Eleanor Severson (1921-2008)

SEVERSON, MCELYEA

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 4/3/2008 at 07:31:11

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, April 1, 2008.

May 27, 1921-March 29, 2008

Eleanor Severson, 86, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, March 29, of complications of Alzheimer's, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Alfred Kaupins and the Rev. Nan Hirleman-Aalborg officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in Cambridge.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, and after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Eleanor Severson was born May 27, 1921, in Ames, to "Spin" and Irene McElyea. She graduated from Ames High School in 1939. After graduation, she worked at Ames High as a librarian's assistant. She married Norman W. Severson March 26, 1943, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ames. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. After moving to Cedar Rapids in 1959, she worked as a secretary at St. Luke's Practical School of Nursing from 1960 to 1985.

She was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother to her family. She enjoyed her many extended family members and friends. She enjoyed playing golf with Norm and bridge with many groups throughout the years. She was a member of the Eastern Iowa Heritage Quilters and the St. Mark's quilting circle. She enjoyed her garden and her many collections. She volunteered at Johnson Elementary School for several years after she retired. She shared her love of language through conversation and letter writing to family and friends, always knowing the right words for any situation. Even in later years, as her memory faded, her winning smile and cheerful winks captured the hearts of everyone who met her.

She is survived by her husband, Norman; a son, Robert Severson, and wife, Lorie, of Denver, Colo.; son, Stanley Severson, and wife, Patsy, of El Cerrito, Calif.; daughter, Katherine Severson, of Cedar Rapids; and three grandchildren, Jeffrey Severson, of New York City, N.Y., Elisabeth Severson, of Seattle, Wash., and Daniel Severson, of Denver, Colo.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church or St. Luke's Hospice.

Eleanor's family would like to thank her excellent caregivers, Bertha Harris, of Milestones, and the caring staffs of Keystone Cedars, West Ridge Care Center and St. Luke's Hospice.

Please leave a tribute or memory for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

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