Pearl Mirich 98, of 1830 Glendale Road in Iowa City, died
Thursday,
November 26th following a short illness.  As per Pearls wishes her body
was cremated and a private family inurnment will be held in Mt. Vernon
Cemetery.  In accordance with her wish, a memorial service will not be
held.  Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements.
Pearl was born on December 8th, 1910, in Mt. Vernon, the
youngest of the
eight children of Pearl Dodge Rumble and Clarence H. Rumble.  The family
moved to Cedar Rapids in 1917 where she attended old Jackson School,
McKinley Junior High an old Washington High School.  She was graduated
from Cornell College in 1933: Phi Beta Kappa, B.A.  She taught high
school in Prophetstown High School from 1935 to 1940.
She was married to Mark Mirich June 19th, 1937 in Golden, Colorado.  Her
husband died in 1948 and she returned to teaching.  From 1949 to 1976
she
taught language arts and social studies at Roosevelt Junior High School
in
Cedar Rapids.  She attended summer sessions at the University of Iowa
earning an M.A. in English in 1955. After her retirement from public
school teaching she taught English as a second language at Kirkwood
Community College, and from 1980 to 1985 was coordinator of the Kirkwood
volunteer tutor program for ESL.
While living in Cedar Rapids she was member of the Unitarian
Universalist
Church.  She was active in a number of organizations: College Club,
American Federation of Teachers, N.O.W., The Women's Political Caucus,
League of Women's Voter's, United Nations Association of the USA, ACLU
and
the Democratic Party.  She was a charter member of Common Cause and
Public
Citizen.
During the 1960's she joined N.A.A.C.P. and worked as a civil rights
movement as a member of the human relations council which preceded the
establishment of the official Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission.  She
was also active in the peace movement and anti-nuclear protests.  In
1980
she was one of five women who received plaques "In recognition of
contributions to the Linn County Community" on Women's Equality Day.
Survivors include her daughters, Diane Barrett and Carol Sokoloff or
Iowa
City.  Three grandchildren: Mark and Steven Barrett and Greta Sokoloff;
and six great grandchildren:  Kellen and Claire Barrett of Iowa City,
Cameron Barrett of Iowa City and Keegan, Wyatt and Madison Barrett of
Northwoods, New Hampshire.
Memorials may be made to UNICEF through the Cedar Rapids or Iowa City
United Nations Association ( http://www.unaiowa.org/ ).