Iola M. Waddell, 82, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Friday, December 26, 2008, at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in Avoca, Iowa.
Iola Mae, daughter of Archibald Bryan and Clara Alice (Slight) Jones, was born May 12, 1926, in Union County, Iowa. The second youngest of ten children, Iola spent her childhood in and around Stuart, Iowa.
On September 5, 1942, she was united in marriage to Cecil Herbert Waddell in Bethany, Missouri. They lived in the Stuart, Dexter and Redfield area until moving to Anita, Iowa, in 1957.
Iola was a gentle soul who devoted her life to supporting Cecil in his salvage business and to providing a loving home for their six children. With quiet patience and strength, she always put the needs of others before her own. Wiping runny noses, combing messy hair and putting band-aids on scraped knees, Iola was a second mom to any neighborhood child that passed through her door. If unexpected company showed up at mealtime, she would somehow stretch whatever food there was to make sure everyone was well-fed. Whether dusting her endless collection of salt and pepper shakers or scrubbing floors, Iola could be heard joyfully humming or singing favorite songs passed down from her own mother.
Iola enjoyed making all kinds of crafts with her sister Maxine and writing poetry. She supported her children and grandchildren with her presence at countless sporting events, school activities and church programs. She was a member of the Friends Church in Stuart, Iowa. Reserved and selfless, Iola was the cornerstone, the unsung hero, of the Waddell family.
Iola is survived by her sons, Herb Waddell and his wife, Sherry of Anita, Iowa, Dale Waddell and his wife, Kristin of Walnut, Iowa, and Dave Waddell and his wife, Janet of Weston, Missouri; her daughters, Aloma Riley and her husband, Paul of Walnut, Iowa, Pat Jorgensen and her husband, Kent of Shenandoah, Iowa, and Phyllis Shannon and her husband, Skip of Parkville, Missouri; her foreign exchange daughter, Maria Prata and her husband, Al of Altadena, California; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; her brother, Wayne Jones and his wife, Pauline of Stuart, Iowa; her brothers-in-law, Everett Waddell and his wife, Colleen of Omaha, Nebraska, Wallace Waddell and his wife, Margaret of Stuart, Iowa, and Charles Mattox of South Beloit, Illinois; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cecil; brothers, Everett, Cecil and Eldon Jones; her sisters, Esther Beghtel, Eva Phillips, Agnes Rudolph, Maxine Voss and Mary Mattox; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Waddell; her grandson, Jimmy Waddell; and her great-grandchildren, Scott Long and Miranda Brooks.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa, with Pastor David Martinson of Canby Friends Church in Adair, Iowa, officiating.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa. Following the committal service the family invites you to join them for a luncheon at the Anita Community Center.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.
Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita is in charge of the arrangements.
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