Mildred Leah Whannell

August 31, 1919 ~ July 21, 2013

VISITATION DETAILS

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

1:00-9:00 PM

Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home

Harlan, IA

The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

SERVICE DETAILS

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

11:00 AM

Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home

Harlan, IA

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

SURVIVORS

1 Son – Rex (Mary Kae) Whannell of Harlan, IA

1 Daughter – Rhonda (John) Mock of Harlan, IA

6 Sisters – Bessie Langer of Council Bluffs, IA

Lois Mortensen of Harlan, IA

Alta Hamilton of San Antonio, TX

Vera (Wayne) Raasch of Harlan, IA

Edna Barton of Colorado Springs, CO

Retha Buck of New York, NY

1 Brother – Robert (Aletha) Buck of Shelby, IA

3 Grandchildren – Jeanna (Brian) McCullough of Dallas, TX

Jodi Brown (fiancé, Barry Spencer) of Omaha, NE

Andrew (Kari) Brown of Underwood, IA

2 Great-granddaughters – Kennady Leah Brown of Underwood, IA

Kinsley Brown of Underwood, IA

Other Relatives and Friends

Mildred Leah Whannell, the daughter of Roscoe August and Lillian Katherine (Matthiessen) Buck, was born on August 31, 1919, in rural Persia, Iowa. In 1938, she graduated from Shelby (Iowa) High School, where she was a good basketball player. Mildred worked for Blue and White Grocery Store in Shelby before moving to Kansas City, where she was employed by Montgomery Wards and played basketball for their store team.

On December 28, 1945, Mildred married Andrew Bruce Whannell at the Presbyterian Church in Shelby. The couple farmed south of Shelby until 1959, when they began farming near Harlan, Iowa. They moved to their current farm place east of Harlan in 1969. Mildred worked as a nurse’s aid at Myrtue Memorial Hospital (now Myrtue Medical Center). In 1991, she began working as a CNA at the Elm Crest Retirement Community; she also worked part-time for Mickel’s Catering. At the age of 82, Mildred retired to care for her husband.

Mildred was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. She was a hard worker who loved her farm, cooking, and baking. She was especially known for her delicious brownies.

Mildred L. Whannell died on Sunday, July 21, 2013, at the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, at the age of 93 years, 10 months, and 21 days.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Andrew Bruce Whannell, on January 17, 2004; two brothers, Lowell Buck and Roscoe Buck; and one sister, Veta Bock. She is survived by one son, Rex (Mary Kae) Whannell of Harlan, Iowa; one daughter, Rhonda (John) Mock of Harlan, Iowa; six sisters, Bessie Langer of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lois Mortensen of Harlan, Iowa, Alta Hamilton of San Antonio, Texas, Vera (Wayne) Raasch of Harlan, Iowa, Edna Barton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Retha Buck of New York, New York; one brother, Robert (Aletha) Buck of Shelby, Iowa; three grandchildren, Jeanna (Brian) McCullough of Dallas, Texas, Jodi Brown (fiancé, Barry Spencer) of Omaha, Nebraska, and Andrew (Kari) Brown of Underwood, Iowa; two great-granddaughters, Kennady Leah Brown and Kinsley Brown, both of Underwood, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was held on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Donna Ewert of the Congregational United Church of Christ, Harlan, Iowa, officiating. Kate Kohorst served as the musician. Casket bearers were Jodi Brown, Daniel Heilig, Andrew Brown, Norman Bock, Robert H. Buck, Paul M. Whannell, Donald R. Whannell, and Jeanna McCullough. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.