Maxine Katie Morphew
NORA SPRINGS ‹ Maxine Katie Morphew, 72, of 315 N. Hooker in Nora Springs, died Sunday evening (May 6, 2007) at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City following a lengthy illness.
A memorial service for Katie will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, at the United Methodist Church, 202 N. Hawkeye Ave. in Nora Springs, with Pastor Wendy Johannesen officiating. A private inurnment will be at a later date in Spring Grove Cemetery, Nora Springs. Katie's brother-in-law, Rev. Larry D. Morphew, will officiate at that service.
The family will greet relatives and friends one hour prior to Katie's service Friday at the United Methodist Church in Nora Springs.
Those wishing to extend memorials may wish to direct them to the Maxine Katie Morphew Memorial Fund in the care of her family.
Maxine Katie Morphew, the daughter of George and Carolyn (Gerber) Scheppler, was born at home near Kamrar on Feb. 27, 1935. She was the youngest of four children and lived in Hamilton and Hancock counties prior to moving with her family to a farm near Portland in 1943. Katie, as she was lovingly known by her family and friends, attended Nora Springs High School and graduated among the class of 1954.
While in high school, Katie met and fell in love with her high school sweetheart, Nolan D. Morphew. Katie and Nolan were united in marriage on May 22, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Nora Springs. They became the proud and busy parents of two sons, Mark and Paul, and a daughter, Nanette.
Katie took great pride in showering her family with unconditional love and tending to her home and vegetable and flower gardens. She found great joy in her cooking and baking abilities, often trying new recipes or changing existing recipes, just a bit.
Katie loved going shopping with Coleen, rides in the country, gathering once a month with her gal friends to visit and send out statements and decorating and preparing for all the holidays. Katie and Nolan looked forward to vacation times in the homes of their children and grandchildren.
Katie is described by her family as a loving and caring woman who always placed everyone else first and above her own needs. She was brave, strong, upbeat and positive throughout her life and her illness.
Katie will be dearly missed by her husband of nearly 52 years, Nolan Morphew, of Nora Springs; her two sons, Mark Morphew of Red Wing, Minn., and Paul Morphew of Black River, Wis.; her daughter, Nanette Morphew, of New Richmond, Wis.; her sister, Coleen Whipple, of Mason City; and her brother, Robert and Carolyn Scheppler, of Rockford. She will also be cherished in the hearts of her grandchildren, Abby Morphew, Katie Ann Morphew, Nicole Morphew and Alex Morphew and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Preceding Katie in death are her parents, George and Carolyn Scheppler; and her brother, Willard Scheppler.