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Blanchard, L. Rae
L. Rae Blanchard was born April 7, 1922, to C.W. Daniels and Faye Leone (Johnson) Daniels, in Central City, Iowa. She died Jan. 24, 2013, at age 90. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, in Iowa City at Lensing Funeral Home in the Kirkwood Room. Funeral services will be in Cedar Rapids at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at Cedar Hills Community Church, 6455 E Ave. NW.
Rae lived in Springville, Cedar Rapids and Norway growing up. She graduated from Mount Auburn High School in 1939. She earned her teaching certificate from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. She became an elementary schoolteacher in Onawa in January 1941. She also taught in Dubuque, Apple River (Illinois), Wapello, Little Sioux, Wilton Junction and for the Iowa City Community Schools (Longfellow and Mark Twain). She taught for a total of 43 ½ years and in Iowa City for 34. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1969 while teaching full time in Iowa City.
Rae was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Iowa City for many years. She also was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church after moving to Cedar Rapids. She was involved in many clubs and groups, including Voices of Experience at the Senior Center, G.F.W.C. Women's Club, Retired School Personnel Association and the Herky City Sam's Camping Club. She volunteered for many years at the Iowa City Senior Center.
Rae married Richard L. Blanchard in Palmyra, Mo., on Aug. 19, 1950. They were married 59 years. Together they raised four children. Rae is survived by three of the children, Bill of Iowa City, Becky (Mark McDowell) of Cedar Rapids and Cal (Joey) of St. Paul, Minn. Also surviving are her brother, Russell Laird Daniels (Flo); grandchildren, Chaim (Meg), Sol (Talia), Terra (Tim), Andre (Luciana), Amber (Ben), Erin, Molly, Tom and Kristin; and great-grandchildren, Daylen, Mayah, Ellianna, Kingston, Jensen, Noah and Kylan.
Rae was preceded in death by her mother and father; sister, Mildred; brother, Skeet; daughter-in-law, Georgia; and son, Tom.
The family would like to thank all the staff at the Hiawatha Care Center, especially her favorite nurse and friend, Jenny Gronewold, for their special care of Rae the past three plus years.
Published Jan. 28, 2013 in The Gazette
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