Eleanor J. McDonald

IN MEMORY OF
ELEANOR J. MCDONALD

BORN
February 21, 1922
Gaza, Iowa

PASSED AWAY
February 20, 2009
Primghar, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Tuesday, February 24, 2009
United Church of Primghar; Primghar, Iowa
Rev. Cory Flanigan ~ Officiating
Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Monday, February 23rd with the family present 5:30 to 7:00p.m., at the Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home in Primghar, Iowa.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
No 686 “O God Our Help in Ages Past”
No. 563 “Open My Eyes That I May See”
“Let There Be Peace on Earth”
Organist: LaNan Eldridge

CASKET BEARERS
Doug Reese Mitch Ahrenstorff
Ed Hedinger Todd Schoening
Randy Guetschow Brad McDowell

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Primghar, Iowa

After the graveside service relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home

ELEANOR J. MCDONALD

Eleanor Jeanette McDonald, the daughter of Elmer and Lillian (McCauley) Lake, was born February 21, 1922 on the family farm near Gaza, Iowa. She received her education in Gaza schools graduating from Gaza High School in 1939. She attended Western Union College in LeMars for two years and received her teaching certificate. She taught 2 years at Cushing, Iowa; teaching 2nd and 3rd graders and later moved to Belmond, Iowa where she taught 2nd graders. On September 22, 1945, she was united in marriage to Harold McDonald at the Congregational Church in Primghar. After their marriage the couple moved to Alhambra, California, where she worked for a short time in a bank. The family later moved to Whittier, where for many years the couple operated a shoe store. Eleanor was also employed as a CNA in nursing homes. Her husband preceded her in death on May 13, 1987 in California. Eleanor returned to Primghar in 1988 and for a short time she worked at the Primghar Care Center as a CNA. She passed away on Friday, February 20, 2009 at her home in Primghar reaching the age of 86 years, 11 months and 29 days.
She was a member of the United Church of Primghar, the United Church Women, Faith Circle, sang in the choir and served on various committees of the church. Family and friends were important to her especially helping and giving to others. Eleanor was also a member of the Primghar Women’s Club and active in the Gaza Alumni Association. She enjoyed reading, cooking, gardening, canning, going to the Spencer Playhouse and loved music.
Eleanor is survived by her children, Bruce McDonald of Cordova, TN; Janet and her husband, Doug Reese of Hartley and Brian McDonald of Primghar; one granddaughter, Sheila and her husband, Mitch Ahrenstorff; one sister and her husband, Kathryn and Jim Keife of Whittier, California; also nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and two sisters, Gerry Neiman and Florence Schoening.