In Loving Memory
Lucile E. Carpenter
December 31, 1921 - July 11, 2017

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to the Iowa Genealogical Society.

VISITATION
Saturday, July 15, 2017
9:00 - 10:30 A.M.
United Methodist Church
Ruthven, Iowa

SERVICE
Saturday, July 15, 2017
10:30 A.M.
United Methodist Church
Ruthven, Iowa

CLERGY
Rev. Kris Hackbart

INTERMENT
Crown Hill Cemetery
Ruthven, Iowa

Lucile Elizabeth (Nielson) Carpenter was born December 31, 1921 to Oscar and Florence (Eaton) Nielson, on her parents farm northeast of Ruthven, Iowa in Highland Township. Lucile passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at the Spencer Municipal Hospital in Spencer, Iowa. She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, District #5, that sat on the pie shaped school yard between Highway 18 and the railroad tracks where they intersect, east of Ruthven.

Her mother died of cancer when she was 15 years old. Lucile and her younger sister, Lois, took the responsibilities of housekeeping, while finishing high school. After graduating in 1939, she remained at home until her sister graduated from high school. Her dad remarried to Nelle Manning that summer. Lucile, and her sister, took a trip to California, visiting their older sister and husband, Fern and Gordy Hall. Lucile started working in North Hollywood, taking care of children while their parents worked. After returning to Iowa she worked as a clerk in stores in Spencer.

On November 26, 1943, Lucile married Gene Edward Carpenter at the Methodist Church in Ruthven. They farmed two years during their marriage. They spent a few months making ammunition in a plant in Burlington, IA. After her husband entered the army during World War II, she followed him until he was sent overseas to Germany.

Her activities in the Ruthven Community included teaching the younger children in the United Methodist Church, offices in the church circle, Priscilla Club, and Ruthven Women's Club, Brownie Scout leader, Legion Auxiliary, and the Crown Hill Cemetery Association. The4 wording on the Crown Hill Memorial honoring our ancestors was from her suggestion while serving as the Chair.

Lucile enjoyed her family and friends, working on her family genealogy, and family trips. For many years Gene and she enjoyed spending the winter months in Texas and Florida. Her children desired to know the changes in our world since her birth, so she tackled the task, using a computer, to tell what it was like growing up. Since 1994 Lucile enjoyed living at the Highland Independent Living Apartments in Spencer.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Gene, her parents, Oscar and Florence Nielson and second mother, Nelle Nielson, brother, Wesley, of Ruthven, sisters, Fern Hall of Ventura, California and Lois Dobbins of Graettinger, Iowa, and her son-in-law, Roger Wichman of Nora Springs, Iowa.

Surviving her are daughters: Anita Parks (Larry) of Eufaula, Alabama and Cassville, Wisconsin, Janet Schell (Roger) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Jeanine Wichman of Nora Springs, Iowa, five granddaughters: Angela (Parks) Schwartzberg, April (Parks) Rivera of Columbus, GA, Jennifer (Schnell) Klamm of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Brenda (Schnell) Magnusson of Broken Arrow Oklahoma, and Cynthia (Schnell) Miller of Catoosa, Oklahoma, her great-grandchildren: Keaton, McKenna, and Josephine Klamm, Katelyn, Emma, and Michael Magnusson, Cody and Autumn Miller, and step-great-granddaughter Kimberli (Schwartzberg) Graves, and step-great-great-grandson, Landon Graves, and many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home