Elsie C. Gerber Madison Popek , 89, formerly of Cedar Rapids and most recently of Iowa City, died, July 1, 2008 at Mercy Hospital. Elsie is survived by her daughter Pat (Jon) Meskimen, son Chuck (Joann) Madison; five grandchildren, Megan (Brian) Chapman, Taryn (Dale) Dlouhy, C.J. (Leann) Madison, Lori (Brock) Renner, Darrin (Vera) Howe; 11 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law Ruth Gerber; brother-in-law Marvin Michel of California and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband Charles J. Madison Jr, son Rick Madison, five siblings and second husband William (Bill) P. Popek preceded Elsie in death.

Elsie was born June 4, 1919 in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Charles and Alice Connelly Gerber. Elsie was hired at Rockwell Collins after her husband Charles J. Madison's death in 1949 of polio. Charles Jr. was the 4 ^th confirmed polio death in the nation. While working at Rockwell Collins for 16 years she met her second husband Bill Popek. They were married October 7, 1967 and celebrated 37 years before Bill's death in April 2004.

Elsie's children and their families were the pride and joy of her life. The legacy of Elsie's kind spirit, passion for golf, love of the outdoors, and zest for life will live on through them.

It was Elsie's wish that she be cremated and no services held. In honor of Elsie a memorial fund has been established in her name. Brosh Chapel, Cedar Rapids, will be handling all arrangements.

Special thanks to the staff of Iowa City Mercy Hospital and Amenity Hospice.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.  And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "HERE SHE COMES!"

And that is dying.

- Henry Van Dyke