Ione Genevieve Shadduck

May 7, 2022. I leave you now. I go to join my beloved family. Papa, who taught me to love and respect the wonders of our natural world: the fragrance of lilacs, the sweetness of apples, the crunch of carrots, the song of the whippoorwill every evening, the taste of homemade ice cream and home brew. Mama, who did amazing things; she cleaned, cooked, farmed, and cared for four children she took on when she married my Dad, plus me. My mom taught me to care for others, to love Jesus. She was always there for me, the earth beneath my feet. Then there was my brother, Lavern. He farmed over half of our 80 acres. And my sister, Marcella, who never seemed to be home. She was a rebel – she wore lipstick (a “no-no” in the 20’s.) My sister, Evelyn, was just always there helping Mama and the rest of us. And there was Connie, who was only 3 when I was born and was my growing-up partner. And yes, they blessed me with 24 nieces and nephews. I never married, so I appreciated all those “young ones” to love. I credit my good health to my 8 years on the farm in Wisconsin where I was free to roam, climb trees, build rock fences, watch the little chickees follow their mother, pet the cows, and walk almost two miles to school on the gravel or muddy or snow-drifted road. I got a prize for not missing one day my first year of school. I was part of a family that cared. After a few years of trying to find myself, I joined the Women’s Army Corps. I’m glad I did. As I left, I met my first partner, Duffy. She was the “wind beneath my wings”. She convinced me that I was smart and should go to college, so I enrolled at the University of Wisconsin. I was one of 200 students that graduated with Honors. It was at this time that I discovered girls and women were not allowed equal access to opportunity. And the fight for justice begins. After graduating, I found another partner, Andy, who taught me the meaning of love. She was my motivation through 4 years of teaching, taking courses at USC, Smith, Merrill-Palmer Institute, and pursuing a M.A. and Ph.D. at Michigan State University. We journeyed to Iowa where I was recruited for a position of leadership (Department of Physical Education) at Drake University. I was recruited by Drake University to replace the retiring Ruby Holton who was Director of the Women’s Physical Education Department. I developed the curriculum for the study of human movement and started the athletic program for women at Drake. I hired the first basketball coach, the first women’s athletic director, and sponsored athletic competition in tennis, softball, gymnastics and modern dance. At that time, the program for teaching students to become physical education teachers was separate, but shared the same facilities. I believed it would be beneficial to all to combine the two departments and I worked diligently to that end. The departments were combined. The Administration appointed a male, whose major area was Recreation, as director of the new department. Because of the philosophical differences in the focus of the Physical Education curriculum, I gave up my dream to study human movement and applied to attend Law School. I spent the next 26 years with a new partner, Hilda Lee. I leave you now. For more than 90 years I have experienced God’s wondrous creation. I enjoyed the smell of a fresh spring rain, the fragrance of lilacs, the sweet smell of a rose as it burst forth and revealed an unfathomable beauty, and the pleasure of a hot apple pie just brought from the oven. When I awakened I saw the blue sky, sometimes with white puffy clouds, sometimes with dark storm clouds. I watched the tall green trees sway in the breeze in the summer and marveled at the intricacies of the tiny twigs in the winter. I saw the mountains and the streams and the prairies and a squirrel sitting up holding a tiny kernel of corn in its paws, and a robin sitting on the edge of the bird bath. I saw you, my friends. I tasted fresh, cool water on my tongue, cream from a friendly cow, the crispness of an apple just picked from an apple tree that gave beautiful blossoms every spring. I could bite into something, and without looking, I could tell whether it was a carrot, or a cucumber, or honey in a honeycomb (another miracle of creation). When I was young, I listened to the whippoorwill every evening. Now I open the front door and hear the cardinal singing as it sits on the telephone wire. I heard the school band playing as it practiced for the big game. I heard the jazz flowing from the open doors in New Orleans. I heard teachers, pastors, and presidents tell me what they thought I should know. I heard my mom and dad speak to me with love. I felt the protective warnings of fear and pain. I felt the soft purrs and unconditional love of my kitties. I felt the tightening of my muscles when I moved. I felt the warmth of the sun, the softness of the breeze, and the coldness of the winter wind. I felt your touch. There is the deep sense of knowing love. Then, there is the burning passion for a cause, a cause that forces you to act, a cause greater than self. For me that cause was Justice, for only if there is justice, can there be peace. For me it has taken a lifetime and we’re still not there. I leave you with the Blessings of God to carry this cause forward, Seelah. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Grace United Methodist Church, Des Moines. Donations may be made to the Church and Society Committee of Grace United Methodist Church or the Animal Rescue League.