Muriel Ellen Brenneman Gingerich 1915-2003

MORROW, WELLS, BRENNEMAN, GINGERICH

Posted By: Lori Clark (email)
Date: 3/5/2003 at 08:56:49

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service – Iowa City – 319-338-1132

Iowa City Press Citizen – Paid & Picture
Cedar Rapids Gazette – Paid & Picture
Kalona News
Wellman Advance

Iowa City Dateline:

Muriel (Brenneman) Gingerich age 87, formerly of 3042 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City died Saturday, March 1, 2002 at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Coralville following a short illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2003 at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with Reverend Judy Gingerich officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Wednesday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Muriel’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for Muriel’s family through our website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Muriel Ellen Gingerich was born March 22, 1915 near Tuthill, South Dakota, oldest child of Alfred Douglas Wells and Eudora (Morrow) Wells, where her parents were homesteaders and she attended a rural school with Native American children. In returning to Iowa in 1921, she attended Wellman High School and was prominent in many singing parts and declamatory work. She graduated in 1932 and began work for the Wellman Mutual Telephone Exchange. On January 9, 1934, she married Joseph W. Brenneman in the Methodist Church in Illinois City, Illinois. The newlyweds settled in Kalona where Joe worked the Grecian Filling Sation. In 1936, they moved to 900 Clark Street in Iowa City. Joe then began a career as a custom carpenter for more than 40 years. Muriel worked for 20 years for the Hamburg Inn and in 1964, she changed careers and attended the Univesity of Iowa School of Nursing. After graduating from their LPN Nursing Program she began a career with Mercy Hospital in Iowa City lasting over ten years. In June 1972, Joseph Brenneman died. In November of 1973, she married Clifton Wayne Gingerich of Kalona who was an employee of the University of Iowa in the Dental College. In 1993 they moved to Autumn Park Apartments where Muriel lived until entering Lantern Park in August 0f 2002. Together they attended East Union Mennonite Church until Clifton’s death on February 24, 1998.

Her family includes her daughter Karen (Brenneman) Semler and her husband, Leo W. Semler of Coralville, and two grandsons, Shane and his wife, Lisa Semler, and Shannon Semler all of Coralville. Second Daughter, Kathy (Brenneman) Carney and her husband, Edward Carney of Iowa City; grandson, Erik Mickalson, of Iowa City; sister, Neva Nelson, of Warner Robins, GA and a niece,Gwen Greshan,and nephew Richard Nelson both of Georgia.

Muriel was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and a brother, Everett Wells.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Muriel’s family and her services.