Obituaries : Marie Happel

Marie Doris Happel, 88, died Sunday, July 19, 2015, at her Van Horne residence following a sudden illness. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Stephen's LCMS Cemetery, near Atkins, with the Rev. David Lingard officiating.

Marie was born Oct. 11, 1926, near Van Horne, to Paul and Emma (Boettcher) Happel and was baptized on Nov. 31, 1926. On March 17, 1940, she was confirmed by the Rev. William Ullerich in St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne. Following graduation from Van Horne High School in May 1944, she commenced working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Cedar Rapids. On Oct. 15, 1982, because her department was transferred to Des Moines, Marie chose to retire, moving back full time to Van Horne. In December 1982, she became a member and active volunteer of St. Andrew's LCMS Missionary Society. She was installed as treasurer in 1992 and continued in that office until July 2000. From Jan. 1, 1984 to Dec. 31, 2002, she was an officer and active volunteer for the Van Horne Aid Association for Lutherans. She was a member of Telephone Pioneers of America.

Marie is survived by her brother, Melvin (Maxine) Happel and sister-in-law, Luanna Happel; nephews, Gary Happel, Bill (Chris) Happel and Jeff (Angela) Happel; and nieces, Carol (David) Prather, Cindy Happel and Stephanie Phelps.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Happel.