Obituary of R. Erdine Northup

R. Erdine Northup, 88 of Iowa City died Monday, June 13, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 17, 2011, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City, with burial at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. A memorial fund has been established in her memory. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Erdine was born February 9, 1923, in Waukon, Iowa, moving to Iowa City as a child with her family she attended schools here. She was united in marriage to Vincent J. Northup on January 11, 1942, in Seattle, WA, while Vincent was serving in the United States Army. Following his service, Erdine and Vincent returned to the family farm in Nodaway, Iowa located in Southwest Iowa, started their family and farmed there until 1956. After 1956 they moved to the Holbrook area and farmed there until 1964. She began a career with the former Owens Brush Company when they established a new plant here. Some thirty years later, she retired from what is now known as Oral B. Erdine worked hard at her job, cared for her family, enjoyed traveling all around this country camping with Vincent and their children, and as she became a Grandmother, loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren like only Big Ma could! Her family includes her daughter, Tricia Blank of West Branch; grandchildren, Jennifer Hovancik of Iowa City, Nick Blank and his wife, Chelsea of West Branch; and Bob Blank of West Branch; and two great granddaughters, Katelynn and Madison Hovancik. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Vincent, son, Robert Northup; a grandson, Aaron Blank; and her sister, Ethel Bebee.