Greta (Korver) Carver Mount (2009)

CARPENTER, CARVER, DAVIS, KORVER, MAUK, MOUNT, VANDER MYDE, WRIGHT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:36

The Pella Chronicle
Pella, Iowa
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Page 5, Columns 1-5

Greta (Korver) Carver, the only child of Garrett and Estella (Carpenter) Korver, was born on June 14, 1914, in East Peru, Iowa. Greta’s father, Garrett, was the son of Dutch immigrants, (Simon Korver and Gertrude Vander Myde), who came to Pella, Iowa around 1850 and her mother Estella’s parents and family (George and Minerva Carpenter) had lived in the Pella area and had been active in farming since the early 1800’s. Greta grew up spending time in Pella and had many fond memories of Pella then and in more recent years. Greta’s parents were motivated by religious convictions and always acted with kindness and generosity to others. They loved Greta very much and had high aspirations for her life.

When it was time to start school, Gretta’s parents felt that the best opportunity would be in Des Moines, Iowa. So, the family moved there and Greta attended grade school and graduated from North High School as a member of the National Honor Society in 1931. Greta’s family felt that education was an important tool and so with the goal of becoming a teacher, Greta obtained a B.S. in Education from Drake University in 1934, (Kappa Delta Pi honorary society), a M.S. in Education from Drake University in 1940. She also pursued additional graduate study over the years at Columbia University, University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University. Greta majored in English and Latin and later in Business Education. She taught in Hamilton, Iowa, Panora, Iowa and Davenport, Iowa, Moline, Illinois and later in Highland Park, Illinois.

While attending Drake University, Greta met her future husband, Roy Edgar Mount, in an English class. After a lengthy friendship and courtship, Greta and Roy married on July 25, 1944, in Prescott, Arizona, where he was serving as a Staff Sergeant with the United States Army Air Corps and later with the Iowa National Guard. After Roy completed his active service to his country in 1945, Greta and Roy moved to the Davenport, IA/Moline, IL area where Roy was an advertising account executive for John Deere and Greta was Dean of Girls at John Deere Junior High School. When their family started with the birth of Margaret Adelle they moved to Des Plaines, Illinois so that Roy could pursue his career in advertising in Chicago, Illinois, where he was very successful and retired as vice president and creative director in 1976. Meanwhile, when Roy Edgar Mount, Jr. was born, the family moved to Highland Park, Illinois so that the best possible school opportunities for their children would be available.

Greta went back to teaching in 1956 at Highland Park High School. This time she taught business education subjects. Greta was a master teacher who loved to teach and took special interest in her students. She was very determined to be the best she could be as a teacher and mentor for her students, gave tirelessly of her time and support for them, and helped them to turn her high expectations for them into their own. From 1971 to 1973 she served as Secretary and Vice President of the Chicago Area Business Education Association. She retired from teaching in 1976 after thirty-three years of dedicated service.

Greta and Roy moved to the Pella Manor in Pella, Iowa in 1978. They maintained this Pella residence as well as other homes in Vail, Colorado and Mesa, Arizona and enjoyed their retirement and the splendor of the seasons by spending time in each of these places throughout the year. On November 20, 2000, Greta and Roy moved into the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center. Greta was a loving wife and shared a mutually committed marriage with Roy for fifty-six years until his death on December 9, 2000. Greta continued to live in the Long Term Care Unit on Team 4 for nine years during which time she took a genuine interest in and felt great affection for the staff. In return for the kind care they gave to her, it was important to her to give encouragement and goodwill back to them. Although she grew weak over the last few months, she still managed a smile and a kind word until she passed away to be with her Lord on December 3, 2009, at the advanced age of 95 years.

As a mother, Greta directed all of her love and energy to providing the best for her children, Peggy and Ed. She was an inspirational role model to her children in her determination, in spite of health challenges, and dedication to her family as well as her concern for and interest in all those with whom she came in touch. But most of all, they are grateful for her consistent demonstration of love and selflessness in her actions. She also loved her four granddaughters, Lindsay Kay, Melissa Estelle Elizabeth Ann Mount and Jera Alexandra Davis, and always encouraged them to be the best they can be.

Left to honor and be inspired by Greta’s memory are her daughter, Margaret and her husband, Jerrell K. Davis and their daughter, Jera Alexandra of Taos, New Mexico and her son, Roy Edgar (Ed) Mount and his wife, Janet (Mauk) of Newton, Iowa and their three daughters, Lindsay Kay, Melissa Estelle, and Elizabeth Ann. Greta was preceded in death by her father, Garrett, who passed away in 1943, and her mother, Estella, who passed away in 1971, by her husband, Roy, who passed away in 2000, and her father-in-law, Edgar Alexander Mount in 1951 and her mother-in-law, Ada Levinia (Wright) Mount in 1978.

All of us will miss her very much. Greta was a remarkable wife, mother, grandmother and human being who gave of herself and her love selflessly and endlessly. We have been truly blessed to have been part of her life.

Services were held on Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Second Reformed Church in Pella.

Memorials may be given for Hospice of Pella.

Arrangements were made by the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

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