MENZIE, Arlene Blanche (nee Wilhelms) 1924-2003

MENZIE, WILHELMS, DENNER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/4/2009 at 10:28:17

Arlene B. Menzie, 79, formerly of 1212 E. St., Charles City, Iowa, died Wednesday afternoon (December 17, 2003) at her current home, located at 112 Sunland Way in Forest City, Iowa. She had been living with her daughter and son-in-law for the past few years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., in Charles City with Rev. Dennis Niezwaag officiating. Interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City with military graveside services provided by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. in Charles City. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Charles City American Legion Auxiliary or the American Cancer Society.

Arlene Blanche Menzie was born January 30, 1924 in rural Boyd, IA, to Theodore J. and Ida (Denner) Wilhelms. She was the first child of two daughters born to her parents and lived in Boyd and New Hampton prior to moving to Charles City during her Jr. High School years. She attended attended and graduated from Charles City High School in 1942.

Following high school, Arlene was inducted into the United States Army (Women's Army Corp.) on May 22, 1943 and served her country during World War II as a medical technician. After honorably and faithfully serving her country, Arlene was formally discharged from her military duties on February 18, 1946.

Arlene lived most of her life in the Charles City area and was employed by Oliver Corp. in Charles City, where she met her future husband, Brice C. Menzie. On January 12, 1946 the couple was united in marriage in Mason City. They enjoyed traveling together to various vacation spots and especially treasured a trip to Pennsylvania to visit her aunts. Brice and Arlene became the proud parents of two daughters.

In 1956, Arlene chose to become a "stay at home Mom." She did, however, remain very active at school as a room mom and with the local P.T.A., serving as a past president.

Arlene was a strong-willed woman who was a devoted wife and nurturing mother. She thoroughly enjoyed Christmas shopping and preparing for the holidays. Her family members recall that she baked wonderful pecan pies along with large, delicious dinners. In her later years, Arlene was content to have others "wait on her" as she favored eating meals in restaurants or having her family members prepare the food. Arlene and her family looked forward to Friday evenings as those nights were set aside as a pizza party. Her grandchildren remember that their grandmother had a sweet tooth for Snickers candy bars and ice-cream sandwiches and that Arlene possessed a great sense of humor, along with occasional teasing.

Some of Arlene's other favorite interests and activities included flower gardening and watching any type of sports on television. She was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins. She also found great pleasure in her three card clubs, playing euchre, 500 and canasta. Arlene loved visiting Las Vegas and the games of chance, even if only at the local American Legion and Moose Lodge, playing bingo.

Arlene was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City, WELCA, the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, AFLCIO-Women's Auxiliary and Heritage Club. She assisted in serving on various dinner committees and remaining active within her church.

Arlene will be missed dearly by all who have shared in her life. She is survived by her two daughters, Sue Kraus and her husband, Larry of Mason City and Donna Bindel and her husband, Richard of Forest City; one sister, Lois Hobert and her husband, Vernon of Charles City; one granddaughter, Melanie Leber of Des Moines; one grandson, Scott Leber of Ankeny; one great-grandson, Brandon Leber of Des Moines; five step-granddaughters, Kim Kraus and Kari Kraus of Mason City, Amy Purdum of Burlington, Apryl Green of Augusta, Kan. and Beth Bindel of Cedar Falls; two step-grandsons, Kevin Kraus of Northwood and Sam Bindel of Ft. Riley, Kan. She will also be sadly missed by eight step-great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Arlene in death is her husband, Brice C. Menzie in 1990, her parents, Theodore and Ida and her sister-in-law, Wilma DeHaven in 2002.