Halene Fleener

Halene Fleener

Halene Fleener
March 20, 1937 – April 14, 2023
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 86

Halene Fleener, age 86, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the MHP Serenity Hospice House in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Halene was born March 20, 1937, to Ilo Thrapp at home in Rose Hill, Iowa and was raised there by her grandparents, Will and Flora Thrapp.

Halene attended Rose Hill School.

On October 19, 1950, she married Thomas H. Rees. To this union 2 children were born. They divorced in 1953.

On February 25, 1956, she married William L. Fleener. To this union 5 children were born. William passed away on August 22, 2006.

In her early years Halene worked as a waitress in local restaurants and at the Continental Overall Factory while studying and earning her GED. She began working at MCH in 1963 as a nurses assistant, during which time she was raising 7 children and always studying something new. In 1979, with her children grown, she graduated from truck driving school. She and her husband became owner/operators and drove all the lower 48 states and Canada. During this time their company, Ranger Transportation, presented them with drivers of the year award and a trip to Amelia Island in Florida. They continued driving until 1990 until William’s health prevented him from driving over the road.

Halene still loved the medical field, so she and her daughter Cindy went together to Nursing School where they became RN’s in 1992. She then went back to full time employment at MCH. In 1993 she became a 2nd floor Chg. Nurse. She retired in December of 2000.

Halene also holds certificates in women’s self-defense, cake decorating, several safe driving awards and in 2002 she received an award as 1 of 100 Great Iowa Nurses. She was very talented at crocheting and loved her horses, polled hereford cattle and Jack Russell terriers. She still says her greatest honor was being a mother to her 7 children whom she would give her life for. She truly loved her children and grandchildren.

Halene is survived by her children: Janet Walraven of Oskaloosa, Terry (& Deb) Rees of Rose Hill, Cindy (& Gary Mason) Stirratt of Oskaloosa, Kathy (& David) Dalbey of Osceola and Marilyn (& Jeff) Crumbley of Pelham, Alabama; her grandchildren: Stacey Goodvin, Michelle Morrow, Misty (& Robert) White, Eric (& Mandy) Rees, Candice (& Robin) Fuller, Chad (& Amy) Bollinger, Carissa (& Kyle) Peters-Heine, Tesa Fleener, Teresa Latcham and Brant (& Sarah) Champoux; numerous great and great-great grandchildren; her siblings: Rick Baker of Oskaloosa, Pauline Beck of Ottumwa, Donna Lang of What Cheer and Ronnie Baker of Ridge Manor, Florida.

She is preceded in death by her mother; her husband; 2 children, Sherry Fleener and Mike Fleener; a granddaughter, Starr Rees; a great grandson, John Jameson Jones; a son-in-law, Jim Stirratt and a daughter-in-law, Diane McReynolds.

Funeral services will be held at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Molly Goodrich officiating The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Monday, April 17, 2023 after 12 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Monday evening to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the MHP Serenity Hospice House.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Halene Fleener please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.

Posted by on Apr 15 2023. Filed under Obituaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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