Obituary of Mayme L. Kerf

Mayme L. Kerf, age 74, of 911 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City died on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a lengthy illness. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2004 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a vigil prayer service at 8:00 p.m. at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Memorials may be given to Pathways Adult Day Health Center, 817 Pepperwood Ln, Iowa City, Ia 52240 or Hospice of Iowa City, 1025 Wade St. Iowa City, Ia 52240. Online condolences may be sent to family at www.gayandciha.com. Mayme Louise Brownell was born on January 27, 1930 in Iowa City, the daughter of Jesse Dean and Cora Piening Brownell. She spent her early childhood growing up in Iowa City and later moving with the family to a farm northeast of Maynard, Ia in March of 1938 where she attended grade school. In 1944 the family moved back to their home in Iowa City where she completed her schooling at Iowa City City High School. She graduated in 1948 and later married Donald J. Kerf on September 7, 1948 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Mayme and Donald made their home in rural southeast Iowa City. They began their family and together they ran the family farm operation. Mayme had many and various talents; she was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. Family was the most important part of her life and enjoyed spending time with them. She would help Donald on the farm, she could fix farm equipment, build bird houses and doll houses. Mayme enjoyed dancing, playing cards, reading, gardening, sewing, embroidery, making Barbie and Cabbage Patch clothes and collecting bells. After Mayme suffered a massive stroke in August 2001, she enjoyed spending time at Pathways Adult Day Health Center. She continued to enjoy her days with friends reading, enjoying her flower gardens, watching her backyard feathered friends and cruising around in her electric wheels. She was a friend to everyone she met and she will be missed by her family and friends. Mayme was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the River Valley Club. Her family includes her husband, Donald of Iowa City, children; Linda Davis of Richmond, Robert (Elaine) Kerf of Lone Tree, Lawrence Kerf of Iowa City, Daniel (Barb) Kerf of Iowa City, Jacqueline (Jimmy) Miller of Wellman, thirteen grandchildren; Greg Davis of San Jose, CA, Jeff Davis of Wellman, Candy Axeen of Williamsburg, Darin Kerf and Ronda Elsberry of Des Moines, Chris Kerf of Dubuque, Jennifer Miller of West Branch, Jessica Miller and Jeremy Miller of Wellman, Kelly Kerf of Iowa City, Gary Kerf, Jennifer Kerf, and Shavaun Kerf of Sioux Falls, SD, ten great-grandchildren, a twin sister Maye Gilmore of Davenport, sister Jean (Truett) Hudson of Texarkana, TX, along with numerous niece and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and an infant grandchild. The Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service are caring for Mayme’s family and her services.