Mary Catherine Zapf of Dubuque Iowa passed away on January 17th, 2024, at Harmony Nursing Home in Dubuque, Iowa.

A Memorial Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church with Fr. David Schatz officiating. Private burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in East Dubuque, IL. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, Dubuque, Iowa is assisting the family.

Mary Catherine was born March 11, 1937 to Elvira I. (Maire) and Herbert J. Zapf.  She attended grade school at St Mary’s in East Dubuque and high school at Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque.

She received her RN degree at St Anthony’s Hospital School of Nursing in Rock Island, Il (2 years).  She attended Iowa Methodist Medical Center Powell 3 in Des Moines, Iowa for substance abuse counselor training and Carlson College of Massage Therapy in Anamosa, Iowa.

She joined the United States Air Force in 1964 and served as a nurse for 8 years stationed in Turkey,  Japan and various air force hospitals in the United States.  After her Air Force service Mary Catherine worked at Xavier Hospital in Dubuque.

Some know Mary Catherine as “the Wild Woman”.  She loved being around children.  She loved nature, especially walks in the woods, being by the river, seeing the changing colors of autumn leaves.

She enjoyed sledding, swimming and arranging flowers.  She also enjoyed giving and receiving cards for every occasion.  Mary Catherine was rich in friends and will be remembered for her kindness and for the sound of her laughter.

Mary Catherine is survived by cousins, nephews, and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dubuque Arboretum and to Hospice of Dubuque.