Iowa County Obituaries – Sept. 2, 2010

Irene Gaffey, 87

Irene Ann Gaffey, 87, Belle Plaine, formerly of the Holbrook area, died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center following a short illness.

Private burial will be held at a later date.

A memorial fund has been established.

Hrabak Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gaffey is survived by one son, Tim Gaffey, Belle Plaine; one daughter, Karen Gaffey, Tiffin; one granddaughter, Kiera Gaffey; one brother, Frank Horwath, Walton Hills, Ohio, and two sisters, Mary Kaider, Uniontown, Pa., and Margaret Thomas, Jappa, Md.

She was preceded in death by her parents and several siblings.

Martha Moffit, 92

Celebration of life service for Martha E. Moffit, 92, North English, was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, North English. She died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at the English Valley Care Center, North English.

The Rev. Edwin Jordan officiated at the service.

Burial was in Piersol Cemetery, North English.

A general memorial fund has been established.

Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Martha Ella Moffit was born Jan. 6, 1918, the daughter of George W. and Bessie (Aggson) Denison, in the Green Valley area east of North English. She attended a rural school in Fillmore Township.

She married Wayne W. Moffit April 10, 1938, in Lancaster, Mo. The couple lived and farmed in the Green Valley area until moving to North English in August of 2006. They spent the winters in Yuma, Ariz., for many years until the drive got to be too much for them. Then they spent their time traveling to casinos and going out to eat.

She always had a big garden and loved to cook for anyone who would come to eat with them. It was always a six-course meal. When she was on the farm, she baked every day.

Moffit is survived by one son and his wife Robert E. and Gay Moffit; three granddaughters and their husbands, Debbie and Clay Toler, Glen Alan, Va.; Sherrie and Ron Maschmann, Millersburg, and Kristi Hargis, Council Bluffs; 12 great-grandchildren, Carrie Knipfer, Harper; Steven Knipfer, Ottumwa; Ryan Knipfer, Wessington Springs, S.D.; Megan Hall, Mechanicsville, Va.; Trenton Forrest, North English; Danielle Weldon, Glen Alan, Va.; Jeannie Hargis, Jessica Hargis, Janna Hargis, Council Bluffs; Rhonda Waters, Iowa City; Renee Maschmann, Coralville, and Michelle Koehn, North English; nine great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley Garringer, Williamsburg, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, four years to the day; her parents; two sisters, Sarah Moffit and Helen Denison, and two brothers, George S. and Ross Denison.

Marian Gaffey, 87

Mass of Christian Burial for Marian Gaffey, 87, Iowa City, was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Iowa City. She died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, at Iowa City Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.

The Rev. Thom Hennen officiated at the service.

Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Iowa City.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Regina Foundation.

Lensing Funeral Service, Iowa City, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Marian Gaffey was born Oct. 27, 1922, in Iowa City, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Brack) Halsch. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Iowa City.

She married Seth Mann Jr. in July of 1945. He died in November of 1946.

She married Robert Gaffey in June of 1951 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Iowa City. She spent most of her life as a homemaker and an attentive spouse.

She enjoyed embroidering, baking, tending to her flower garden, canning and spoiling her grandchildren. The family has fond memories of many family vacations.

She was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Iowa City Health Care and Rehabilitation for their care and support over the past four years.

Gaffey is survived by her husband; her children and their spouses, Susan Wolf, Davenport; Michael and Donna Gaffey, JoAnn Gaffey, Martin and Mary Gaffey, Timothy and Mary Ann Gaffey and James and Sally Gaffey, all Iowa City, and Jayne and Paul Brogan, Coralville; one sister, Catherine Mattes, Washington; one sister-in-law, Helen Halsch, Cosgrove; grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Iona Mann; one brother, Joseph Halsch, and one son-in-law, Donald Wolf.

Mary Rank, 87

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary J. Rank, 87, Williamsburg, formerly of Deep River, was held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, North English. She died Monday, Aug. 23, 2010, at Highland Ridge Care Center, Williamsburg.

The Rev. Joseph Roost officiated at the service.

Burial was in in Armah Cemetery near North English.

Memorials may be made for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Armah Cemetery.

Powell Funeral Home, North English, was in charge of arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com, under obituaries.

Mary June Rank was born June 15, 1923, near Central City, the daughter of Elias Johannes and Irene (Miller) Thompson. She graduated from Central City High School in 1940.

She married Lloyd Jacob-Carl Rank Aug. 13, 1955, in Cedar Rapids. They farmed near Deep River until moving to Highland Ridge in 2005.

