Florence Mangels

Florence Alice Mangels, 85, of Bettendorf, passed away Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Senior Star at Elmore Place in Davenport.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be noon, Wednesday, Dec. 17, at St. James Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, where she was a founding member.

Private graveside services will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Genesis Hospice.

Florence was born Dec. 9, 1929, in Davenport, the daughter of William and Anne (Blumer) Micheel.

She was united in marriage to Kenneth Warren Mangels on May 5, 1951, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Davenport. He preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 2003.

Florence enjoyed gardening, socializing with friends and her many years of volunteer work.

As a founding member of St. James Lutheran Church, Florence was on the Alter Guild and tended the flower gardens there as well.

Following the death of her husband, Florence resided at The Manor and enjoyed activities with friends.

She devoted many hours to volunteering for the Discovery Shop, the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Ridgecrest Village, King's Daughters and the Putnam Museum Guild. In earlier years, she was a member of the Lady Lions Club in Bettendorf.

She loved Christmas and collecting Isabel Bloom figurines and bird houses. She will be missed by the sales associates at Von Maur in Davenport, as she enjoyed shopping. She never met a shopping bag, gift box or suitcase that she could part with. Most of all, she will be missed and fondly remembered by her loving family.

Those left to honor her memory include her beloved daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Jim Rathje of Bettendorf, Sharon and Kurt Meltzer of Maryville, Tenn., and Susan and Michael Sweeney of Duluth, Ga.; her grandchildren, Theodore and Anne Meltzer; her brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Carol Micheel of Davenport and Richard and EllaMae Mangels of Inverness, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews, including Mike, Tom and Pat Tangen and their families.

In addition to her husband, Kenneth, Florence was preceded in death by her parents; her brother William Micheel and her sister, Anne Tangen.