Blanche Ione (Murley) GELNER

GELNER, MURLEY, OLSON, MCCOLLOM, ROSSI, HOPE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/16/2009 at 10:40:23

Blanche I. Gelner, 92, of Britt passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Funeral services for Blanche Gelner were held Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Britt with Rev. Lee Nelson officiating. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. Visitation for Blanche Gelner was held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2008 at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and continued one hour prior to services at the church.

Blanche Ione (Murley) Gelner was born in Kanawha, Iowa to parents Samuel and Theresa (Olson) Murley on November 2, 1916. In 1917 they moved to Erin Township where she received her rural school education graduating from Britt High School in 1934. She then attended Britt Junior College after which she taught in the Hancock County rural schools. On December 1, 1939 Blanche was united in marriage to Donald Gelner of Forest City at the Kanawha Lutheran Church. The couple farmed with his parents at Forest City for three years moving Southeast of Britt in 1943. They farmed in Erin Township until moving into Britt in 1970. While her husband was County Supervisor, Blanche spent time in retail at Krietenger Hardware and Kraus Department Store retiring after her husband became ill. Blanche was a member of First Lutheran Church in Britt, ALCW Women, quilting, Senior Citizens, Hospital Auxiliary, Historical Society and the Neighborhood Homemakers Club. In 2002 she moved to the Summit House. Blanche was not only a rural teacher, she taught Sunday school, was Kanawha Lutheran Church Women President a period of time and active in many teaching organizations.

Blanche is survived by her son Gary (Janice) of Britt; daughter Laurie (Paul) McCollom of Windsor Heights; granddaughter Holly Gelner and special friend Mike Rossi of Montgomery, Illinois; grandson Jon (Jamie) Gelner of Truro; great-granddaughter Lola Mae; great-grandson Henry Jon; sister Betty (Stanley) Hope of Lake Mills; along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Theresa Murley; and her husband Donald in 1982.

Britt News Tribune, Iowa
December 1, 2008