On Monday, January 16, 2023, our beloved mother, Lorraine S. Pape (born July 7, 1940), passed away at the age of 82 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
She and her sister Karen enjoyed many trips with her grandchildren going to zoos, staying in hotels just to go swimming, playing with legos and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and talking countless hours. Following her retirement, Lorraine enjoyed time at home with her cat Princess, playing Words with Friends on her laptop with Marian and Kris, among many others, and seeing what her Facebook friends were up to. She enjoyed keeping up with the news and watching classic gameshows, the Golden Girls, and Detective Columbo. She spent countless hours doing crosswords to keep her mind sharp. Our mother enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the most in her life.
Lorraine lived in West Union and the surrounding area for most of her life. She attended high school in West Union and worked at a variety of different places, including the Good Samaritan Home, the Eldorado Store, Boot Hill, the Elms Motel, the Friendly Tavern, Stoney Brook Assisted Living, and Farm Bureau Insurance, until her retirement in 2016. She managed the local Pronto for many years.
She is survived by her daughter, Roxanne Fonley; her son, Deano Pape (Kylie); daughter-in-law, Cheryl Schmitt (Dean); grandchildren, Justin Fonley (Morgan), Devin Fonley (Andrea), Tanner Habeger, and Kyle Kohls (Megan); great grandchildren, Seamus, Korra, Cole, Jadon, and Hayden; her sisters, Karen Kohls (Kenny) and Dorene Peyton, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Pape; sons Brett and Kevin Fonley; sister, Elaine Voss; brothers, Butch (Wayne) and Sonny (Duane) Ruroden; brother-in-law, Dean Peyton; sisters-in-law, Helen Ruroden and Jane Miene; nephews, Jason Peyton and Mark Meyer, and her parents Ula and Clarion Hilgerson and Emory Ruroden.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa.
A private burial service with family will take place immediately after in the St. Peter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family will collect a charitable contribution in Lorraine’s name to the National Speech & Debate Association.
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.