Merial Eunice Soper

Merial E. Soper, 95, of Oelwein, Iowa died on Thursday morning, May 24, 2012 at the Oelwein Health Care Center in Oelwein, Iowa

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa; Officiating: Rev. Charis Combs-Lay; Visitation: from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home and after 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday; Interment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Oelwein, Iowa

Memorials may be given in her name to the American Cancer Society or the Oelwein Health Care Center

Online Obituary at: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Merial Eunice Harkin was born on May 27, 1916 in rural Oelwein, Iowa, the daughter of Burton and Florence (Miles) Harkin. She attended the Oelwein schools. Merial married Orval Lewis Soper on November 19, 1933 at Oelwein, Iowa. She was a homemaker and a lifelong Oelwein resident. Merial has been a resident of the Oelwein Health Care Center since April of 2002. She enjoyed watching Iowa Hawkeye basketball and Chicago Cubs games.

Merial is survived by her children:
Marian (Jim) Kelly of Oelwein, Iowa
Joan (Richard) Waitman of Phoenix, Arizona
Shirley (Gene) Shay of Oelwein, Iowa
Patti (Peter) Schmitz of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Ronald (Kathryn) Soper of Cedar Falls, Iowa
Larry Soper (special friend-Doug Spencer) of Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Susan (Craig) Ohrt of Richmond, Missouri
Jerry (Deb Gruver) Soper of Hazleton, Iowa
Donald Soper of Waterloo, Iowa
35 Grandchildren 60 Great Grandchildren 30 Great Grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her Parents--Husband (Orval L. Soper on March 5, 1974)--2 Daughters (Betty Holley and Connie Crawford Webb)--3 Grandsons--1 Great Grandson--and 1 Great Granddaughter