Memorial
Edith (Edie) Nekola, 81, died Saturday, May 16th at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
An intimate graveside service will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama, IA on Friday, May 22nd at 2:00 pm; family and close friends are welcome.
Edie was born on September 22nd, 1938 in Tama, Iowa. She was the daughter of Victor and Mary (Ohland) Varnum. She married Fred Nekola on October 16th, 1959.
Edie obtained her RN license from St. Luke's School of Nursing in 1959, completed her BSN at Coe College in 1974 and then pursued a Master of Arts Degree at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1980.
Edie's two biggest loves were her family and her career as a nursing instructor. She dedicated herself to both and was beloved by her husband, children, grandchildren and the many students she taught over the years at St. Luke's, Coe College, Mount Mercy, and Kirkwood.
She is survived by her husband, Fred, a son, Jeff who lives in the Czech Republic where he teaches at Masaryk University and a daughter, Laura who is a school librarian at Attea Middle School in Glenview, Illinois. She also is survived by her grandchildren, Aiden and Anna O'Brien who are the children of Laura and husband, Jerry O'Brien and her sister, Marietta Schutte of Batavia, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Victor and brother, Clark.
Memorials may be directed to St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids and Cedar Rapids Metro Parkinson's Association.