Lola C. French 1925 - 2017

FRENCH, ANDERSON, HEDBERG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/12/2017 at 07:47:48

Sioux City Journal
11 January 2017

SIOUX CITY | Lola C. French, 91, of Sioux City, passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at a care center.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., with Pastor Scott Squires officiating. Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery in Hawarden, Iowa. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Lola was born July 28, 1925, in Sioux City. She grew up in Sioux City with her parents, Emil and Lena (Anderson) Hedberg. She was baptized and confirmed at Covenant Church on 10th and Court streets. She graduated from Central High School in Sioux City. Lola went to Wayne (Neb.) State College to receive her teacher's certificate. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 1965 in Vermillion, S.D., and her master's degree in 1976 from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

As she was growing up, Lola enjoyed playing her accordion, and at age 13 had the chance to play with band leader Lawrence Welk. At 15, she was on bed rest for one year with heart problems. During her younger years, she enjoyed two trips to Sweden and many trips to Minnesota with her parents to see relatives.

On April 2, 1949, Lola married the love of her life, Charles R. French of Hawarden, at Covenant Church in Sioux City.

They moved to the farm in 1951. They adopted two children, C. Gregory in July 1956 and A. Christine in January 1959. Lola, Chuck and family lived on the farm until August 1965. They moved to Rochester, Minn., and lived there until 1974. They then moved to Celina, Ohio, until October 1977, Rockford, Ill., until August 1979, and finally to Sioux City.

She started her teaching career in Sloan, Iowa, and then Hawarden. She took a few years off when her children were young. She then taught in Rochester, Celina, Rockford and Sioux City.

During the years, Lola and Chuck enjoyed many trips. She enjoyed boating, camping, and wintering in North Fort Myers, Fla., in retirement. Above all, she enjoyed her grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Christi Bailey of Sergeant Bluff; daughter-in-law, Beverley French of Lincoln, Neb.; five grandchildren, Patricia French (Jesse Tanderup), Angelica French, James (Cheryl) Clary, Richard Clary and Adam Bailey; and four great-grandchildren, Xander French Dudley, Branson and Silas Hitchcock, and Elizabeth Clary.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chuck on July 9, 2000; son, Greg on Sept. 8, 2007; and her parents-in-law, Warren and Lucille French.