Poepsel, Ruth Edna (1932 - 2017)

POEPSEL, MERTENS, KEMP, REED, WESTBROOK, MCKINNEY, MILLER, MCCARR, LUTTENEGGER, KASHER, HOLTKAMP

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/13/2017 at 13:46:38

Name of deceased: Ruth Edna Poepsel (nee Mertens)

Aged: 85 yrs, 2 mo, 7 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Aug. 30, 1932; Houghton, IA

Died: Nov. 6, 2017; CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital, Omaha, NE

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017; St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, IA

Survived by: Children, Patricia (spouse, Richard) Kemp of Omaha, NE, Kathryn (spouse, Matthew) Reed of Spring, TX, James (spouse, Linda) Poepsel of Houston, TX, Susan (spouse, Forrest) Westbrook of Spring, TX, Francis (spouse, Tracy McKinney) Poepsel of Council Bluffs, IA, John Poepsel of Katy, TX, and Sara Poepsel Miller of Harlan, IA; siblings, Dorothy (spouse, James) McCarr of Lemont, IL, Sr. Bernice Mertens of St. Francis, WI, Joann Luttenegger of Bettendorf, IA, Leroy Mertens of West Burlington, IA, Mary Jean (spouse, Jack) Kasher of Omaha, NE, and William (spouse, Joyce) Mertens of Central City, IA; 8 grandchildren; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Henry Christian and Ellen (nee Holtkamp) Mertens; husband, Jim; daughter, Mary Poepsel; sister, Lorraine Mertens

Education: Graduated from Mt. Pleasant (IA) High School, Class of 1950

Religious affiliation: Devout member, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA

Military service: n/a

Marriage: James Francis Poepsel; Aug. 17, 1957; location not provided

Employment: Worked at a bank in Mt. Pleasant, IA until her marriage; years later, Edna and Jim bought the Dairy Sweet in downtown Harlan, IA, which Edna continued to operate for many years after Jim’s death (in 1980).

Hobbies/Interests: playing Bingo; reading; gardening; spending time with family and friends

Sources: harlanonline.com; burmeisterjohannsen.com