Genelle Marie Valentine

Genelle Chladek Valentine, 50, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation and prayer service will be held Friday, April 10, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at St. Augustin Catholic Church, 42nd and Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.

Genelle was born April 18, 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Joseph Chladek and Helen Liknes Roush. Her family soon moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she attended St. Augustine School and Dowling High School, graduating in 1982.

She started in the restaurant business at the age of 14, working at Poppin Fresh Pies on Ingersoll Avenue. It was there she found she could meet people of many different cultures and facets. This was her passion. Genelle worked at several Des Moines area restaurants and did everything from waiting tables to cooking, catering and managing – she did it all. Genelle considered The Drake Diner her second home. She helped open the affiliated West End Diner as well as the North End Diner.

After tragedy struck the Drake Diner in 1992, Genelle moved to San Antonio, Texas for seven years, where she worked at a 5-Star restaurant named Cappyccino’s. Missing her family and the Midwest, Genelle moved back to Des Moines in 2000. Soon after, at the request of The Drake Diner owner, Steve Vilmain, Genelle was back at The Drake Diner. She returned in the role of assistant manager but later moved back to waiting tables since that’s what she did best. Genelle had many “regulars” at the diner and it was not unusual for her customers to wait up to 45 minutes in order to sit in her section.

In 2002, at her 20-year high school reunion, Genelle was reacquainted with an old friend and classmate, Tom Valentine. They were always very fond of each other, growing up attending both St. Augustine’s as well as Dowling together. After hanging out with each other for several months, they knew they were meant for each other and romance blossomed. They dated for many years and on September 18, 2010, they were joined in holy matrimony.

In April of 2006, Genelle was diagnosed with a very treatable form of breast cancer. It was at this time that she started one of the most courageous battles anyone has fought. After a lumpectomy, Genelle worked through seven weeks of excruciating radiation treatments, taking only a few weeks off work during this campaign. Tom and Genelle then enjoyed three years of health together before cancer once again reared its ugly head. On February 9, 2009, Genelle got word that her cancer had come back. She was re-diagnosed with stage IV cancer. It had reappeared in the same breast and had spread to lymph nodes as well as her bones, eventually moving to her brain and spinal fluid. During her battle, besides losing her hair a few different times due to treatments, you might not have known she was sick. Genelle always wore a smile, had an unbelievably positive attitude and rarely complained about bone pain and side-effects of the chemotherapy. Over the years, Genelle endured twelve different chemotherapy treatments and seven different radiation treatments. Last week, Genelle decided to take a rest from her battle so she can now look down upon us from heaven and guide us.

Genelle is survived by her husband, Tom; her parents, Joe (Judy) Chladek and Helen (Jesse) Roush; brothers, Noel Chladek and Jonas (Amber) Chladek; step-sisters, Laurie (Dave) Cronin, Roni (John) Benson, Raney (Tom) McLaughlin; step-brothers, Jim (Merly) Barr, Rick (Mandy) Roush, Rob (Wendi) Roush; nieces, Sinea, Brienna, