Marie Z. McNamara
Marie Z. McNamara, 88, of Lancaster, died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Reverend John Sasse officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque. Family and friends may call on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Marie was born on Jan. 22, 1927, to Anton and Rakela (Bruketa) Kruzich. She graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1944 at Mystic High School, Mystic, Iowa. Marie attended nursing school at St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Ottumwa, Iowa, and then began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse. She worked for Medical Associates in Dubuque, Iowa, where she was Dr. Sharpe’s nurse for over 20 years.
Marie married James P. Heying on April 15, 1950, at Nativity Catholic Church in Dubuque, Iowa. Jim preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 1972. She married Edward J. McNamara on Oct. 6, 1976, at Nativity Catholic Church in Dubuque. Ed preceded her in death on Dec. 24, 2011.
Marie was a caring person who enjoyed life, especially boating and camping on the river with Jim and the years she and Ed lived in Arizona during retirement. Marie took very good care of our father, especially in his later years and for that we are forever grateful.
Survivors include her niece, Suzanne (Jim) Roth, Ankeny, Iowa; a nephew, Dr. John (Luann) Maletta, Des Moines; her stepchildren, Bob (Jane) McNamara, Phoenix, Ariz., Noreen (Dan) Welte, Littleton, Colo., Patrick (Connie) McNamara, Baraboo, John (Rose) McNamara, Lancaster, Mary (John) Pipal, Dodgeville; step grandchildren, Catherine (Nick) Cubick, Michael (Jill) McNamara, Ellen (Marcus) DeVere, Elizabeth McNamara, Brendan Pipal, Sara McNamara and Ryan McNamara; step great-grandchildren, Jack and Nora Cubick and Oliver McNamara; a brother-in-law, Frank (Beverly) McNamara, Fitchburg; lifelong good friend, Darlene Kaufmann, Dubuque; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Ida Maletta; half-brother, Tom Kruzich; and half-sister, Jennie Susic.
In lieu of flowers or other items of tribute the family ask that you make a donation to a church or your favorite community charity or hospice organization. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the family.
Online condolences: www.martinschwartzfuneralhomes.com