Mary Lou Block

Mary Lou Block, 77, of Oelwein, Iowa died on Tuesday morning, March 26, 2019 at St. Luke's Unity Point Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 29, 2019 at Peace Lutheran Church, Oelwein, Iowa with Rev. Michael Holmen officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.
Interment: Hazleton (Fontana) Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa.
Memorial Fund: Peace Lutheran Church
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com
Mary Louise Darbyshire was born on June 2, 1941 in Wyandot, Michigan, the daughter of Richard Wayne & Iris (Caskey) Darbyshire. She was raised in Wadsworth, Ohio and graduated from Wadsworth High School in the class of 1959. Mary Lou then enrolled at Akron City Hospital School of Nursing where she obtained her Registered Nurse Degree. She then worked for three years as a psychiatric nurse at the Summit County Receiving Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Mary Lou then continued her education at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During her time in Cleveland she met John Edward Block. They were united in marriage on November 11, 1967 at Grace Lutheran Church in Wadsworth, Ohio. They moved to Chicago where Mary Lou worked as a psychiatric nurse at Michael Reese Hospital. The family then moved to Rockford, Illinois and then to St. Donatus, Iowa where Mary Lou was the church secretary at St. John Lutheran Church. They then moved to Richfield and Stapleton and Mary Lou worked as the Director of Nursing Education at Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union. The family moved to Quasqueton and then to Oelwein in 1976. In 1980, Mary Lou began work at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein. She worked as a nurse, then as Utilization Review Coordinator, then as Quality Assurance Coordinator and then as the Executive Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Mary Lou was also the church secretary at Peace Lutheran Church from 2006 until she retired in 2018. Mary Lou was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing Scrabble with her friend, Lois and taking care of her house plants.
Mary Lou is survived by her Husband: John Block of Oelwein;
Son: Edward (Beth) Block of Ft. Lupton, Colorado;
2 Daughters: Michelle (Curt) Fullenkamp of Cedar Rapids &
Donna Block (David Friese) of Mount Prospect, Illinois;
4 Grandchildren: Bradley Tresnak,
Amanda Tresnak,
Christian Block &
Aaron Block-Friese;
2 Sisters: Nancy Wills of Perrysburg, Ohio &
Patricia Darbyshire of Rittman, Ohio and
Nieces & Nephews.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law: Don Wills.