Wallace, Olive Bright

Olive Bright Wallace, 91, died peacefully Thursday, April 18, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City following a brief illness. Funeral Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, with the Rev. Rob Dotzel officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Olive was born Feb. 4, 1922, in McGregor, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Elisa (Engan) Peterson. She was raised in McGregor. In 1938, the family moved to Iowa City, where Olive graduated from St. Mary's High School and attended the University of Iowa. Olive married Charles Bright in 1946. Charles died in 1975. On Sept. 2, 1985, Olive married James Wallace. Jim died in 2004.

Olive was employed for many years as a secretary in the University of Iowa College of Education and later as chief certification officer in the University of Iowa Registrar's Office. She retired in 1985.

When her sons were young Olive served as a Cub Scout Den mother and was on the PTA at Roosevelt Elementary School. Olive was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council. She taught English as a second language and was a member of the senior support group. Her memberships include the Iowa Historical Society, the Archeological Society, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Norse Club and Hancher Guild.

Olive is survived by her two sons, Charles (Susan) Bright of Washington, Mo., and Stanley (Vicki) See of Cedar Rapids; stepson-in-law, John Grandrath of Pawleys Island, S.C.; grandchildren, Caitlin, Charles and Stephanie; four stepgrandchildren; and one great-grandchild, Parker.

Olive was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, five brothers, four sisters and her stepdaughter-in-law, Connie.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published April 20, 2013 in The Gazette