Linda Rae Marple

Linda Rae Marple, 74, of Marion, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. A visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. A reception and luncheon at the church will follow the service.

She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, Charles Marple of Marion; son, Neal (Jane Rheem) Marple of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Janelle Adams of Osage, Iowa; four grandchildren, Ethan and Emma Marple, and Rachael and Zach Adams; sister, Sheila (Chuck) Day of Fort Worth, Texas; and a brother, Mark (Jan) Spielman of Cedar Rapids.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents; and a son-in-law, Dave Adams.

Linda Rae Marple was born Aug. 17, 1938, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Ray and Jane (Miller) Spielman. She graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids and in 1961 received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of Iowa. Linda was a teacher for more than 30 years in elementary education and touched the lives of countless children in Minnesota, Utah, and Cedar Rapids. She married Charles Marple on Aug. 1, 1964, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Linda was active at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where she served in a number of roles, and within the larger Cedar Rapids community. She was active in supporting and promoting the SPRINT program at St. Paul’s. Linda will be greatly missed by her family and friends for her warmth and kindness to others, her ceaseless positive attitude in supporting others facing life’s challenges, and her endless supply of smiles and love.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Linda’s name can be made to either St. Paul’s United Methodist Church SPRINT Program, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, or the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation, PO Box 1248, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published Jan. 30, 2013 in The Gazette