Obituary of Wilma Scarpellino

Wilma Scarpellino, 87 of 941 22nd Avenue, Coralville died Sunday, August 3, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City after a brief illness. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. A memorial fund has been established in Wilma’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Wilma was born March 30, 1921, in Waterloo, Iowa the daughter of Carl and Emma (Manske) Larsen. Her family moved to Iowa City when she was four years old, where she attended Horace Mann Elementary, Central Jr. High and graduated with the second class to graduate from the current City High School in 1941. She attended business college here and then worked for Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric where she was responsible for all of the records for Iowa City. She met Phil Scarpellino in the fall of 1951 after a Hawkeye football game. They were married the following spring on April 19, 1952. The family has resided in a number of places over the years including Cedar Rapids, where their son was born, Council Bluffs, Iowa City, Phoenix, AZ, St. Peters, MO, and following the death of her husband in 1989, she returned to this area with her son and his family to Coralville in 1996. Wilma was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose independence and determination will live on through her family. Her family includes her son, Chris of Coralville; daughter-in-law, Martha Scarpellino of Iowa City; grandchildren, Lecia Castillo (Hondo) of Iowa City and Joe Scarpellino of Iowa City; great-granddaughter, Yahaira; sister, June Brender of Iowa City; sister & brother-in-law, Pat and Leo Connolly of Tucson, AZ; and a large number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her mother-in-law, Ruth Scarpellino, at the age of 105 earlier this year, and various aunts and uncles. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Wilma’s family and her services.