Arlene French

ARLENE FRENCH

Cedar Rapids

Arlene Townsend McGuire French, 93, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday afternoon, June 16, 2014, at Northbrook Manor Care Center. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, by Pastor Daniel Winn, Cedar Rapids Family Church. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Anamosa. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Arlene was loved by a large family and is survived by five children, Judy (Alan) Rathje, Cedar Rapids, Roger (Jane) McGuire, Springfield, Mo., Thelma (Gene) Rutherford, Cedar Rapids, Charles "Chuck" McGuire, Garwin, and James (Oune) French, Lake in the Hills, Ill.; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale French; an infant daughter, Anita; two infant great-grandsons; one infant great-great-grandson; her parents, seven brothers and five sisters.

Arlene was born Dec. 15, 1920, at Buffalo River Road in Anamosa, the daughter of Charles Wyatt and Mary Mae (Wells) McMurrin Townsend. She married Milton McGuire and they were later divorced. On Dec. 30, 1958, Arlene married Dale French and he died in 1988. Arlene and Dale worked side by side farming and raising a family and enjoyed family life together. She lived most of her life in the Anamosa, Martelle and Stone City areas before moving to Cedar Rapids. Arlene also had worked in a shirt factory in Anamosa and as a waitress, but primarily was a homemaker for most of her life. She enjoyed gardening and flowers and was a great cook.

Arlene loved many and was loved by many.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries."