Mary Lapke

Mary Ann (Gross) Lapke was born January 30, 1943, to Alban and Lavina (Kaufmann) Gross in Harlan, Iowa. She grew up in Earling, Iowa and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in 1961. Mary Ann then attended Mercy Nursing School in Council Bluffs and then Creighton University and received a degree as a Registered Nurse. Mary Ann married Ed Lapke on December 29, 1964, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Mary Ann worked at Little Flower Haven Nursing Home for a short time right after she was married and then as the kids got older she worked part time at the Dunlap Nursing Home before she became the nurse at the Dunlap Public School in 1979, where she was still working.

Mary Ann was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, and Altar Society. She taught CCD classes and coordinated this program for many years. Mary Ann also looked after a number of people around the community. Mary Ann's joys in life were her faith in God, being a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Mary Ann was a giving person and always wanting to help everyone.

Mary Ann died on Monday, November 6, 2006, in Dunlap, Iowa attaining the age of 63 years, nine months, and seven days.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her father, Alban Gross and her nephew, Chad Erlbacher. She is survived by her husband, Ed Lapke of Dunlap, IA; three sons, Chuck (Michelle) Lapke of Overland Park, KS, John (Kari) Lapke and Tim (Jamie) Lapke all of Logan, IA; two daughters, Susan (Kris) Walski of Logan, IA, Jennifer (Steve) Puck of Dunlap, IA; ten grandchildren; her mother Lavina Gross of Earling, IA; eight siblings, Joan (Bill) Erlbacher of Earling, IA, Kathleen (Tom)Leuschen of Flower Mound, TX, Duane (Liz) Gross of Omaha, NE, Damian Gross of Logan, IA, Dean Gross of Cedar Rapids, IA, Declan (Gayla) Gross of Earling, IA, David Gross of Des Moines, IA, Jeanne (Tom) Filby of Omaha, NE; and many other relatives and friends

Mass of Christian Burial
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Dunlap, Iowa
Thursday, November 9, 2006, at 10:30 am

Celebrant Rev. Paul Strittmatter

Organist Marilyn Grote

Vocalists St. Patrick's Choir

Pall Bearers
Duane Gross Damian Gross Dean Gross
Declan Gross Dave Gross Bill Erlbacher

Final Resting Place
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Dunlap, Iowa

Memorials may be made to the Mary Ann Lapke Memorial Fund.

Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap was in charge of arrangements.