Margene Helen Rule, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at her home. Memorial Service: 10:00 am Thursday, February 16, 2017, at All Saints Catholic Church with Father John Flaherty officiating. A visitation will be from 5-7 pm Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home with Vigil Service beginning at 4:30. Private interment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.

Margene was born on January 27, 1935, on a farm near Manning. She married Gerald Rule December 28, 1955, in Manning. In 1965, they moved their family to Cedar Rapids following Gerald's job. Margene was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Church, her spiritual growth was an important part of her life. Ensuring her children received a religious education was very important to her and she worked hard to make this a reality. All five of her children attended All Saints Parish School and then Regis High School. Margene worked as the school secretary at All Saints Church for seventeen years, serving as an integral part of the church community and a mother figure to the numerous children stopping into her office daily. In the evening, Margene worked at Sears in the credit department. She then worked briefly for the Garnett Place Care Center as a bookkeeper, before taking a position as church secretary of All Saints Parish for seventeen plus years. Margene generously donated her time to the Cancer Center, Hospice House, and All Saint's Church and School.

Margene never hesitated to lend a hand when needed and was always there with a kind word. She was an avid baker providing exquisite cakes for weddings and was famous for her peanut brittle which she made during Christmas and was always eagerly awaited by those she gifted it to.

Survivors include her loving husband of sixty-one years, Gerald Rule; two sons, Randy (Penny) Rule of Cedar Rapids, Duane (Emma) Rule of Colorado; two daughters, Pamela (Scott) Rule of Montrose, Colorado, Karen Wertheim of Ottumwa; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Janice and Donna; two brothers, Lyle and Larry, all of Western Iowa; and daughter-in-law, Tracy Rule.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brian Rule; parents, Edward and Viola Drees; four brothers, Arden, Edward, Dennis, Merlin; and son-in-law, Eric Wertheim.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to All Saints Parish in memory of Margene.

Notes: Margene, along with her siblings, attended Washington No. 9 country school.
Margene graduated with the MHS class of 1953.