TAMA-Emma Jean Propp, age 76, a resident of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell, formerly of Tama died Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines following a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 2, 2009 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with ­Pastor Dewey Grimes officiating. Interment will follow at Center School Cemetery in rural Marshalltown. Visitation will be Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 4 –7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Emma was born on December 25, 1932, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Nellie (Cavaugh) Russell.
She graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1952.
She married Blaine Wagoner on March 30, 1955 in Toledo, Iowa. They later divorced. On November 9, 1957, she married Elmer Ray Propp in Adel, Iowa. Emma worked as a nurse's aid at many facilities. She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary. Her hobbies included fishing, camping, reading romance novels, and crafts. She also enjoyed car rides and country western music. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Elmer on December 1, 2006; and one brother, Lyle Russell.
Survivors include eight children, Cindy Feisel of Tama, Vicki Vargas of Tama, Ed Propp of Guernsey, Dale Propp of Tama, Tim Propp of Tama, Juanita (Jesse) Sandoval of Tama, Denny Propp of Anamosa, and Charlene Ramirez of Tama; sixteen grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Art (Lottie) Russell of Marshalltown, and Chuck (Kay) Russell of State Center; two sisters, Ida (Glenn) Phillips of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Katie (Dick) Niederhauser of Waterloo.
A memorial fund has been established.