Marion M. Jopp

Marion Marie Jopp, the youngest of eight children of Anna Bertha (Raschke) and Albert John Frederick Boortz, was born on April 7, 1931 in Gregory, South Dakota. At age 6, Marion was injured and lost her leg in a farming accident. She attended school in Gregory and graduated from high school in 1949. She attended college at Brookings, South Dakota for three years and became the first leg amputee in South Dakota to receive a registered nursing license.

Marion and Glen Elroy Jopp were married on November 30, 1952, in Aiken, South Carolina while Glen was serving in the military. Following the service, Glen worked with a road crew and he and Marion lived in Valentine, Nebraska, where Marion was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. They also lived in other communities in South Dakota, including Brookings, Rapid City and Dell Rapids. In 1972, they moved to a farm south of Malvern, Iowa. Marion and Glen's marriage was blessed with five children, Judy Ann, Larry Dean, David Merton, Ivan Glen, and Ann Marie.

Marion was an inspiration to many who knew her. She never let her disability get her down, as many people weren't even aware she was disabled. While living in South Dakota, she worked in the Obstetrics Department of a hospital and would help deliver the newborn babies. She worked at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa and was the school nurse for the Malvern School District for a number of years. She retired from the health care profession in 1982.

Marion loved horses and riding horseback in her younger years, and always had a soft heart for all animals. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed dancing, fishing, bingo, playing cards, and tending to her flowers. She enjoyed listening to gospel and country western music, and was thrilled to meet singer Porter Wagoner. Above all, family was very important to Marion and she was always there for her children. She loved her time spent with her family and grandchildren.

In 1993, Marion moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and for the past two years, had made her home at Southview Heights Assisted Living. Marion passed away at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, at the age of 78 years, 11 months, and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Albert Boortz; son Larry Jopp in 1992; infant grandson Ryan Jopp and grandson David "Digger" Jopp; brothers, Albert Boortz, Jr., Henry Boortz, Ivan Boortz, and Lyle Boortz; sisters, Ernestina Boortz, and Ida McMillan.

Marion is survived by her children; Judy Bruce and husband Alan of Malvern, David Jopp and wife Brigid of Papillion, NE, Ivan Jopp and wife Gretchen, and Ann Chickering and husband Todd, all of Malvern; sister Helen Millslagel of Rapid City, SD; eight grandchildren, Joe Bruce and Jesse Bruce, Robert Jopp, Justin, Andrew, and Eilis Jopp; and Brook and Kinley Chickering; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

A memorial fund has been established.

Private Interment at Gregory, South Dakota.