Athelea Heath

Athelea I. Heath, 86, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at Colonial Manor in Anita.

Athelea Irene Heath was born on July 12, 1921, in Audubon, Iowa, the daughter of Maruice and Agnes (Fredericksen) Lambertsen.

She graduated from Wiota High School in 1939. Athelea lived in Cass County, Iowa, and the areas surrounding Anita most of her life.

On November 2, 1940, she married Earl Benjamin Heath in Atlantic, Iowa.

Athelea and Earl operated the Anita Café for a couple of years. Then, after the children were older, she worked for Walnut Grove for several years in addition to being an AVON consultant.

She was a member of the Anita United Methodist Church, where she was active in the United Methodist Women and the quilters. Athelea also assisted with the Alumni Banquet.

Athelea enjoyed quilting, embroidering, and other various crafts. She collected owls and angels. Athelea was an animal lover and was always known to feed stray cats. Earlier in her life, she and Earl enjoyed square dancing and teaching round dancing, even when they were traveling.

Athelea is survived by her sons, Jerry Heath and his wife, Barb of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mick Heath and his wife, Marge of Norwalk, Iowa, Randy Heath of California, Lyle Heath of California, Dennis Heath and his wife, Sherrie of Minden, Nebraska, and Danny "Dean" Heath and his wife, Carol of Wilburton, Oklahoma; several grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and her very special friend, Bette Dory of Anita, Iowa.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Agnes Lambertsen; her husband, Earl Heath; her daughter, Lilas Heath Pedersen; her brother, Vernon Lambertsen; her sister, Muriel Jensen; and a close cousin, Bill Lambertsen.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Anita, Iowa, with the Reverend Bonnie Peterson officiating.

Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 12, 2008, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita.