Leola Jeanette Boender Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Leola Jeanette Boender age 84, of Albia, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 under the care of Good Samaritan Hospice at the Good Samaritan Center in Ottumwa surrounded by her family. Leola was born on June 4, 1932 to Roy Wesley and Bertha Grace (Tyrrel) Cooper in Albia, Iowa. She grew up and attended Albia High School graduating with the Class of 1950. On March 7, 1953 she was united in marriage to Gerald Leroy Boender. To this union four children were born, Larry, Patricia, Garry and Timothy. Leola and Gerald enjoyed 60 years of marriage together until Gerald’s passing in 2013. Leola was a homemaker for most of her life. She enjoyed being outdoors in her garden tending to her strawberries and canning strawberry jam, raising chickens, sewing, crocheting numerous things that were placed around her house and cooking and baking, especially her chocolate chip cookies. Her real joy in life was spending time with her family and friends. Leola is survived four children, Larry Boender of Albia, Patricia (Jim) Potter of Ottumwa, Garry (Janette) Boender of Ottumwa, and Timothy (Rebecca) Boender of El Dorado, KS; seven grandchildren, Robert Parks, Laura Ellis, Jeannie Main, Dustin Hicks, Heidi Williams, Alexander Boender and Mackenzie Boender; twelve great grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Thomas of Oskaloosa and Lavonne Bills of Albia. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Boender; parents, Roy and Bertha Cooper; two brothers, Roy Jr. and Loren Cooper and a sister, Lela Woodland. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Pastor Alan Paris officiating. Burial will follow the service at Pleasant Corners Cemetery in Monroe County. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Leola’s family present from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to greet family and friends. A memorial has been established to the Good Samaritan Society Hospice of Ottumwa.

Leola Jeanette Boender

June 4, 1932 - May 9, 2017