Ethel Caroline Rhoades

Funeral services for Ethel Rhoades, 95, of Perry were held 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2015 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry with visitation one hour prior to services. Rev. Julie E. F. Poulsen of the Jefferson United Methodist Church provided words of comfort. Casket bearers were Jeff Gilley, Rusty Sjeklocha, David Sjeklocha, Doug Heater, Mark Heater and Bobby Starace. Marjorie Vannatta was pianist. Soloist Brenda Roberts sang How Great Thou Art, God Will Take Care of You and In The Garden. Burial took place at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. A time of lunch and fellowship was held at Hastings Funeral Home after services at the cemetery... Ethel Caroline Rhoades, daughter of Paul William and Eva Ethel (Buswell) Masear, was born January 16, 1920 in Lemont, Illinois and died July 29, 2015 at Valley View Village in Des Moines. Shortly after her birth Ethel and her parents moved to the Gowrie area. She spent most of her childhood in the Gowrie and Paton area, and graduated from Gowrie High School in 1939. On July 14, 1939, in Bethany, MO Ethel and Harry Rhoades were united in marriage. Ethel and Harry lived in Des Moines for five years before they went on to farming in the Greene County area, west of Jefferson. Eventually, they moved to their own farm north of Rippey where they raised their four children; Sheila, Dolores, Beverly and Alan. Ethel would help with the farming; and was always at home to be with the children after school. She loved listening to the children talk about the events of the day, making it a daily ritual with snacks or sandwiches. She lived by "The Golden Rule", do unto others, every day and it was truly shown in all that she did. Ethel was a very hard worker and excellent cook. She always raised a large garden and preserved fruits and vegetables for family meals. She could butcher a chicken and have it fried for dinner in no time, then follow it up with an apple or cherry pie. Along with raising hogs and chickens, Ethel and Harry also milked dairy cows. Ethel often hauled water and cleaned the milking equipment; as well as assisting with planting and harvesting the fields. Ethel loved apples, so much so that she started to leave a bag on friends' and families' doorsteps as her calling card. If you were to find a bag of apples at your door you knew Ethel had been by and you missed her visit. She had a love for helping the family and taking care of her grandchildren; as well as family get-togethers. She insisted on shopping for Christmas for all of the family, even in her later years. Ethel belonged to the Rippey Methodist Church and was active in the Rebekah Lodge. She enjoyed fishing and camping. She and Harry would often take their children and grandchildren on many fishing and camping excursions. This lead to several upgrades to the camper as grandkids came of age to come along. Harry and Ethel enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona, near Ethel's brother and his wife; Marlin and Rose. Ethel was a strong woman, having suffered and endured the tragic loss of her son Alan, loss of her husband Harry and the huge loss of her daughter Dolores to cancer. In November of 1981 Ethel moved to Des Moines to be near her family. Ethel had a love for dancing; spending many a Sunday night in a pretty dress dancing at Lake Robbins with many friends who would regularly gather. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; son Alan Rhoades on October 2, 1966; husband Harry Rhoades on May 2, 1976; daughter Dolores Heater on November 19, 1997; brother-in-law Frank Haworth; sister Mae Gray; brother Marlin and his wife Rose Masear; and brother Lawrence and his wife Doris Masear. She is survived by her daughters Sheila Sjeklocha and husband Russell of Green Ridge, MO, Beverly Morris and husband Roger of Ankeny; son-in-law Bill Heater; grandchildren Wendy Bernt, David Sjeklocha, Rusty Sjeklocha, Doug Heater, Diane Heater, Mark Heater, Kris May, Bill Morris, Stephanie Vipond, Jason Vipond, Erin Overton; 33 great-grandchildren; sister Pauline Haworth; other relatives and many friends.