Memorial

Noreen Kay (McIntosh) Phelps, 73, of Cedar Rapids, passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 6, 2019, due to compounded health issues.   A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one-hour prior, beginning at 2:00 pm, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Noreen will be missed, but remembered forever by daughter Kathy (John) Benefield of Des Plaines, IL; son Wilbur (Michele) of Cedar Rapids; daughter Karen (Jonathan) Foster of Kenosha, WI; brother Eugene McIntosh of Cedar Rapids; and brother Ernest (Wanda) of Altamont, Tennessee.  She will fondly be remembered as Grandma by John and David Benefield; Ian, Hannah, Naomi, and Ami Foster.

Noreen was born April 30, 1946, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Floyd and Ann (Gaston) McIntosh Sr.   Noreen grew up in Cedar Rapids and was the youngest of five.  She was tenacious and never let life get the best of her.  She decided to drop out of high school when her father became ill and helped the family by working.  She worked at the Coca-Cola bottling company for several years, where she met David, her future husband.  They shared many adventures, including having four children together.  Life dealt another sad hand when her husband passed away prematurely from a truck accident, but Noreen continued to lead her family.  She was a devoted single mother who raised her children, who at that time were 11, 10, 5, and 4 months.  She rose to the challenge, and proudly saw each of them graduate from high school and many went on to further education. 

Noreen has had several different jobs over the years, but she especially enjoyed being a bus attendant for the Cedar Rapids School District.  Noreen had various hobbies, but two of her favorites were bowling and playing bingo with family and friends, especially at Emerald Knights.  Noreen was generous, but also very loyal.  These traits were passed down to many of her children.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Phelps;  her parents; son, David Phelps, Jr.; sister, Shirley Bruce; brother, Floyd C. McIntosh, Jr. 

She was dedicated to her family and cared for them in any way she could.  She will be greatly missed, but forever loved.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the family.