ETHELL, Geraldine I. (1937-2019)

ETHELL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/4/2020 at 13:06:52

Geraldine Ione Ethell
(November 8, 1937 - December 28, 2019)

GERALDINE ETHELL
Milo
Geraldine I. Ethell "Jerry" 82 of Milo, Iowa passed away peacefully Saturday, December 28, 2019. Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents, Verla and Hazel Martin of Lovilla, Sister, Gwen Sims (Bob) of Russell, Sister, Arlene Wilson (John) of Lovilla, and Son in Law, Jerald Carlson of Indianola.

Geraldine is survived by her husband of 63 years Larry E. Ethell of Milo, daughter, Holly Carlson of Indianola, and son, Larry I. Ethell (Kelly) of Altoona; two granddaughters, Miranda Ethell of Altoona and Rachel Ethell of Ames; and many extended relatives and friends.

Geraldine grew up on a farm NE of Fremont in Mahaska County and later moved to a dairy farm close to Lovilla. Geraldine attended a one room school house starting at age 4. Geraldine had a two-mile trek to school and often rode her bicycle or her pony instead of walking to school. Geraldine fell in love with school and stimulated a lifetime quest for learning and creativity and inspired her individuality. The social era she grew up in was met with many evolving and challenging racial and religious stereotyping and opinions. Geraldine often found, as she emerged a young woman, the views of her parent’s era and the era of her future were becoming vastly different after the war.

Geraldine loved to share stories of her love for being a farmer’s daughter, a tom boy and a daddy’s girl. She learned to drive a tractor when she was six years old. Daily chores included milking dairy cows in the morning and evening, gardening, canning, baling hay and cooking in addition to attending school. Geraldine by the age of 12 started high school studies and learned to drive a car. Geraldine gives complete credit to her parents for teaching her how to run a farm. She eventually proved this by owning her own farming operation from 1968 to recent days.
Geraldine had a great love for Country Music. Many evenings were spent with her family enjoying the Grand Ole Opry music show on a battery powered radio. She enjoyed country music because she like how country music told stories to life experiences. As Geraldine grew older her love for Country Music inspired her to center vacations and outings to attend live concerts around the country. Geraldine was proud and excited to have met her favorite country artists like Rex Allen Jr., John Schneider, George Jones, Barbara Mandrell, George Strait and Merle Haggard. Geraldine has accumulated many autographed mementos, and souvenirs from all of these artists to add to her extensive record, cassette, 8 track and CD/video library. Geraldine’s love for Country Music was also complemented by Gospel Music. Jimmy Swaggert and The Bill Gathier Hour were among her most favorites.
Geraldine met Larry Ethell, the son of a coal miner from Attica, when they were 8 years old. Larry Ethell came from a large family of eleven brothers and sisters. Geraldine married Larry at age 19 years old. The first eleven years of marriage were spent traveling the US, Canada and Mexico and actively involved with Suzy-Q Square Dance Club traveling and competing across the country.
Larry was an electrician and Geraldine started her career as administrator for Allied Insurance for ten years before having children. They had a daughter Holly shortly after moving into their first home in Avon Lake. Geraldine chose to retire from Allied Insurance to raise her daughter full time. Geraldine soon realized she missed her love of farming and together Larry and Geraldine bought a farm SW of Sandyville in Warren County. Larry Jr. was born shortly after in 1970.
Geraldine always wanted to go to college. Once both kids were active in school, she enrolled in college courses at DMACC and finished up at Drake University with a degree in Psychology, Sociology and Art.
Geraldine was an active individual expanding her experiences and knowledge whenever given the opportunity. In addition to going to college, farming and raising kids she engaged in many adventures and hobbies. Some of her most memorable were her love for motorcycle riding across country, and camping with their pickup camper. Geraldine hosted Rodrigo Mehech, a foreign exchange student from Santiago, Chile, for two years whom is now a US citizen living in Miami and still remains very much part of Geraldine’s extended family. Geraldine developed a love for following and chaperoning a Drum and Bugle Corps shows across the Midwest in the early 1980’s. She worked and volunteered for Tom Harkin throughout his career and worked part-time at the South-Central Juvenile Center in Indianola.
Geraldine held many off-farm jobs throughout her life to include: Office Secretary for Laverty Sprayers, Licensed insurance agent for John Hancock Insurance, Secretary to the Iowa Supreme Court Clerk, Medicare Customer Service Representative, Office coordinator for a Graphic Arts firm, Payroll clerk part time for Union Employees and Secretary at Cargill plant in Des Moines. Her most recent employment was as an Assistant Service Coordinator and office coordinator for Raymond Forklifts in Ankeny and a part time floral designer for HyVee floral department for 23 years. Geraldine retired at age 70 to finish out her years on their farm. Larry retired from his electrician business and from farming to join her. They cash rent their farm and continued to enjoy the country life and travel in their new pickup camper. Geraldine’s health began to limit her in her travels and outdoor activities but her love for listening to her music, reading her newspapers and books and communicating with her friends on her email chains kept her young at heart. In the spring of 2019 Geraldine health made it impossible for her to remain on the farm. Following a short hospital stay Geraldine resided for the last few months at the Village Nursing home in Indianola before her passing on December 28, 2019 at Mercy Hospice House in Johnston.
Geraldine was born a happy go lucky child with lots of personality and wants everyone to remember her with smiles and laughter and not with sorrow or tears.
Visitation is scheduled at Overton’s Funeral Home Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 9 am to 10:30 am with an immediate graveside service at 11 am at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Indianola. A
Celebration of Life is being planned for the Spring. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Kiya Koda Animal Rescue in Indianola and St Jude Children’s Hospitals.
This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/