MENDOTA - Zelma Simpson, 93, formerly of Mendota, passed away May 13, 2019 at Keystone Memory Care, North Liberty, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 17 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Susan Presley officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral.

Zelma was born May 23, 1925 in Wayne County to Amor and Emma (Jones) Williamson. She married Robert “Bud” Simpson on May 23, 1942 in Mendota and celebrated 67 years of marriage before Bud’s passing in 2009.

Survivors include one daughter, Judy (Del) Gehrke of Iowa City, Iowa; one granddaughter, Michelle Gehrke; one grandson, Brad (Tina) Gehrke; three great-grandchildren, Jessica (Caylin Hauptmann) Hunter, Chase Gehrke and Otto Gehrke; and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Michael; her husband; and three sisters, Fern Archer, Doris Yost and Maxine Headley.

Zelma moved to Iowa four years ago to be near her daughter and family. She worked at many jobs during her lifetime including Del Monte, A&P Egg Plant and Harper Wyman in Princeton. Mostly she enjoyed her retirement, celebrating holidays with her family, exercising with her friends, helping with the church garage sales and playing cards. She was a member of the Mendota Moose Lodge, Mendota Elks Lodge, Mendota Golf Club and First United Methodist Church, Mendota.

Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Iowa City Hospice, 1025 Wade St., Iowa City, IA 52240.