Jeanette Wiley
Jeanette Wiley
Jeanette Wiley
January 15, 1920 – June 23, 2018
Montezuma, Iowa | Age 98
Jeanette Wiley, 98 of rural Montezuma passed away Saturday morning, June 20, 2018 at the St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Jeanette C. Wiley, the daughter of Guy and Bessie (Davenport) Benton was born on January 15, 1920 in the rural Brooklyn, Iowa area.
Jeanette was baptized at the Madison Church of Christ as a young child and was a 1936 graduate of Grinnell High School. Two years later she turned 18, and became old enough to teach in rural schools.
On May 18, 1940, she was united in marriage to Russell Wiley, Sr. Russell and Jeanette became the parents of five children: Russell Jr., Carol, Shirley, Steven and Mark.
After farming in different locations, they made their final home on a farm north of Montezuma.
Jeanette was a wonderful mother and farmwife. She was a member of the Montezuma United Methodist Church and the Midway Grange. One of her greatest joys in life was to ring the Christmas Bell on Christmas Eve with her family. Her other passions in life were watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, shopping for Christmas Eve, playing cards and scrabble, traveling with friends and taking care of her cats. She had a great talent for baking, especially cherry and raisin pies and cinnamon rolls. She passed this talent down to several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jeanette’s legacy will be honored by her children, Russell (& Marion) Wiley of Cedar Falls, Carol (& Frank) Helm of Montezuma, Shirley (& Rick) Linn of Montezuma, Steve (& Jo) Wiley of New Sharon, and Dr. Mark Wiley of Florence, MS; her grandchildren: David (& Frieda)Wiley, Kathie Wiley Edrington, Aaron (& Heather) Wiley, Douglas (& Stacy) Helm, Steven (& Julia) Helm, Bradley (& Terrie) Helm, Bill (& Kim) Linn, Lisa (& Matt) James, Elonda Van Maanen, Missi (& Clint) Spurgeon, Chad Wiley, Dr. Daniel (& Katherine) Wiley and Anne (& Chase) Cullinan; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a Ukrainian exchange great-grandson; her sisters-in-law: Grace Benton Dickey, Doris (& Mike) Hotchkin, Evelyn Wiley and Colleen Wiley; and many other relatives and friends.
Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; a great-grandson, Shane Wiley; her five siblings: Maxine (& Donald) Farmer, Harold (& Alice) Benton, Robert Benton, Emery (& Bui) Benton and Ruth (& Bill) Phipps; her brothers- and sisters-in-law: Lillian (& Tom) LeVake, Lyle (& Florence) (& Doris) Wiley, Fern (& Richard) Beyer, Garland Wiley and Wayne Wiley.
Jeanette’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. J.R. Paulson and the nursing staff at St. Francis Manor for the wonderful and loving care she received during her stay.
Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at the Montezuma United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montezuma United Methodist Church.
