Sunday Obituary - Dennis Ford - 1938-2015

Sunday Obituary

Dennis Ford

1938-2015

Dennis was my first cousin, once removed, and in my graduating Class of 1957 at Coon Rapids, Iowa. [He outlived his doctor's 6-8 months by nearly two full years...]

Dennis Ford passed away May 18, 2015, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.  He was 76 years of age.  Per his wishes, no services are planned at this time.  A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.  Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society.

Dennis Kinnick Ford was born December 1, 1938, at Carroll.  He was the son of Lillian Kinnick Ford and Delbert Ford.  Dennis graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1957. Through his high school years, he participated in 4-H and FFA.  Dennis attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, studying accounting and business.

On August 28, 1960, Dennis was united in marriage to Sandy Fagan at the Glidden Methodist Church.  The couple farmed around Coon Rapids for a time, then farmed south of Glidden for 10 years, where they also had a small dairy herd.  They lived near Dunbar Slough for a few years and then moved to Lake View, and then back to Coon Rapids.  In 1973 they made their home in Jefferson where Dennis remained for the rest of his life.

Dennis worked as a welder at Parker Manufacturing in Jefferson, and then worked for 24 years in building maintenance and engineering for the Jefferson and Jefferson-Scranton School District.  He retired in November 2000.

Together, Dennis and Sandy mowed lawns and did snow removal in the Jefferson community for more than 30 years.  Dennis enjoyed playing cards and was an avid reader of western books.  He belonged to First United Methodist Church where he served as a trustee and was head usher for many years.  Dennis volunteered throughout the community by delivering congregate meals, working for the food pantry, Greene County Medical Center auxiliary, and securing  hosts for the seasonal operation of the Mahanay Bell Tower.

Dennis was a member of Morning Star Lodge #159 A.F. & A.M. (Masons), Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, and the Odd Fellows Lodge.  He loved being around people.  Comaraderie and service to others was important to him.

Surviving are his wife Sandy Ford of Jefferson; children Jeff (Terri) Ford and Deborah (Don) Wills of Jefferson, and Gene (Greg Lacey) Ford of Des Moines; grandchildren Jennifer (Brent) Oakes of Paton, James (Mindy) Ford, Josh (Jessica Wolf) Ford and  Megan Vaughan, all  of Jefferson,  and Jada Lacey of Des Moines,; six great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

The family is assisted by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson, 515-386-2171.

Source: http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2015/05/19/dennis-ford-1938-2015/

Families are Forever! ;-)

Hometown News - - 75 Years Ago - May 3, 1940

Hometown News

75 Years Ago

May 3, 1940

 

A rural school nearby in the late 1940s

From the Coon Rapids Enterprise - Thursday, May 7, 2015 Page 5:

75 Years Ago
May 3, 1940

Mildred Middleton, for the past nine years, a teacher in Union township rural schools and one of the most active workers in the Rural Teacher Association, will leave June 4 for Cedar Falls to enroll in Iowa State Teacher’s College for a two year Junior High teachers’ course.

After graduating from Coon Rapids High School, Mildred taught at the Heald School for six years and has been teaching the Richland Center School for the past three years. In 1931, Mildred and her sister, Mrs. Roswell Jordan, were prominent in organizing the Ten and Seven Teachers’ Club, one of the first such organizations in this part of the country.

Monday night Mildred entertained that group at a cooperative dinner at her home here with
county and state Rural Teachers Association officers as additional guests. The original organization included only 12 members: Irene Smith, L’Vene Smith, Mrs. Verle Thomas, Dorothy Barnoske, Clara Trullinger, Mrs. Alf Hetland, Mrs. Roland Drake, Elma Johnson, Mrs. Grant Ballard, Ineze Grohe, Mrs. Clarence Shirbroun, Mrs. Roswell Jordan and Mildred Middleton.

Now the group has a membership of 24. Honored guests at the dinner last Monday night were Mrs. Captolia Greteman, of Templeton, president of the state rural teachers’ association; Mrs. Mary Moore, of Carroll, assistant to the county superintendent; Helen Kuhn, of Manning, corresponding secretary of the county rural teachers’ association; Aurila Lamp of Manning, treasurer; and Edith Lund, president, who is also a member of the local Ten and Seven Club. Other members of the club attending were Erna Lund, Irene Smith, Mrs. Verle Thomas, Lorene George, Loretta Brannan, Pearl Brutsche, Eveleyn Schultz, Dorothy Schultz, Linette Cretsinger, Arlene Cretsinger, Virginia Gillespie, Mrs. Harold Pomeroy, Mrs. Roland Drake, Ethel Betts, and Mrs. Jordan. Edith Thomas and Irene Anderson served the dinner which had been planned by Mildred, Miss Brannan and Miss Brutsche. Places were laid at two long tables centered with potted flowers on table mirrors. Nutcups and favors were combined in handmade pots of artificial tulips.

The evening was spent in games, contests and singing, directed by Mrs. Jordan, Miss Betts and Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Greteman also showed private movies.

My comments:

These women played key roles in early family life. Three of them were my aunts, and all were close family friends. They were teachers in local schools, in the town schools as well as rural schools over the years, and one, at least, Erna Lund, just retired a couple of years ago. Mildred Middleton went on to serve Education at the state level and elsewhere. Many of these ladies served many important community roles and leadership positions. A neat article. I haven't corrected any errors... just copied as it was printed. Dr. Bill

Families are Forever! ;-)