Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Marianna Wolpers left legacies all around her -- mostly through Three Rivers Community College, which she worked to help establish in 1966.

But after decades of caring for her family and working to improve her community, her duties ended about 8 a.m. Monday, when she died at 84.

Wolpers was a force in the campaign to convince voters in Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties to tax themselves to establish TRCC. The campaign succeeded, with classes starting in 1967.

Wolpers was elected to the TRCC Board of Trustees in 1972 and served for 12 years. She remains the only woman to have been elected a trustee.

James Grassham, chairman of the board of trustees, served with Wolpers, and remembered her as "a dandy."

"She was a mighty fine board member -- one of the best,"he said. "She had the students at heart, the college at heart and the employees at heart. She was a very caring person, and she had a good sense of humor."

Wolpers is survived by her husband, Henry M. Wolpers; two daughters, Rebecca McRoberts of Marshall, Mo., and Charlotte Craig Maccani of Fairdealing, Mo.; and other family members.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Poplar Bluff.

A scholarship in her memory will be established at TRCC. Memorial donations may be sent to the Marianna Wolpers Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Three Rivers Community College Foundation, PO Box 283, Poplar Bluff, Mo., 63902.