Janice Swartz

Memorial services for Janice Swartz, age 91, of Corning, who died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at Corning Nursing & Rehab, were held Feb. 11, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Corning. Interment of ashes was held in the Oakland Cemetery in Quincy. Instead of flowers the family requests memorials be directed to Corning Nursing & Rehab or the Corning United Methodist Church. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Roland-Ritchie Funeral Home of Corning.

Hildred Janice (Molyneux) Swartz was born Aug. 2, 1920, on the family farm near Mount Zion the daughter of Paul Franklin Molyneux and Bertha Rogene (Lane) Molyneux. She passed into eternal life on Jan. 28, 2012, at the Corning Nursing & Rehab Center at the age of 91 years, 5 months and 26 days.

Her early years were spent in the Mount Zion and Prescott areas. She started school at the age of four and graduated from the Prescott High School with the Class of 1938. She trained at Iowa State Teacher’s College and taught at Grant #2, Union #5 and Nodaway Schools.

On Sept. 8, 1946, she was united in marriage to Robert F. Swartz at the Corning United Methodist Church. They enjoyed a loving church and family centered life together for nearly fifty years, until his death in July of 1996. Their devotion to each other and to helping others was an inspiration to many.

Janice was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. She was active in UMW, Social Hour Club and the Quincy Aid. She was an avid reader, accomplished seamstress and devoted her wealth of energy to caring for others.

There was a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. She spent countless hours with them making priceless memories and instilling her core values. She was a great influence on their becoming the fine men and women they are today. Her nine great-granddaughters were her pride and joy later in her life and she was blessed to be able to play an active roll in their young lives also.

Left to cherish Janice’s memory are her two daughters, Janet Wetzel of Corning; Joyce Hardisty and husband Marvin of Osceola; six grandchildren: Christopher Hardisty of Alexandria, Va.; Dana Stoakes and husband Chris of Omaha, Neb.; Trent Wetzel and wife Erin of Corning; Charmi Geerdes and husband Terry of Nevada; Carrie Hardisty of Ankeny; and Robyn Petersen and husband Ryan of Papillion, Neb.; nine great-granddaughters, Danielle, Abigail, Rebecca and Elizabeth Wetzel; Leah and Lynze Geerdes and Zoe, Kinzley and Jozey Petersen; sisters-in-law, Doris Swartz; Ruth Swartz and Marie Molyneux; a host of adored nieces and nephews that she thought of as her own kids and many friends.

Preceding Janice in death are her parents Paul and Bertha Molyneux; her beloved husband Robert; a brother Keith Molyneux and a sister Cheryl Herring.

Janice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her enthusiasm, humor, insight and kindness will be missed by everyone.

Elvera Rosamond Drake

Services for Elvera Rosamond Drake were held on Friday, February 10, 2012 at Pearson Family Funeral Service in Corning, with Rev. Laurie Greenlee officiating. Burial was at the Carl Cemetery in Adams County. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Carl United Methodist Church.

Elvera Rosamond Drake was born on March 28, 1926, to Leslie and Ethel Duncan on a farm near Frazee, Minn. Elvera entered eternal rest on Monday, February 6, 2012 at the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, at the age of eighty-five years, ten months and nine days.

When Elvera was one and a half years old, they moved from Minnesota to Adams County and lived in various places in the county while growing up. When she was a freshman in high school, her sister Marjorie was born. Elvera graduated from Corning High School in 1943. On a War Emergency Certificate she began teaching school at Quincy.

Elvera met and married Frederick Drake on Dec. 18, 1946. The couple lived on a farm north of Corning. To this union seven children were born: Barbara, Richard, Kathryn, Robert, twins Lois and Linda and Freddie. She worked hard her whole life cooking, cleaning, gardening, sewing, raising chickens, and all that came with raising a large family in those days. In 1976, they moved to Carl where they retired.

Elvera was very active in community and church activities. She was a very good cook and made such wonderful pies. She enjoyed quilting (she made all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren a baby quilt), reading, gardening and her family. She especially enjoyed listening to her children when they got together exchanging tales of their childhood, some of which she didn’t learn about until years later. She had her father’s sense of humor and you just never knew of what ornery thing she was going to do or say. Elvera loved to collect old dolls, repair them and make new clothes for them. She had accumulated over 200 dolls in her collection.

Elvera was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law and son-in-law, Jimmy Patton.

Left to cherish the memory of this loving mother and grandmother are her children: Barbara (Larry) Wynn of Creston, Richard (Cindy) Drake of Corning; Kathryn (John) Hogan of Corning; Robert (Melody) Drake of Corning; Lois Patton of Diana, Texas; Linda Jenkins of Corning and Freddie Drake of Corning; fourteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; sister, Marjorie Schlange of Pacific Junction; brother-in-law Robert Devore of Lenox; brother-in-law Robert M. (Doris) Drake of Creston, and many nieces and nephews.

Elvera will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Pearson Family Funeral Service of Corning is in charge of the arrangements for Elvera Drake. On-line condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.