Marcella A. Nurse

Marcella A. Nurse, age 94, of Carroll passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by her family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at St. John Paul II Parish – Holy Spirit Church in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter as Celebrant.  Music for the Mass will be by Dr. Franklyn Busby Pastoral Musician and the Holy Spirit Choir.  Lectors for the Mass will be Rachel Nurse, Erin Nurse, and Amanda Nurse.  Gift Bearers will be Mya Nurse and Andrew Nurse.  Casket Bearers will be Marcella’s sons: Jim Nurse, Dan Nurse, Tom Nurse, Ken Nurse, Steve Nurse, and Nick Nurse.  Eucharistic Ministers will be Lori Nurse, Ann Nurse, and Rachel Nurse.  The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard at the funeral Mass.  Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home after 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M. followed by a Rosary led by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.  Visitation will resume at Holy Spirit Church at 12:00 P.M. on Thursday until the time of Mass.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Born on June 4, 1924 on her family’s farm west of Churdan, IA, Marcella was the daughter of John and Anna (Carey) Shoemaker.  She grew up on the farm and attended country school as a girl and later St. Angela’s Academy.  She graduated from Churdan High School in 1941.  After high school she attended Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids and later attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She began her teaching career at a country school near Dayton.  When her mother passed away Marcella   moved home to help raise her siblings.  She later taught school in Payton for four years.  She was married to Maury Nurse on June 30, 1952 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan by Fr. James Shanahan.  The couple lived in Owosso, MI for two years and returned to Carroll in 1954 where Maury became Postmaster and Marcella did substitute teaching and was an Avon representative.  She treasured her twelve trips to England, following her children’s athletic events, and playing Bridge.  Marcella loved to cook and prepared excellent meals for her family.  She was a member of St. John Paul II - Holy Spirit Parish, the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Carroll Country Club.

Marcella is survived by two daughters: Susan Morrissey of Shawnee, KS, and Michelle Nurse of Des Moines; six sons:  Jim Nurse of Carroll, Dan Nurse and his wife Ann of Kansas City, MO, Tom Nurse of Lanesboro, Ken Nurse and his wife Lori of Advance, NC, Steve Nurse and his wife Lori of Cedar Falls, IA, and Nick Nurse and his wife Roberta of Toronto, Canada; sixteen grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; a sister Teresa Fitzsimmons of Des Moines; a brother Johnny Shoemaker and his wife Beth of Churdan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents John and Anna Shoemaker; her mother and father-in-law Maurice and Clara Nurse; two sisters: Arlene Lamaak and Leona Hadden; a brother Paul Shoemaker; her daughter Maureen in 2008, and her husband Maury of 63 years in 2015.