SURMA, Grace Marie (Mantel) 1935-2016

SURMA, MANTEL, DEJONG

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 5/10/2016 at 13:38:41

Born: January 17, 1935
Place of Birth: Rock Rapids, Iowa

Death: April 12, 2016
Place of Death: Des Moines, Iowa

Occupation: Homemaker

Doon, Iowa - Grace M. Surma, 81, of Doon, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Rock Valley, Iowa with Father Bruce Lawler officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery of Doon. Visitation, with family present, will be Friday, April 22, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. with a prayer service following at 7:30 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Grace Marie Surma, daughter of Jacob and Henrietta (DeJong) Mantel, was born January 17, 1935 at Rock Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Doon High School. Following graduation, she spent time as a waitress for Wally Fie.

On August 12, 1957 Grace was united in marriage with Stanley Surma at Sacred Heart Church of Alvord, Iowa. Together the couple made their home in Doon where Grace helped Stan operate Stan’s Shoe Store as the bookkeeper while also raising their six children. Grace also spent four years as a dedicated nurse’s aide at Lyon Manor in Rock Rapids. Grace enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, and doing needle work. She loved coffee time with dear friends and cherished the time she spent with her children and grandchildren.

Grace is survived by her six children; Carl Surma of Doon, Mary (John) FitzGibbon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Penny Toay of Waverly, Iowa, Eva Lowerre of Butler, Pennsylvania, Amy Surma of Creston, Iowa, and Joseph (Patricia) Surma of Waterloo, Iowa; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Jacob (Marty) Mantel of Redlands, California; two sisters, Iona Reid of Starkville, Mississippi and Lois (Tom) Elzinga of Zeeland, Michigan; and brother-in-law, Don Aardema.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Henrietta; husband, Stan; sister, Mary Ann Aardema; son-in-law, Douglas Toay; her mother and father-in-law, Marie and Red Kopp; and brother-in-law, Arnie Reid.

Source: Porter Funeral Home