Mary Ropp

A memorial service for Mary Elva (Swartzendruber) Ropp, 80, of Kalona, will be held Monday, August 3, 2015 at 10:30 AM at Sunnyside Conservative Church in Kalona with Pastor Floyd Helmuth and Chaplain John King officiating.  A private burial will be held prior to the service.  Visitation will be held Sunday, August 2, 2015 from 2 – 8 PM at Sunnyside Conservative Church.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Pleasantview Home. Mary Elva Ropp died Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospital.

Mary Elva Ropp was born July 25, 1935 in Wellman, Iowa the daughter of Elmer G. and Mary (Bender) Swartzedruber.  She graduated from Iowa Mennonite School and attended Eastern Mennonite College for one year.  Mary Elva graduated from Mercy School of Nursing with a degree in nursing and was a registered nurse.  She worked at Mercy Hospital for several years.  Mary Elva and Vernon Ropp were united in marriage on September 5, 1959 at Upper Deer Creek Church.  She was a member of Upper Deer Creek and later Sunnyside Conservative Church, where she taught Sunday school and Bible school.  Mary Elva served on the Pleasantview Board of Directors and as a tour guide for the Kalona Historical Society.  She enjoyed pieceing quilts, reading, word puzzles, table games and spending time with her family, children and grandchildren.  Mary Elva was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and especially enjoyed entertaining people in her home.

Survivors include her husband Vernon of Kalona, three children: Steve (Kathy) Ropp of Iowa City, Sonda (Mike Uitermarkt) Reinartz of Tiffin, Marla (Perry) Hess of Bettendorf, six grandchildren: Matt (Rachel) Ropp, Jason (Elizabeth) Ropp, Nicole (Nathan) Elliott, Ben Reinartz, Alex Hess, Jake Hess, two sisters: Edith Nisly, Ethel (Henry) Miller and brother Ellis (Ila) Swarztendruber all of Kalona.

Preceding Mary Elva in death were her parents, two sisters: Mildred Graber and Effie Miller and one brother Morris Swartzendruber.