Ione Lucille (Schwab) CHRISTIANCE

CHRISTIANCE, BAILEY, SCHWAB, ECHELBERGER, HUMMEL, VERDUYN, SCOTT, STAEBLER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/30/2007 at 12:30:10

Mason City Globe Gazette
MARCH 1, 2002

KLEMME - Ione Lucille Christiance, 90, of Klemme, died Wednesday (Feb. 27, 2002) at the Oakwood Manor Care Center in Clear Lake. Ione was born March 22, 1911, in Sheffield, the daughter, of Dr. Frederick and Gertude (Bailey) Schwab. She enjoyed spending time in her childhood with her father at his medical office. She attended Sheffield schools for a time, until her family moved to Clear Lake, where she also attended school. Upon the early death of her mother, Ione assisted her family with the farm operation and care of her brother. Ione married Donald G. Christiance on Feb. 26, 1928, in Des Moines. The couple would have celebrated their 74th anniversary the day before she died. They moved to Woolstock following their marriage, where Mr. Christiance operated a barber shop. Later they moved to Kanawha, Clear Lake and then to Klemme in 1934, where they had lived and been in business for 51 years. Mrs. Christiance was a lifelong homemaker and was an active partner with her husband on their farm in Clear Lake and in his barber shops in Klemme and Meservey. Ione was very active in the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme in many capacities, including, president of the Women's Guild at the church, funeral chairman, and various other roles. She was also active in the Klemme Community Band Mothers Club. Ione enjoyed many trips to Perry, Iowa, where she visited her Bailey relatives, and to Illinois, where she visited her husband's relatives. She very much enjoyed spending special times with her grandchildren, and also reading, sewing, cooking, gardening, antiques, coin collecting, and playing cards. Ione had been a resident of the Oakwood Care Center for the past year. She and her husband also valued their many friendships and enjoyed their relationship with their sons-in-law, Glen and Ron, who assisted them in many ways during their lives.

Those left to cherish the legacy of her life include, her daughters, Phyllis Echelberger, of Thornton, and Beverly Hummel and her husband, Ron, of Ankeny; three grandchildren, Mike and wife, Donna Echelberger, of Rockwell, LuAnn Scott, of Mason City, and Renae Verduyn and husband, Brian, of Des Moines; and three great-grandchildren, Todd Echelberger, Michelle Echelberger and Alayna Verduyn. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don, in June 2001; a brother, Frederick "Bud" Schwab Jr.; a sister, Leona Staebler; and son-in-law, Glen Echelberger.

Her funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, Klemme, with the Rev. Donna Buckman officiating. Burial will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Immanuel Reformed U.C.C. Church, Klemme, Oakwood Manor Care Center, or to the donor's choice. Tenold-Andrews Funeral Homes in Klemme is in charge of the arrangements, (641) 587-2510.