Marcella Lillian Volrath Scheel, 98, was embraced in God’s loving arms and carried to her heavenly home on Friday, October 1, 2010 from Manor Care/Utica Ridge. A celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 11:00 AM at St. Mark Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held from 3-7 PM on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at the Runge Mortuary and also for one hour before services at the church. Memorials may be made to the church. Online condolences and tributes may be made at www.rungemortuary.com.
Marcella was born on Sunday, December 17, 1911 in Dubuque, Iowa, the eldest of six children to George and Lillian (Brown) Volrath and moved to Rock Island, Illinois at the age of four. She received her formal education in Davenport at Van Buren Elementary, West Intermediate (now Frank L. Smart Jr. High) and she completed five months of the 10th grade at Davenport High School before going to work at the Independent Baking Company. She was a stay-at-home Mom until 1952 when she went to work as a clerk at Day Drug and then at Neufeld Pharmacy.
Marcella was united in marriage to Clarence John Scheel in December 16, 1931 at St. Mark Lutheran Church. After 15 years of marriage Marcella always said that they were “blessed” with the birth of their only child, Marcia, in 1947. Clarence and Marcella celebrated 49 years of marriage before Clarence passed away on December 24, 1980 in Davenport.
She was a devoted member of St. Mark Lutheran Church from the time she was a small child and was very active in the Women of the ELCA and held many different positions in that organization. Marcella took great pride in the students she taught to read through the literacy program also at St. Mark. It was through her church family that she started her card ministry sending out greeting cards to hundreds of shut-ins, friends and acquaintances. Bill Wundrum, of the Quad City Times, honored her in his column and dubbed her the “Card Lady of the Quad Cities”. Marcella was still typing cards and letters earlier this year. Her family always joked that she helped keep the U.S. Postal service in business. She was active in the Girl Scouts of America for over 30 years, influencing lives and instilling values in young girls some of whom she still had contact. She was President of the Scott County King’s Daughter & Sons and took an active part in this organization for many years. She volunteered as a “pink lady” for the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary (now Genesis West) well into her 80’s.
Marcella enjoyed traveling with her sister, Betty, to Montana and Virginia over the years. She gave up driving in 1957 when people were in “too much of a rush” to her way of thinking. Walking was not only her means of transportation but what kept her in such good health for so long. She was especially proud of the walk she took with one of her scout troops from the West end of Davenport to Buffalo.
In 2008 Marcella moved to Georgian Square East in Bettendorf to live with her daughter and son-in-law and once again was active with her walks numerous times each day in the hallways of the condo building. She greeted her new friends and enjoyed the conversations that she shared with other residents.
Those left to honor Marcella’s memory are her daughter, Marcia, and son-in-law, Tom Boland; her two granddaughters, Tammy (Barry) Speidel of Bettendorf and Tracy (Jason) Thompson of LeClaire, Iowa; her three great grandsons, Andrew and Zackary Speidel and Ethan Thompson; her brothers, George (Lois) Volrath of Rock Island, Illinois and Marvin (Kathy) Volrath of Pleasant Hills, Iowa; her sisters, Betty Mangels and Doris Wiebler, both of Davenport; and 21 nieces and nephews.
Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; husband; youngest sister, Marilyn Freund; brothers-in-law, Robert Mangels, Richard Wiebler and Norman Freund; sister-in-law, Midge Volrath; and two nieces and four nephews.
Marcella is now resting in peace and has heard her Savior say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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