Margaret Lynch Nusser

NUSSER, PETERSEN, LYNCH, PARKER, BOYD, KING, RIZZO, ROSSIO

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 7/3/2009 at 14:59:44

Margaret Lynch Nusser, 79, of, Iowa City, died Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, of cancer.

Margaret was born on October 18, 1925, the daughter of the late Eugene B and Mamie (Petersen) Lynch, in Odebolt, Iowa. After graduating from high school in Sigourney, Iowa, she attended the University of Iowa, earning a B.S. degree. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and Alpha Lambda Delta honorary fraternity. Margaret attended medical school at UI until an occurrence of cancer sidelined this career aspiration.

Margaret married William G. Nusser in Red Oak, Iowa on July 18, 1948, residing first in Coralville, moving to Iowa City in 1958. She worked as a research assistant in the zoology and psychiatry departments until 1950, and published a research paper in psychiatry and pharmacology in 1952. While raising her family, Margaret was involved in University Club, Nineteenth Century Club and P.E.O. Chapter HI, having served for one year as treasurer for the state convention. She served as a volunteer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from the inception of its program in 1972. In 1975 she became a patient representative at the UIHC, and served as an administrator and as director at various times until her retirement in 1988. After her retirement, she continued to volunteer at the hospital.

Margaret was involved as a volunteer at the First Presbyterian Church where she assisted in many activities including the Free Lunch program. She was ordained Elder of the church in 1989. Most recently, Margaret was enrolled in Senior College with several friends who would meet for lunch and compare notes after every class.

Margaret is survived by her four children: Mary Nusser and her husband, Rick Parker, of Fort Collins, Colorado and their children Sarah Nusser, Madeline Nusser, and Rich and his wife Christa Parker and their son Ethan Parker; Bill Nusser Jr.and his wife, Betsy Boyd, their children Ross and Charlie Nusser of Iowa City; Sarah Nusser and her husband, Michael King, their children Laura and Ben King of Ames, Iowa, and Anne (Nusser) and Matthew Rizzo and their children Ellie and Frannie Rizzo of Iowa City; her sister Harriet Rossio and her husband Robert of Bend, Oregon. Her husband preceded her in death.

She leaves behind her long-time family friend Otty Blodi, Otty’s children Christopher Blodi and Barbara Blodi and their families, and her beloved friends from her 55-year-old bridge club and her walking group.