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Eleanor A. Strait 1919-2018

STRAIT, MECHEM, BEATTY, DUNN, TALLEY, MADRIGAL, JOHNSTON, CRAIG

Posted By: Volunteer Rich Lowe
Date: 4/14/2018 at 04:01:26

Eleanor A. Strait, 98, of Keosauqua, IA, passed away on January 27, 2018, at Keosauqua Health Care Center in Keosauqua. She was born on September 17, 1919, to Linn and Nellie Mechem Beatty near Selma, IA. She graduated from Keosauqua High School in 1937 in the top 10 percent of her class. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) and taught several years in Van Buren County rural schools. She married Rex Strait on March 15, 1941, in Keosauqua, IA. He preceded her in death on January 7, 2010.

Together Rex and Eleanor raised three children on the family farm. She assisted with the farm chores in addition to her cherished roles as wife and mother. Eleanor held national, state, and local leadership positions in various organizations. She was a member of the Keosauqua United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women where she served in many different capacities and sang in the choir. Eleanor was a 4-H leader, county fair co-secretary and open class superintendent, member of Farm Bureau, Extension committees, Master Farm Homemakers, Associated Country Women of the World, TOPS, Garden Club, VBC Historical Society, Parent Teacher Association, Republican Women, and Forbes Cemetery Association. Eleanor was named Iowa Merit Mother in 1964 and 1971 by the Iowa Mother's Association. She was a great cook, loved to enter food contests and wrote a cookbook with the Van Buren County Register in addition to her weekly recipes that were published in the newspaper. In 1986, Rex and Eleanor were honored by the Lion's Club as Keosauqua Citizens of the Year. Eleanor was a selfless woman who didn't have the ability to say “No!" She will be greatly missed by her family, special friends Betty Mitchell and Cecilia Novoa, and all those who had the privilege to know her.

She is survived by a son, Marvin Strait (Doris) of Keosauqua; a daughter, Lynnette Dunn of Bellevue, NE; daughter-in-law, Susan Strait of Bolivar, MO; 10 grandchildren, Jamie Strait (Kristi), Leslie Strait (Holly), Marsha Talley. (Paul), Jeffrey Strait (Laura), Philip Strait, Brian Dunn (Jaime), Scott Dunn (Jackie), Jennifer Madrigal (Chris), Matthew Strait (Christine), Andrew Dunn (Amanda); and 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Paul E. Johnston of Keosauqua, IA, and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Rex; her parents; son, Darrell; three sisters, Shirley Craig, Winona Johnston, Charlene Beatty; and a brother, Harlynn Beatty.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at Keosauqua United Methodist Church with Pastor Mary Kathryn Hart officiating. Burial will be in Pittsburg Cemetery in Pittsburg, IA. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2018, and continue until the time of the service. Memorials have been established to Keosauqua United Methodist Church, Pittsburg Cemetery, and Forbes Cemetery.

Source: Van Buren County Register, Keosauqua, IA; 1 Feb 2018


 

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