Obituary of Melda L. Black

Melda L. Black, 93 lifelong resident of Iowa City died peacefully Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at Mercy Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, December 5, 2016, at Gay & Ciha where there will be an hour of visitation prior to the services. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Melda’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent for her family though the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Melda was born on September 4, 1923, in Iowa City, the daughter of Nellie Douglass Mahanna. She attended Iowa City Schools, graduating from City High School with the class of 1942. She was united in marriage to George Black on December 30, 1948, in Iowa City. Melda liked to say she was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII, doing her part to support the war effort working at a munitions plant in Cedar Rapids. Later she worked at Sears in Iowa City, City High School and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Patient Services. She enjoyed her membership in the Eagles, VFW and the Alumni Group from City High School. Melda enjoyed her conversations with family and friends and loved to share stories about the history of Iowa City. When she was able Melda loved to travel. Her family includes her two children, Michael D. Black, and Kathleen Black Sullivan (Dan); 3 grandsons, Joshua Black, Sean and Ryan Sullivan; sister, Vivian Manson; and brother, Donald Mahanna (Barbara); nieces, nephews, other extended family and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, George; and her brother, Harold Mahanna.