Esther Helen Harriman

Esther Helen Harriman
November 06, 1928 - June 14, 2012
North English, Iowa
Visitation: 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM June 18, 2012 at Powell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, North English, IA
Graveside Service: Private Service 2:30 PM June 18, 2012 at North English Cemetery, North English, IA
Interment: June 18, 2012 at North English Cemetery, North English, IA
Esther Helen Harriman, 83, left us on June 14, 2012, at the Great River medical Center in Burlington, to celebrate her departure from this life's trials with our Lord in heaven. She now has the voice she so long awaited and will sing forever in heaven's choir. Esther was born on November 6, 1928, to Robert J McClune and Mary Ellen Dougherty McClune at their country home in Poweshiek County. She married Ernest William Harriman on August 30, 1948. Esther farmed with her husband most of her life and was recognized as an outstanding woman farmer in 1984 by a national magazine. Esther earned a high school diploma in 1991, and then went on to fulfill a life-long dream in graduating from Kirkwood Community College Nursing program in 1993. She worked 10 years as an L.P.N. and finally director of nursing in area care centers before retiring at the age of 75. In 2004 Esther moved to Burlington to live with her daughter Linda. Throughout her life, Esther's passion was her family. She actively participated in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grand children. She demonstrated strength and commitment in her care of her husband during his lengthy illness, and her diligent care of her mother and father during their nursing home stays. Esther also lovingly tended her flowers, fed and watched birds, and was fervent lover of books, especially of historical content. Of the many examples Esther set, she will most be remembered by her family for her pursuit of knowledge, her love of nature, and her faith in God. Esther is survived by two daughters: Helen L.(Gene)Oliver of Grinnell, and Linda L. (Randy) Sorden of Burlington; a step-son Bill (Sharon) Harriman of Cedar Rapids; two sisters: Naomi Thompson of Mason City and Dorothy McClune of Brooklyn; and two brothers: Paul McClune of Gibson and Lee McClune of Knoxville. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and eleven great- grand children, two great-great grand daughters and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Earnest Harriman, son Charles E Harriman, twin granddaughters Tammy and Tina Harriman, parents Robert and Ellen McClune, and sister Bernice McClune. Private graveside services will be at 2:30 PM on Monday, June 18, 2012, in the North English Cemetery, North English, Iowa. Pastor Edwin Jordan will officiate. Public visitation will be from 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM on Monday at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English. A memorial fund has been established for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.