Obituary of Emma L. Nugent

Emma Nugent, age 17, of Iowa City, died suddenly and unexpectedly July 6, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Emma Lore Nugent was born May 5, 2003, in Iowa City, the daughter of Joe and Carmen (Krampe) Nugent. She spent many of her years at St. Mark’s United Methodist church, beginning at the Open Arms daycare center, followed later by Sunday school and confirmation. She was also very active in the church’s youth group, sharing her musical talents and taking part in numerous mission trips. She was especially dedicated to the Mountain T.O.P. Missions in Tennessee, where she and others provided services to needy families in the Appalachia area. As a lifelong resident of Iowa City, Emma attended Longfellow Elementary, Southeast Junior High, and this year was set to graduate as a senior at City High School, where she played flute in the Wind Ensemble and was a section leader in the Little Hawks Marching Band. One of Emma’s greatest passions was playing volleyball. She was a starter on the varsity team at City and played for the Rockets Volleyball Club. She also played on the City tennis team, was a City High Ambassador, earned membership in the National Honor Society, and was recently selected for the Youth Salute Program. Emma loved art and took classes every year she attended City, making many beautiful stained-glass and ceramic pieces. Her biggest life adventure was travelling to Costa Rica with her Spanish class. She and lifelong friend Francesca Brown recently received a C-SPAN Student-Cam award for their climate change video project. In her neighborhood and throughout the Iowa City community, many people knew and loved Emma, especially her friends at school and church, the little ones she babysat for, and the neighbors whose flowers she tended. She adored and will be missed by her cat friends at home, Tiger and Roly, and Rufus, the kitty across the street. Emma was a bright light to her family and friends. She was described as an old soul wise beyond her years, articulate, intelligent, positive, always smiling, willing to help, standing her ground for what is right, fearless, kind to all, and a team player. She planned to pursue a nursing career so she could help others. A life short in years, but so full of love, heart, and soul. Her family includes her parents, Carmen and Joe; brother, Raymond; grandmother, Erika Krampe; and many aunts and uncles and their families, including Paulette Bailey and Bhaskar Gopalakrishnan, Mark and Peggy Pavelka, Kevin and Mary Krampe, Dan and Holly Nugent, Jim Nugent, Karen Johnson and Doug Kruger, Mike and Nancy Nugent, Patricia Gebhardt, Lana Nugent, Judy Rupp, Kay and John Grillot, Ann and Jason Witt, Roy and Nancy McDonnell, Sheri Nugent, Terry and Joanne McDonnell, John and Joellyn McDonnell, Jean Wright, Margaret and Andy Beierwaltes, Bill and Liz McDonnell, and Mary and John Eldracher. She was preceded in death by her great grandmother Emma Holzapfel, after whom she was named; grandfather, Armin Krampe; grandparents Raymond and Helen Nugent; and uncles, Paul Nugent, Dale Nugent, and Bill Wright. Public visitation will be held on Sunday, July 12, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Iowa City from 3 to 7 p.m. A private funeral will be held Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the church. The public is welcome to view the service through a live stream feed from the church (facebook.com/stmarksumcic). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Emma’s memory to Mountain T.O.P. Missions @ P.O. Box 128, Altamont, TN 37301. To share a thought, memory, or condolence with Emma’s family, please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. “Social distancing standards will be in place along with the expectation of all in attendance will be expected to wear a mask. If you arrive without one will be provided to you by the funeral home. Thank you for supporting Emma’s family with your presence and being conscientious in doing so.” Here is a link to watch Emma's service. We appreciate your continued support for her family. https://youtu.be/12nLUkS9Z7M