Mary Elizabeth Schlenk
December 18, 1924 — May 23, 2016
Mary Elizabeth Fairlie Schlenk, 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa died Monday, May 23, 2016, in her home following a short illness. Services: Friday, May 27, 2016 at 10:30 a.m., at Saint Ludmila’s Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. S.W., where friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to service time. Services conducted by the Rev. Dennis Juhl. Friends may also call at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Ave. S.W. on Thursday, May 26, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Burial: Saint John’s Cemetery.
Survivors include her four children, Elizabeth A. Schlenk and husband James D. O’Leary of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kathryn M. Olson of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Joan S. Schlenk and Dennis A. Hill of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and John J. Schlenk and wife Maria H. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; three grandsons, Erik D. Olson and wife Grace Cooper-Olson of Columbus, Ohio, Kyle D. Olson and Hannah J. Reed of St. Paul, Minnesota, Evan J. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; and great granddaughter, Annika L. Olson of Columbus, Ohio. She is further survived by her siblings, Jean Dressler and husband Derald of Fort Madison, Iowa, Elizabeth Munemitsu and husband Saylo of Monte Sereno, California, Patricia Sherman of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donald Fairlie of Fort Madison, Iowa, Nancy Gaynor of San Jose, California, and Thomas Fairlie of San Jose, California.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Schlenk on July 14, 2002; her parents; and her brothers Austin Fairlie, William Fairlie, and Stanley Fairlie.
Mary was born the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Kottenstette Fairlie on December 18, 1924, in Fort Madison, Iowa. She earned a diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in 1948. On August 4, 1951, she was united in marriage to Joseph J. Schlenk, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Madison. Mary worked as a Registered Nurse at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was an active member of Saint Ludmila’s Catholic Church and Saint Monica’s Circle in her younger years. Mary was an avid reader, enjoying fiction and The Gazette.
The family would like to acknowledge the Eucharistic Ministers from St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church who graciously brought Holy Communion to Mary over the last few years. They would also like to thank the Unity Point Health Palliative Care and Hospice Services for the care that was provided. Mary was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Memorials may be made to Saint Ludmila’s Catholic Church.
Please share a memory of Mary at www.murdochfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
Survivors include her four children, Elizabeth A. Schlenk and husband James D. O’Leary of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kathryn M. Olson of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Joan S. Schlenk and Dennis A. Hill of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and John J. Schlenk and wife Maria H. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; three grandsons, Erik D. Olson and wife Grace Cooper-Olson of Columbus, Ohio, Kyle D. Olson and Hannah J. Reed of St. Paul, Minnesota, Evan J. Schlenk of Hudson, Ohio; and great granddaughter, Annika L. Olson of Columbus, Ohio. She is further survived by her siblings, Jean Dressler and husband Derald of Fort Madison, Iowa, Elizabeth Munemitsu and husband Saylo of Monte Sereno, California, Patricia Sherman of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donald Fairlie of Fort Madison, Iowa, Nancy Gaynor of San Jose, California, and Thomas Fairlie of San Jose, California.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Schlenk on July 14, 2002; her parents; and her brothers Austin Fairlie, William Fairlie, and Stanley Fairlie.
Mary was born the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Kottenstette Fairlie on December 18, 1924, in Fort Madison, Iowa. She earned a diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in 1948. On August 4, 1951, she was united in marriage to Joseph J. Schlenk, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Madison. Mary worked as a Registered Nurse at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was an active member of Saint Ludmila’s Catholic Church and Saint Monica’s Circle in her younger years. Mary was an avid reader, enjoying fiction and The Gazette.
The family would like to acknowledge the Eucharistic Ministers from St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church who graciously brought Holy Communion to Mary over the last few years. They would also like to thank the Unity Point Health Palliative Care and Hospice Services for the care that was provided. Mary was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Memorials may be made to Saint Ludmila’s Catholic Church.
Please share a memory of Mary at www.murdochfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
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