Memorial
Grace Marguerite Noonan, 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2024, at Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with family by her side. A visitation will be held on Monday, December 9th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, December 10th at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, a luncheon to follow the service. There will be a visitation, before the service, from 9:30 to 10:15 in the Sanctuary Parlor. Grace would have celebrated her 94th birthday on December 10th. She will be buried next to her husband at a private graveside service at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Grace was born on December 10th, 1930, in Grinnell, Iowa to Clarence and Helen (Latta) Ecklund. She was raised in Brooklyn, Iowa with her older brother Edwin. Grace loved music. She sang and learned to play the piano and later the organ. After learning to read, she became an avid reader and carried this passion throughout her lifetime. She had an active and joyful childhood.
She graduated high school in 1948 and attended the Iowa State Teachers College (now U.N.I.) for a teaching certificate. Her first job was in Fort Madison, Iowa. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert James (R.J.) Noonan. He was a teacher in the same school district. They were married on December 26, 1954, and lived in Fort Madison, Iowa, until 1957.
In 1957, Robert’s career led them to Cedar Rapids. He was a teacher and coach in the Cedar Rapids School Community District until he retired from Jefferson High School in 1994. Grace had a brief teaching career in Marion, Iowa, before they began their family. When their son Michael was in kindergarten, Grace returned to college at Mount Mercy College (University) to earn a Bachelor of Science. Upon completion, she was hired to teach in Cedar Rapids as an elementary and middle school teacher until she retired in 1993. Grace made many lifelong friends while teaching in Cedar Rapids. It was hard to go anywhere in town without running into her former students, parents of students, and colleagues.
Grace and Bob raised four children. They are Sandra, Kathy, Mary, and Mike. As parents, they supported all their children’s activities, which included cheerleading, band, choir, gymnastics, piano lessons, drama, track, basketball, dance, youth groups, and fundraisers. Before Robert passed away in 2010, they were able to celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2004. One of their favorite places was the family cabin in Hackensack, MN. They inherited this from Grace’s parents and rarely missed a summer welcoming family and friends to the peaceful shores of Birch Lake.
Before her death, Grace belonged to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, P.E.O. Chapter LF, Cedar Rapids Retired Teachers Association, and the United Methodist Women’s Group. Bob and Grace were members of the Come Doubles Sunday School class at St. Paul’s. She played bridge and was part of a knitting club “that didn’t knit!” She had regular gatherings with the coaches’ wives. Grace enjoyed all the friendships that developed. She sang in the choir at Calvin-Sinclair Presbyterian Church and St. Paul’s. Grace substituted as a pianist and organist in the Presbyterian Church. Grace always had music playing in her home. If you knew her, you knew she loved crossword puzzles, following anything related to the Iowa Hawkeyes, reading the Gazette, and staying aware of current events. She was charitable with her family and many non-profits.
After retirement, Bob and Grace moved to Marion, Iowa. Robert’s final days were spent at Willow Gardens Care Center. In 2012, Grace moved back to Cedar Rapids to join the Meth-Wick Community. While there she lived in Deer Ridge, The Manor, and The Woodlands. Grace’s family is forever grateful for the love and care she received at Meth-Wick.
She is survived by her children, Sandra Heuer (Greg) of Lakeville, MN; Kathy Hohl (Martin) of Westerville, OH; Mary Rose (Ken) of Grayslake, IL; and Mike Noonan (Katie) of Tucson, AZ; seven grandchildren, Jeff Hohl, Jenna (Hohl) Teeples, Sharon Rose, Brendon Rose, Karolyn (Noonan) Jackson, Jacob Noonan and Joseph Noonan. Grace was blessed with 6 great-grandchildren. Grace is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Paul’s UMC Foundation, Robert J. and Grace M. Noonan Scholarship Fund.