Rachel Elizabeth Clark Trpkosh, 98 of Ely, died Thursday, May 22, 2008 at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center, from a lengthy illness.   Services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 25 at St. John Lutheran Church in Ely, with burial following in Roger's Grove Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids and for an hour prior to services Sunday at the church.

Rachel was born January 4, 1910 on the family farm east of Ely, the daughter of John O. and Elizabeth (Neiderhisar) Clark.   She received her grade school education at the school in Ely, attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, and graduated from Grant High School in Cedar Rapids in 1928.  Rachel attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.  She was employed by the Cedar Rapids Gas Company for seven years prior to her marriage.  She married Milo Trpkosh on March 16, 1934 at St. John Lutheran Church in Ely.  They farmed near Mt. Vernon for seven years and then moved to the Clark Family Farm near Ely where they continued to farm.   She was employed at the Delta Chi Fraternity at the University of Iowa where she served as a housemother for 25 years, retiring in May of 1993, at the age of 83.  During the summer months she was employed at Camp Thunderbird for girls in Bemidji, Minnesota. When she retired she returned to her farm near Ely where she made her home with her son and daughter in law Craig and Christine Trpkosh.  Rachel was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Ely American Legion Auxillary, Ely Friendship Club, and a faithful member of Ely Senior Dining.  She enjoyed playing pinochle, euchre and other games.

Rachel is survived by her six children; Linda (Phil) Thomas of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Robert (Charlotte) Trpkosh of Plano, Texas, Sueann Sherry (Don Gerber) of Redondo Beach, California, Timothy (Jackie) Trpkosh of Ely, Sally (Larry) Clark of Seneca, Wisconsin and Craig (Christine) Trpkosh of Ely, 22 grandchildren, 25 greatgrandchildren and a sister Margaret Looney of Marshall, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, three sons, Larry, Roger, and Martin, a granddaughter Amanda Trpkosh, a great-granddaughter Kymara Morrow, four brothers Meryl, Andrew, John, and David Clark and a sister Lois Allen.

Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church and or Delta Chi Fraternity, Iowa City Chapter.