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The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Hedrick, Oletha
Oletha Hedrick, 99, died Thursday, March 31, 2011, at English Valley Care Center in North English. A Celebration of Life service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English, with the Rev. Kathy Moore and the Rev. Michelle Williamson officiating. Burial will be in North English Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Oletha Hedrick was born Jan. 19, 1912, in Lucas County, near Belinda, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas and Estella (Umbenhower) Lenig. She grew up in the Columbia, Iowa community. She taught in the rural schools in Marion County for five years. Oletha was married to Herbert Hedrick on April 28, 1937, in Knoxville, Iowa. They farmed near Attica before moving to the North English community in March 1939. They farmed until Herb's health failed in 1977. They moved into North English in February 1980. Oletha was a member of the United Methodist Church in North English, the Rebekah Lodge and the T and L Community Club of rural North English.
Oletha is survived by a daughter, Gay and husband Robert E. Moffit of North English; three granddaughters, Debbie (Clay) Toler of Glen Alan, Va., Sherrie (Ron) Maschmann of Millersburg and Kristi Hargis of Council Bluffs; 12 great-grandchildren, Carrie Knipfer of Riverside, Steven Knipfer of Ottumwa, Ryan Knipfer of Wessington Springs, S.D., Megan Hall of Mechanicsville; Va., Trenton Forrest of North English, Danielle Weldon of Glen Alan, Va., Jeannie, Jessica and Janna Hargis of Council Bluffs, Rhonda Waters of Iowa City, Renee Maschmann of Coralville and Michelle Koehn of North English; 11 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Vera Swearngain of Knoxville; a sister-in-law, Irene Woody of Denver, Colo.; a brother-in-law, Walter Hedrick of North English; and many nieces and nephews.
Oletha was preceded in death by her parents; husband in June 1987; three sisters, Etha Swearngain, May and June; four brothers, Duane, Dwight, Blair and John Lenig; and a grandson-in-law, Wally Forrest.
A general memorial fund has been established.
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