Iola Willemsen

Iola Willemsen

April 05, 1908 – February 16, 2011

Visitation: 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., with the family present from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 20, 2011 at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 21, 2011 at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell
Interment: following the service on Monday, February 21, 2011 at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville

Memorials: Lynnville Friends Church, 503 East Street, Lynnville, IA 50153, or to St. Francis Manor, 2021 4th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Iola was born on April 5, 1908 in Sully, Iowa to Albert and Dora Garner James. She was raised and educated in Lynnville. She was united in marriage to John Willemsen on February 10, 1931 in Sully, Iowa. The couple was blessed with three children, Keith, Larry and Sharon. They resided in the Lynnville area and Iola was a homemaker.

She was an active member of the Lynnville Friends Church, where she taught Sunday school and vacation bible school, and she also belonged to a local sewing club.

She dearly loved her family and held a special love for her grandchildren, who brought her much joy. She was an excellent cook and also made candy for her family at Christmas time. Her enjoyments included having coffee and visiting with her family in the mornings, playing games, her favorite being Rook, and the companionship of her pets.

Iola is survived by her children, Larry (Sandra) Willemsen of Grinnell and Sharon (Larry) Meredith of Ankeny, IA; nine grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; a great great grandchild; a sister, Ruth Hall of Grinnell; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John on September 18, 1991; a son, Keith Willemsen in 1995; a great granddaughter, Jamie Juuhl; three brothers, Harold, Lloyd, and Ward James; and a sister, Wanda Williams.

Source: Smith Funeral Homes