Debra G. Slifka

Debra G. Slifka, 62, of Riverdale, died Friday, September 30, 2022, at The University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City following a courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Deb was surrounded by family at the time of her death.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 7, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the church. The burial will be Saturday at the Kendallville-Eddy Cemetery, Kendallville, Iowa at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran or  UHIC 3JCP Nursing Fund. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Deb was born on December 26, 1959, in Dearborn, Michigan, the fifth child of Wayne and Kathleen (Sandman) Gathmann. She graduated from Fordson High School in 1978 and then the University of Michigan in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. GO BLUE! Shortly after college, Deb moved to Davenport and started her career as a pharmacist. She worked for Walgreens at Duck Creek, NCS Healthcare/OmniCare, Target Pharmacy, and retired as a staff pharmacist for divvyDOSE in March of 2022.

Deb married Jon Moreland in 1984 who unexpectedly passed away in 1985. After meeting on a fantastic blind date, she was united in marriage to Mark Slifka on February 4, 1989, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Davenport. Mark and Deb have shared over 33 years of marriage, memories, and adventures together.

Deb cherished her family, especially all her grandchildren. Her “go with the flow attitude” always kept her ready for an adventure, seeing new things, traveling, and visiting family. Family gatherings often ended with euchre tournaments, singing songs from The Sound of Music, and many empty bottles of wine. A good day for Deb began with a cup of coffee and ended with a good glass of wine! She will be missed and thought of often by all who knew and loved her.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Mark, Riverdale, children: David (Kristi) Slifka, Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, Andrew (Rachel) Slifka, West Des Moines, Emma (Nick) Trizzino, Bettendorf, and Claire (Zach) Marotta, Bettendorf; grandchildren: James, Benjamin, Caden, Cole, Tucker, Adalynn “AJ”, Baby Slifka due in November and Baby Marotta due in March; siblings: Marcia (Joe) Luczak, Washington, Michigan, Patt (Dave) Stuebe, Powell, Ohio, Bill (Jean) Gathmann, Dillon, Colorado, Linda (Tom) Habitz, Novi, Michigan, and Kara (Frank) Clark, Chicago, Illinois; father-in-law, Anthony Slifka; brothers-in-law, Rick (Rachel) Slifka, Jeff (Beth) Slifka, all of Cresco, Iowa, and a sister-in-law, Kris (Steve) Post, Clear Lake, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents and her mother-in-law, Janice Slifka.

The Slifka family would like to thank the team with the UHIC 3JCP and the oncology unit for all the loving and compassionate care they shared with Deb.