Mary Ellen Poock

Rock Rapids Mary Ellen Poock, age 76 of Rock Rapids, IA, formerly of Tripoli, IA, died Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral Mass will be 10 AM, Saturday, Nov. 25th at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, IA. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 24th from 4 " 8 PM, with the family present from 6 " 8 PM at the Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. A Memorial service will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, Nov. 28th at Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli, IA, with Pastor David ORourke officiating. Inurnment will follow at the church cemetery. Mary Ellen (Hughes) Poock was born March 28, 1930 at her family home near Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of A. Leo and Mary (Woods) Hughes. Tragically her mother died during child birth and her father later remarried Veronica Demmer. She was raised on a farm three miles east of Sumner. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1948 and resumed her education at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA and then received her Teachers Certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA. She taught for four years at Fremont Township School and Fredericka School. On June 15, 1952 Mary was united in marriage to John Poock at the Immaculate Conception Church in Sumner, IA. The first five years of their marriage they lived in many parts of Iowa while John worked road construction. They settled in Tripoli, IA where they owned and operated a tavern for about 10 years, while John earned his teachers degree. Mary also worked at the Tripoli and Waterloo U.S. Post Offices for a total of 30 years. She was very active with St. Bridgetts Catholic Church and served on both the Altar & Rosary Societies. Through the years, Mary and John enjoyed trips to various places all over the world. On November 3, 1988, Marys husband, John died after 36 years of marriage. At age 69, Mary left Tripoli and moved to Rock Rapids, IA. Mary worked as a volunteer at Lyon Manor and was employed at Pamida. Mary was very grateful to the people of Rock Rapids for making her feel a part of the community. Mary enjoyed playing all kinds of cards, bowling in her younger years, trips to the casinos, both in Flandreau and Las Vegas, and following her grandchildrens activities. The coffee pot was always on and the door was always open to visitors. She is survived by her daughter, Janell, and her husband, Randy Meester of Rock Rapids, IA; and three grandchildren: Matt Meester of Rock Rapids, IA; Tom Meester of Sioux Falls, SD; and Molly Meester of Rock Rapids, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and step-mother.