Eleanor M. McElree

Eleanor M. McElree

Eleanor M. McElree, 81, of Marion and formerly of Vinton and Fayette, died Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette with Pastor Jim Rinehart officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 7 2014, at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the services on Tuesday.

Eleanor Marilyn, daughter of John and Frieda Vaupel Epperson, was born August 31, 1932, at Vinton, Iowa. She attended country school and graduated from Lincoln High School in Vinton in 1950. Later in life she attended Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids and studied religion. On December 20, 1952, she was united in marriage with Glen McElree at Waterloo. They lived in the Fayette and Vinton areas prior to moving to Marion in 1959. Eleanor had worked at Rockwell Collins and took a break from work to raise her family. She returned to work at Rockwell in 1965, and remained there until retiring in 1994. She remained a resident of Marion until entering the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester in August of 2010.

She is survived by three sons, William (Sandra) McElree of Cedar Rapids, Michael McElree of Marion, and John (Kim) McElree of Atkins; Three daughters, Renee (Michael) Morris of Axton, Virginia, Janene (Jack) Jantz of Hemet, California, and Angela (Corey) Timmerman of Edgewood; eleven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one brother, Gerald Epperson of Cedar Rapids; and two sisters, Helen Kopecky of Cedar Rapids and Elizabeth Boltz of Waterloo.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, who died October 9, 1986; her parents; and a daughter, Peggy.

Janice Wilson Ozias on April 9, 2014 at 9:43 AM said:

Helen, Liz, and Jerry - I just heard about your sister's passing. The last time we all saw each other was at your Mother's birthday party in Keystone - it doesn't seem so long ago. Please accept my sympathy at your loss and my hope that your best memories of Eleanor give comfort to all. Cousin Janice (Austin, Texas)

Cindy Kopecky on April 8, 2014 at 6:18 AM said:

My thoughts and sympathies are with you all. I remember going to the Collins Rec Center and looking forward to finding Aunt Eleanor there. She was big into the aerobics classes and her energy and dedication put many younger people to shame. I admired how she stayed so active even after retirement and was always pursuing new interests. I hope you find comfort in your memories and knowing that she is at peace.

Joe Greene on April 7, 2014 at 6:35 PM said:

You are all in my prayers. Your mom was a wonderful woman, I have fond memories of her. God bless.

Rev. Mary Green on April 7, 2014 at 12:13 PM said:

Dear Friends, you have my prayers and sympathy - sorry I am unavailable to attend the visitation or funeral. It was an honor and pleasure to help take care of Eleanor!! She was a sweetie! Will miss her smile! So thankful I'll still get to work with Angelia!! Treasure your great memories of Eleanor and keep the best of her alive in your own lives. God's Love and Peace, Rev. Mary, Chaplain, Good Neighbor Society, Manchester, Iowa

Anonymous on April 7, 2014 at 8:08 AM said:

I worked with Eleanor at Collins for some years. One day we were chatting and she said when she was young, she had known a Jimmie McGovern who had spinal meningitis and had always wondered what happened to him.

After talking to my mother, I learned the day in April, 1942 that I was born in rural Vinton, Eleanor and her sister Helen came and watched Jim, my eldest brother, during the birth. And, yes, later he had spinal meningitis and survived it.

Eleanor and I found this historical link rather interesting. After that, I always thought of her as the special person who was there when I was born. My sympathy to her family and loved ones.

Bruce McGovern, rural Puebla, Mexico

Ray Bonebrake on April 7, 2014 at 4:54 AM said:

Eleanor and family lived next door in Marion. She was a good friend and always had a positive outlook on everything. She will be missed by all who knew her. My condolences to her family and friends. MAY GOD BLESS ELEANOR AND FAMILY.
Ray and Barbara Bonebrake

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