Henderson, Mable Florence (Thelman) 1910-2004

HENDERSON, THELMAN, GANNON, MEYTHALER, MATTSON, FOELKER, MISKELL

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 2/13/2014 at 21:39:32

SOURCE: THE OUTLOOK, Monona, Iowa newspaper, January 12, 2005
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Mable Florence Henderson of Cross Plains, Wisconsin, formerly of Volney, Iowa died on Friday, December 31, 2004 at the Hospice Care Center in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, following a brief illness. She was 94 years of age. Services were held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 8 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church in Monona, Iowa. Rev. Dennis Gilbert officiated. Burial was in the Smithfield Cemetery near Volney, Iowa. Leonard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mable was born in Alpha, Iowa on October 8, 1910. Her mother, Martha, died in the flu epidemic of 1919 and Mable was raised by her grandparents, Anna Marie and Fredrick Thelman. She graduated from the Alpha High School in 1929 and attended Upper Iowa University where she majored in education. While teaching eight grades and twenty-eight children at the Little Red School in Allamakee County near Monona, she met her future husband, Forrest Henderson. They were married during the Depression of the 1930's and Mable was not permitted to continue teaching. The teaching jobs were saved for men who had families to support. It was during World War II while all of the men were fighting the war that women were asked to again teach in the country schools of Iowa. Mable helped the war effort by teaching in the country school at Suttle Creek. Forrest and Mable had three children.

Mable was happiest teaching children whether in a classroom, Sunday School, or Bible School. She was an active member of the Volney Methodist Church for many years. Many will remember her pies and fried chicken at the fundraising suppers there. She also loved to garden, and her flowers, especially roses, were shared each Sunday on the altar of the Volney Church. The last twelve years of Mable's life were lived in Wisconsin with her daughter Marilyn where she attended and joined Grace Lutheran Church in Madison. Mable found many living things to share her love with: Maggie, a small white Westie dog, the Arabian horses she loved to pet and talk to when she took long walks along the pasture fences during warm afternoons in spring and autumn, and flowers. Flowers that grew inside and outside her rural Cross Plains, Wisconsin home were God's special gift to the world. Mable touched the lives of everyone she met with her gentle, kind nature. She will be missed by her family and friends and forever loved and cherished in their hearts and memories. Rest in peace, in Jesus' arms, Mable.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, and two children, Roland Forrest Henderson in infancy and William Henderson.

Surviving are her daughter, Marilyn and her husband Francis Gannon of Cross Plains, Wisconsin; five grandchildren, DeAnn and her husband Jay Meythaler of Mequon, Wisconsin, Jennifer and her husband Daniel Foelker of Middleton, Wisconsin, Christy and her husband James Miskell of Marseilles, Illinois, James Henderson of Morris, Illinois and nine great-grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Vernon Cooper, Donald Hartley, Robert Henning, Chuck Jackman, Jim Moose, and George Opperman.