Cleopha S. Luther

Cleopha Luther was born July 27, 1910 in Bayard, Iowa and died June 16, 2008 at the Greene County Medical Center at the age of 97 years 10 months and 19 days. A Celebration of her life was celebrate Tuesday evening at Hastings Funeral Home, with a graveside service Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at the Jefferson Cemetery Jefferson, Iowa with Pastor Larry Monthei, of the Cooper United Methodist Church, Cooper, Iowa officiating. Honorary casket bearers were great-grandchildren, Noah Luther, Olivia Luther, Jackson Luther, Aubree Luther, Brennen Miller and Lane Miller. Her casket bearer were her Grandchildren and spouses Cale Luther, Brenda Luther, Ben Luther, Kim Luther, Amy Miller and Shawn Miller. Cleopha parents were Carl Howard Simkins and Mary Pangborn Simkins. She grew up in Bayard and moved to Jefferson, where she graduated from Jefferson High School. She later moved with her family to rural Fort Dodge and Gowrie. On July 23, 1935 Cleopha was wed to Robert Luther at the South Shore Country Club in Chicago, Illinois. They were blessed with two children, David and Ann. During their marriage, Cleopha was both a homemaker and working in the family insurance agency with Robert. She loved knitting, gardening, and raising and showing Purebred Hampshire sheep. Cleopha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother Clifford Simkins, and sister Vera Johnson. She is survived by her son, David (Pat) Luther and Ann (Bill) Doubler, all of Jefferson; grandson Cale (Brenda) Luther of Jefferson; Ben (Kim) Luther of Urbandale; Amy (Shawn) Miller of Waunakee, Wisconsin; six great-grandchildren: Noah and Olivia Luther, Brennen and Lane Miller, and Jackson and Aubree Luther; niece Mary Ann Hendricks of Clear Lake, Iowa; other family member and many friends.