Matina Paraskavee PREFTAKES

PREFTAKES, PARASKAVEE, DRIVAS, RUTH, MYERS, POTTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/6/2011 at 02:16:43

November 5, 1929 --- June 1, 2011

Des Moines, IA -- Matina "Tina" Paraskavee Preftakes passed away peacefully on June 1, 2011. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2011 at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 5 at Iles Funeral Homes - Dunn's Chapel. Cremation will take place following the service and private burial will be in the Plymouth Church Memorial Gardens.

Tina was born in Clarion, Iowa on November 5, 1929 to Cosmos and Athanasia (Drivas) Preftakes. She graduated from Clarion High School in 1948 and the University of Iowa in 1952 with a degree in Communications. After college, she moved from Clarion to the big city - Des Moines, and began a 42 year career with the Iowa Medical Society (IMS). Her first job with the IMS was producing a live television show featuring Iowa doctors in practice situations. She then moved into various executive positions - retiring as Assistant Executive Vice President. Tina was honored many times by IMS physicians for her service and dedication to Iowa doctors. After retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her legion of friends, volunteering, playing bridge, trying her luck at the slot machines and traveling to Texas to visit her family.

Tina is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Demetra Preftakes Ruth. She leaves behind a brother-in-law, Phillip Ruth; nephew, Paul Cosmos Ruth; her niece and namesake, Matina Ruth Myers (Jim); Deb and Don Potter; "the ladies" and many friends who were in her life for decades. We will miss Tina's fun sense of humor, her optimism and her unconditional friendship and love.

The family would like to thank Bruce Hughes, MD, Lazaro Rabang MD, and the staff at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center for their compassionate care. Memorial contributions may be made to Plymouth Congregational Church Foundation, Food Bank of Iowa or the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center Foundation.

Des Moines Register - Iowa
June 6, 2011