Mary Oberkamper

Mary Rita Oberkamper, age 90, died Friday, July 12, 2013. Born July 28, 1922 at the Repplinger family homestead in Cromwell, IA, she was the beloved wife of Lloyd (Curley) Oberkamper (married February 8, 1945 in Scranton, IA); loving mother of James Oberkamper of Creston, IA, Kathleen Benson (James) of Lead, SD, and Alicia Johnson (James) of Placitas, NM; sister of Margaret Woods, Creston, IA (deceased) and JoAnn Moffitt, Creston, IA; grandmother of six; and great grandmother of six. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas F. Repplinger and Mary L. Repplinger, nee Brownrigg; infant brother; husband, Lloyd E. Oberkamper; and Margaret Woods, nee Repplinger.
Mary graduated from Nevinville High School and earned her two-year teaching degree at St. Theresa’s College in Winona, MN and her four-year bachelor of science degree at Yankton College, Yankton, SD. She taught in Cooper IA, Harlan IA, Yankton, SD and Clark SD. Her favorite subject to teach was mathematics and her favorite age group was 10-12 year olds. She kept a watchful eye out for children who were bullied by others and gave her time to children who needed extra attention. In retirement from teaching, Mary and Lloyd owned and operated a family hardware store with their son, Jim, in Falls City, NE. They retired to Creston where Mary soon after found herself widowed. She then poured herself into volunteering for Holy Spirit Church’s ReRun Shop for over two decades, enjoying the practice of her faith in helping the poor. She treasured her many friends who volunteered with her.
Mary died peacefully at the David Dorsett Senior Care Center in Spearfish, SD where she received loving care in the Memory Care Unit. Her remains will rest in peace next to her husband in Creston, IA. Services will be held at Holy Spirit Parish Church, 107 W Howard St, Creston, Iowa, 50801 on Friday, July 19, 2013, 10:30 a.m. with visitation before the service and fellowship in the church hall after the service. People of all faiths, and all those seeking God, are welcome to join Mary’s family and friends as they give thanks for her life on earth and her life in Christ. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Holy Spirit Church to aid its ministries to those in need.