Pratt, Iona (Dirlam) 1912-2001

PRATT, DIRLAM, MORTON, LOVE, DAVIS, GILCHRIST, IRVIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/11/2005 at 13:02:22

Newton (IA) Daily News January 2002

Pratt, Iona (Dirlam)

lona Dirlam Pratt, 89, of Lacey, Washington, a former Newton resident, died Monday, December 31, 2001 at St. Peter’s Hospital, of natural causes.

She was born near Panora, Iowa on September 30, 1912 to James William and Stella Morton Dirlam.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2002 at First Presbyterian Church in Newton. Reese’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. prior to the services, at the church. Burial will be at Newton Union Cemetery immediately after the services at the church.

lona graduated from Newton High School in 1931. She graduated as a registered nurse from Trinity Lutheran Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri in 1937. She was employed then as a nurse at Trinity Lutheran Hospital, and in later years as a nurse at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Leavenworth, Missouri.

In 1944 she married Elbert Harold Pratt in Kansas City, Missouri. She is survived by Judy Eileen Love, their daughter her grandchildren William Michael Davis and Carol Kay Gilchrist; four great grand children, Justin Alexander Davis, Megan Eileen Gilchrist, Alyssa Kate Davis, Mandy Lee Gilchrist; her sister Betty Marie Dirlam, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her parents, her siblings Dr. Kenneth M. Dirlam, Pauline Dirlam Irvin, Lawrence E. Dirlam, Doris A. Dirlam, Virjeana Dirlam and James William Dirlam, Jr.

She worked for many years with Harold Pratt, to create Pratt Quality Food Farms at Farley, Missouri, where they I were pioneers in growing organic grains and producing health-foods. She cooked everything from scratch, enjoyed sewing and loved to garden both organic vegetables and flowers. She loved “the woods”, wild birds, flowers and animals. She enjoyed traveling to see the sights while visiting family and long-time dear friends. She always attended her Morton and Dirlam family reunions. She was a patriotic American, belonged to the National ‘Wildlife Federation and Presbyterian churches were her home.

Over her lifetime she lived in Menlo, Panora, Guthrie County, Pocahontas and Newton, Iowa and Kansas City, Farley, Weston Houston Lake and Gladstone, Missouri before moving to Lacey, Washington six years ago. Her family wanted her nearby in Lacey to care for her after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was a strong, determined, independent woman who maintained her sense of humor until she passed away. She will be remembered and missed by many loved ones.

For those who may wish to do so, memorial donations may be sent to the National Wildlife Federation in Washington D.C.

Originally submitted on Sun Oct 6 19:49:03 2002
Transcriber note: According to Newton Union Cemetery records she died 12/31/2001