Lena Wade

Lena Wade
April 29, 1907 - December 18, 2004
North English, Iowa
Funeral Service: 11:00am December 21, 2004 at Powell Funeral Home
Lena Fern Wade was born April 29, 1907 in York, North Dakota, the daughter of Leroy Gilbert and Bertha Estella Markwell Wallace. After her family moved back to Iowa that year, she remained in North English her whole life. She graduated from North English High School in 1925 and taught at the Yankee Point School for four years. Lena was united in marriage to Warren Lamont (Mike) Wade on December 28, 1927 in Williamsburg, Iowa. They lived on a farm until 1934, then moved to town. She worked for the North English Telephone Company for 32 years until retiring at the age of 81 years. Lena was a long time member of the North English United Methodist Church and a 50+ year member of the Rebecca Lodge. She was a renowned historian for her family, the North English Creamery, Telephone Co., Rebecca Lodge and the Methodist Church. She also wrote the history of several church families and honored the families with their history to the congregation of the Methodist Church. In 1999 Lena became a resident of the English Valley Care Center in North English when she started her battle with Alzheimer. Lena died Saturday, December 18, 2004 at the English Valley Care Center in North English after a long illness at the age of 97 years. She is survived by two daughters: Phyllis (Pete) Peters of Madison, AL and Judith ( Benny) Esslinger of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren: Lt. Colonel Barbara Peters, Susan Coddington, David Esslinger and Sheila Esslinger and four great grandchildren: Raine & Liam Coddington and Kaitlyn & Holt Esslinger. Lena was preceded in death by her parents, a son David Leroy (age2 years in 1939) her husband Mike in 1984 and four brothers: Marl, Allie, Bernie and Armand Wallace and a sister Nellie Hahn. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English. Rev. Ben Wilson will officiate. Burial will be in the North English Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to7 p.m. at the funeral home with a Rebecca service to follow. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.