FLATNESS, Jean Ellen 1932-2015

FLATNESS

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 1/21/2015 at 11:48:09

NORTHWOOD, IOWA - Jean Ellen Flatness, 82, Northwood, died December 29, 2014, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

A celebration of Jean's life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at First Lutheran Church, 309 Ninth St. North, Northwood, with Pastor Judy Converse officiating.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Saturday at the church with inurnment following at Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood.

Jean Ellen Flatness was born March 8, 1932, in Worth County, Deer Creek Township, the daughter of Pearl O. and Judith (Carlson) Hendrikson. During the depression with a humble beginning she received her first seven and a half years of education at rural Deer Creek No. 3 School. Family played a large part in growing up as she was surrounded by uncles, aunts, cousins and extended family during those formative years in a small area bounded by a point around Deer Creek extending east to near London, Minnesota, then south a couple of miles, then west to a point about two miles south of Deer Creek. Trips to visit family in Wisconsin and southern Iowa in her younger years were a time of joy and happiness as when those families also came to visit. Saturday night was special to get to go to town for grocery shopping and see a movie that could have cost 15 or 20 cents. Also going to Carpenter for the free movie was another social event as movies were projected on the west side of the school building to be watched from a blanket spread on the ground.

From an exciting rural life, the family moved to Northwood when she was age 12, to finish grade school and start another chapter in her life meeting new found friends and getting involved with the growing pains of high school being the new kid on the block. Transition, acceptance and getting involved seemed a natural as she was part of the cheer leading squad and other extra activities during her four years completing graduation from Northwood High School. For a time she was employed as a telephone operator in Northwood.

She married Dale Flatness October 23, 1949, in Northwood and spent most of her adult life living in Worth County in a farm environment and eventually retiring from a job at Northwood State Bank. She had a love for horses and spent many hours pursuing that love, was active in volunteering, church activities, Eastern Star over 50 years, maintaining a home with a swinging door for her grandsons and other relatives, meals on wheels and later in life walking her dogs. She hosted many 4th of July picnic gatherings for family and relatives or whoever wanted to stop in and chat.

In this time frame four children were born, a girl Susan and three boys, Gary, Curt and Tim. Those left to cherish her memory are three sons, Gary (Brenda) Flatness of Northwood, Curt Flatness of Gardnerville, Nevada, and Tim Flatness of Des Moines; four grandsons, Gary Jr. (Jennifer) Flatness of Montgomery, Alabama; Chris Todd Flatness, of Atoka, Tennessee; Scott (Sarah) Flatness of Rochester, Minnesota; Tony Flatness of Des Moines; a great-grandson, Randy Flatness; her brother Merle Hendrikson of Mason City; as well as nieces, nephews, many other extended family and friends.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents Pearl and Judith Hendrikson; stepmother Minnie (Patterson) Hendrikson; husband Dale Flatness; Susan a baby daughter; grandson Danny Paul Flatness; brothers Roger and Delbert Hendrikson.

Those wishing to give a memorial in her memory may wish to consider in lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to the First Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, 641-324-1121, www.schroederandsites.com .

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 1/21/2015