Boddicker, Arlene E.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Arlene E. Boddicker, music educator and Cedar Rapids businesswoman, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in Encino, Calif. She was 81.

Arlene, daughter of Joseph and Estella Reyman, was born Dec. 24, 1928, in Ely, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm with her brother Leonard and her sister Evelyn. She graduated from Shueyville High School, outside of Swisher at age 16. She married Gerald V. Boddicker in 1948. They worked together, successfully building their business, The Boddicker School of Music. At one time they ran four store fronts in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Iowa City, offering music instruction in accordion, guitar, drums and piano to over 1,600 students.

Arlene is most remembered for her 55-year career as a music educator. After achieving her associate degree from Kirkwood Community College, she served as adjunct faculty teaching accordion to music majors at Coe College and Mount Mercy College. She was a founding member of the Iowa Accordion Teachers Association (currently the Iowa Music Teachers Association), as well as the National Accordion Teachers Guild, where she served as an officer and judge.

In 1989, Arlene and Jerry moved to Rapid City, S.D., to be closer to their son, Marc and family. Arlene continued to teach accordion, piano and early music education. While in Rapid City, Arlene began to suffer from the early signs of Pick's disease, a form of dementia. After Jerry's passing (1998), Arlene moved to Oregon, where both of her daughters, Michele and Mijanou and their families reside. The last five years of her life were spent in Encino, Calif., living in the home of her son, Michael and family.

Arlene is survived by her brother, Leonard (Arlene) Cedar Rapids; her four children, Michele (Terry Scheffler), Michael (Edie Lehmann Boddicker), Marc (Sheila O'Day Boddicker) and Mijanou Larson; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial Mass: 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at St. Patrick's Church, 120 Fifth St. NW, Cedar Rapids. Life Celebration: 12:30 - 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at The Ponderosa Ballroom, 195 First St. S, Walford. Ashes will be interned in a private family ceremony at St. Paul's/St. Patrick's Cemetery, Watkins.