cedar Rapids, Dan (Cludy) of Iowa City, Patrick (Pam) of Felton, CA, Coleen Sydor of Richmond, KY; Mike (Leigh) of Des Moines, Jack (Vanessa) of Lakeview, Sean (Jennifer) of Hampton, IL, Carol Malecek (Donald) of Fairfax, Marlene Lunardi (Bruce) of Bettendorf, and Nancy Buss (Alan) of Cedar Rapids; 31 grandchildren, Theresa McGivern (Jay Jackson) of Clarion, Erik Rod of Muenster, Germany, Carrie McGivern (John Olney) of Naperville, IL, Megan McGivern Hansen (Jeff) of Schaller, Travis McGivern (Shaena) of Oro Valley, AZ, Ryan McGivern (Susan) of Bettendorf, Jennifer McGivern of Phoenix, AZ, Melissa Sanko (Jeffrey) of Evanston, IL, Amy Rod of New York, NY, Adam Malecek (Allison) of Madison, WI, Katie Ganshert (Ryan) of Bettendorf, Ashley McGivern of Dallas, TX, Brianna McGivern of Marina, CA, Michael McGivern of Iowa City, Brandon Malecek (Julie Eagle) of Tyler, TX, Michaela Ruppert (Jonathan) of Iowa City, Sara Morales (Caesar) of Santa Cruz, CA, Nicole Meza (Luis) of Aptos, CA, Drew Wayne (Natalie) of Bettendorf, Sean McGivern of Iowa City, Bryan McGivern of Ferndale, MI, Jessica Malecek of Cedar Rapids, Phillip Buss of Cedar Rapids, Sydney Lunardi of Bettendorf, Rachel Malecek of Carbondale, IL, Andrew Buss of Cedar Rapids, Synclaire Lunardi of Bettendorf, Anna Buss of Cedar Rapids, Max Lunardi of Bettendorf and John-Paul Buss of Cedar Rapids. 25 great-grandchildren; Trey Jackson, Maya Jackson, Thane Jackson, Delainey Hansen, Tate Jackson, Chayse Hansen, Brogan Ganshert, Kylee Morales. Elena McGivern, Olivia McGivern, Graceyn Hansen, Michael Sanko, William Sanko, Marion McGivern, Ryan Ruppert, Salima Ganshert, Kyler Wayne, Kloey Hansen, Vala McGivern, Jace Ruppert, Payge Hansen, Liam McGivern, Karter Wayne, Hailey Morales and Isaiah Meza; and a sister Carolyn Hanzelka (Dave) of Cedar Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1976, a daughter Colleen in infancy, a granddaughter Kristin McGivern, two sisters, Marlene Shaull and Bonnie King, a brother Lawrence Shaull, and her long-time best friend Dorothy Schumacher.

Kloster Funeral Home
Journal Tribune, Jan 06, 2016, pg 5
The Gazette, Jan 3, 2016, 14a