Holly Wurtele
January 3, 1943 — June 25, 2019
Holly Wurtele, 76, resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went home to be with the Lord on June 25, 2019. Per Holly’s wishes, cremation has taken place. No services are planned at this time; however, the date of a Celebration of Life is to be determined. A private family burial will take place at a later date at Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements made by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.
Holly was born to the late Myrtle and Harold Rice on January 3, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in numerous places after the family moved from St. Louis. Holly first lived in Colorado, then New Mexico and finally settled in Arizona after finishing high school. She married after high school and ended up raising two sons as a single mom. Holly worked numerous jobs from waitress to taxi driver, and even a dog catcher, while still managing to take care of her sons. She had a passion for crafts and made and sold jewelry for a number of years. She also had a gift for making others feel special and could cheer you up with her great sense of humor. Holly loved the outdoors and spent her summers growing flowers and watching her birds.
Holly met Jay Wurtele in Arizona in 1992. After their marriage in 1992, they returned to Jay’s home in Cedar Rapids where they spent 27 wonderful years together.
She is preceded in death by her sons, Brian and John; brothers, John and Bill; and nephew, Fury John.
She is survived by her husband, Jay; son, Craig (Rhoda) Taylor; step-son, Ryan (Jamie) Wurtele; step-daughter, Dawn Marie (David) Ellis; sister, Linda (Pete) Test; brother, Craig (Catherine) Rice; grandchildren, Jessica Frew, Megan Taylor, Kayden Wurtele and Cheyenne Wurtele; along with many nieces and nephews.
Holly was born to the late Myrtle and Harold Rice on January 3, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in numerous places after the family moved from St. Louis. Holly first lived in Colorado, then New Mexico and finally settled in Arizona after finishing high school. She married after high school and ended up raising two sons as a single mom. Holly worked numerous jobs from waitress to taxi driver, and even a dog catcher, while still managing to take care of her sons. She had a passion for crafts and made and sold jewelry for a number of years. She also had a gift for making others feel special and could cheer you up with her great sense of humor. Holly loved the outdoors and spent her summers growing flowers and watching her birds.
Holly met Jay Wurtele in Arizona in 1992. After their marriage in 1992, they returned to Jay’s home in Cedar Rapids where they spent 27 wonderful years together.
She is preceded in death by her sons, Brian and John; brothers, John and Bill; and nephew, Fury John.
She is survived by her husband, Jay; son, Craig (Rhoda) Taylor; step-son, Ryan (Jamie) Wurtele; step-daughter, Dawn Marie (David) Ellis; sister, Linda (Pete) Test; brother, Craig (Catherine) Rice; grandchildren, Jessica Frew, Megan Taylor, Kayden Wurtele and Cheyenne Wurtele; along with many nieces and nephews.
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