Del Reice Elaine Van Winkle

DEL REICE ELAINE VAN WINKLE

Marion

Del Reice Elaine Van Winkle, 90, of Marion, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at St. Luke's Transitional Unity Care Center. A family Celebration of Life was Sunday, Oct. 17.

Del Reice was born Dec. 18, 1930, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Raymond and Opal (Freeman) Swope. She married Le Roy "Rip" George Van Winkle at St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Ottumwa, on March 15, 1953.

Del Reice graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1948. It was Iowa's largest high school at the time. She was on the synchronized swim team. In 1975 she started the Finishing Touch in Fairfield and went on to have Interior Decorating Stores in Iowa City, Washington and Cedar Rapids. Her gift of decorating was God given. She left every place she encountered more beautiful than she found it. Her upbringing taught her to be tough, but she loved well, especially through the gift of preparing meals. She loved to feed people. She loved beautiful things and making things beautiful. She loved the Lord and being in His house to worship Him.

Del Reice will be missed by her husband of 68 years, Le Roy of Marion; son-in-law, Tom Londquist; daughter, Michele Williams of Ellenton, Fla.; four sons, Randy (Lois) of Solon, Jim (Brenda) Colorado Springs, Colo., and John (Diane) of Fairfield and Craig (Cherry) Cedar Rapids; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Darrell (Noni) Swope of Bloomfield, De Vern Swope and Doyle Swope of Ellenton Fla., and David (Linda) Swope of North Liberty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Opal Swope; daughter, Vicki Londquist; and grandson, Sam Van Winkle.