Charlene G. (Iehl) Anderson

Charlene G. (Iehl) Anderson, 82, of Belmond passed away Friday, June 30, 2017 at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.

Funeral services for Charlene Anderson will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Belmond United Methodist Church, 1031 1st Street Southeast in Belmond, with Pastor Pat Kennedy officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Charlene was born in Dows, IA on December 29, 1934 to Harry D. Iehl and Gudrun R. Jensen. Charlene attended school in Eagle Grove, IA. thru her freshman year leaving school to care for younger siblings following her fathers’ stroke.

Charlene met Willis Anderson while working as a waitress in a café in Kanawha, IA and was married at the Kanawha Methodist Church on March 22nd 1952 during a snowstorm.

Charlene went on to raise 10 of her own children as well as many neighborhood children and two foster children. Charlene was known to say “all is well as long as at least 12 sit down to dinner” 15 was not unusual. At the age of 42 Charlene achieved her dream of completing her GED, getting her license to drive and graduating from NIACC with a nursing degree. Charlene worked at the Belmond Care Center for 10 years before having to quit due to health issues.

Charlene will be remembered as a very faith filled and generous woman, she enjoyed baking and sharing her baked goods (especially banana bread), making goodies for everybody for their birthday and canning fresh vegetables from the garden. Charlene was also very active in her church and VFW Auxiliary as well as the local food pantry.

Left to celebrate the memories of Charlene are her husband of 65 years Willis; Children: Dayle (Lynn) Bell, Klemme; Vicki (Mike) McMurray, Belmond; George Anderson, Belmond, Teri (Bob) Eckhoff, Belmond; Janet (Sam) Rockow, Belmond; Ricky (Ginny) Anderson, Boone; Sheri (Brent) Boelman, Meservey; Leslie Heifner, Belmond; Mark (Sandy) Anderson, Hampton; Paul (Annette) Anderson, Eden Prairie, MN. Charlene was blessed with 29 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren and foreign exchange student Dörte Wahlers, Armsen, Germany.

Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, mother and father in law, 2 brothers Bob Iehl and Dean Bridges, sisters in law Doreen Winterhalter and Sheryl Dean, daughter in law LeAnn Anderson, son in law Calvin Heifner, and grandsons Blake Boelman and Jay Gochenouer.