Ione Catherine Nieland

Ione Catherine Nieland, 75, of East Moline, IL, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Genesis Medical Center – Silvis Campus, Silvis, IL.

Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2017, at St. John Catholic Church, Arcadia, IA.  There will be no visitation.  Burial will be at St. John Church Cemetery, Arcadia, IA.  Memorials may be made to Catholic Relief Services.  Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ione was born on Feb. 10, 1942, in Carroll, IA, the daughter of Andrew and Caroline (Staiert) Nieland.  She grew up with her siblings, Ruth, Mary, Marlene/Sister Irene, Leonard, Maurice and Alma on the family farm near Arcadia, IA, where she attended St. John’s School prior to attending Kuemper High School in Carroll, IA.

In September of 1959, she entered the Poor Clare Monastery in Omaha, NE, where she completed temporary vows.

In 1975, while teaching in parochial schools in Idaho, she co-authored “Touching God,” a book on children’s liturgies.  She committed her life to church ministry.  She worked in church leadership in education, administration, and pastoral care.  She was certified as a spiritual director at the University of San Francisco.

She obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology and Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Arts Degree in Religion and Pastoral Care from the Iliff School of Theology, Denver University.  She worked for several years as Director of Single Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado.

In 1989, she was certified as a chaplain by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  She worked for many years as a hospital chaplain.  She was appointed by the Bishop of Peoria, Illinois, to work for the Marriage Tribunal in 1999.

Ione was a member of the American Diabetes Association.  Throughout her life, she found peace, joy and inspiration in nature and contemplation.  Her work was meaningful and helpful to others.

Survivors include her siblings, Ruth King, Conway, SC, Mary (Richard) Baumhover, Carroll, IA, Sr. Irene FSPA/Marlene Nieland, Carroll, IA, Leonard (Naomi) Nieland, Pacific Junction, IA, Maurice (Sue) Nieland, Okemos, MI, and Alma (David) Gaul, Bettendorf, IA; friends, Lois Tressler, Arvada, CO, Patrice McGee, Oakland, CA, Rosli and Gary Gier, Soda Springs, ID, and Ruth Lotter, Milan, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.