She worked for Rockwell Collins, Wilsons and Holden’s throughout her lifetime. She and her husband hosted many foreign exchange students over the years.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, North English. She was instrumental in founding the Cattlemen’s Association Cowbelles of Iowa County, where she was a district director and held the title of Cowbelle of the Year.

She was a 4-H leader, a great pianist and a seamstress. She and her husband enjoyed numerous vacations in many countries around the world. They also enjoyed attending the Iowa State Fair.

Rank is survived by her children and their spouses, Paul and Gina Rank, rural Deep River; Sandra and Michael Cobb, North English, and Karl Rank and girlfriend Tressa Burch, Norway; two granddaughters, Stephanie and Desta Rank.

She was preceded in death by her husband, in December of 2008; her parents and one sister, Louise Roberg.

Virginia Peterson-Engel, 80

Celebration of life service for Virginia L. Peterson-Engel, 80, Williamsburg, was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at First Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg. She died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Marengo Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Kip Murphy officiated at the service. Organist was Helenka Claypool and vocalist was Brian Jones.

Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Williamsburg. Casket bearers were Brandon Peterson, Mark Steckly, Scott Thompson, Dan Bruck, Steven Myers, Mehdi Zadeh and J.D. Myers.

Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church and the dialysis unit at Marengo Memorial Hospital.

Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Williamsburg, was in charge of arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhome.com, under obituaries.

Virginia Lee Peterson-Engel was born July 14, 1930, in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Alice Marie Kruse Jones. She graduated from Sundeen High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1946. She grew up in Texas and lived in several communities after she was married.

She married Keith Duane Peterson Jan. 19, 1946, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He preceded her in death.

She married John T. Engel Oct. 27, 1996, in Burlington. She worked for an electronics firm where she was a supervisor in quality control and an assistant engineer.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg; the Presbyterian Women’s Association; the Parnell American Legion, the VFW Auxiliary, Eastern Star and Red Hat Society.

She enjoyed shopping, golfing, bowling, playing cards, laughing and most of all, her family.

Peterson-Engel is survived by her husband; one daughter-in-law, Donna Peterson, Williamsburg; three daughters and their husbands, Pamela and Paul Thompson, Geneseo, Ill.; Marsha and James Mazour, West Des Moines, and Deborah and Brian Myers, Madrid; five stepchildren and their spouses, Ken and Schal Engel, Williamsburg; Nancy Engel, Edina, Minn.; Dr. Mike and Chris Engle, Richmond, Va; David and Jane Engel, Marshalltown, and Jan and Scott Evans, Ft. Collins, Colo.; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren; one sister and her husband, Lydia and Tom Clendening, Trinidad, Texas; one brother, Harold Jones, Texas; one brother-in-law and his wife, the Rev. Oren and Patricia Peterson, Des Moines, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Keith Duane Peterson Jr., and one sister-in-law, Adella.

Iris Siske, 88

Memorial service for Iris Siske, 88, Marengo, was held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. She died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at Rose Haven Nursing Home, Marengo, following an extended illness.

Delbert Rankin officiated at the service.

Inurnment was in the Marengo Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus.

Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Iris Rosalie Siske was born  Nov. 25, 1921, in McCune, Kan., the daughter of George F. and Lina D. Scales Walters. She graduated from Cherokee High School, Cherokee, Iowa, in 1940. She attended Paris Academy in Cedar Rapids and received a degree in cosmetology.

She worked for Paris Beauty Shop and also operated her own shop in Cedar Rapids.

She married Oscar Earl Peek in 1945 in Marengo. He died in 1966.

She married Glenn Siske in 1968 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua. He died in 2001.

She enjoyed quilting, sewing and crocheting. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Siske is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Linda Rosalie and Gary Guehrn, Quincy, Wash., and Debra Ann and Michael Stockman, Oxford; five grandchildren, Brett Guehrn and wife Kelli, Quincy; Candice Guehrn, Spokane, Wash.; Aaron Guehrn, Spokane; Christopher Stockman, Des Moines, and Suzanne Stockman Coen and husband Mathew, Des Moines; four great-grandchildren, Ian and Austin Coen, Des Moines; Makaylah Guehrn, Spokane, Wash., and Hayden Guehrn, Quincy; one sister, Darlene Bral and one brother, Ervin Walters, both Marengo.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, two sisters, Lina Bigbee and Baunetta Watson; one brother, Farel Richard, in infancy, and one sister, Clarice Nadine, in infancy.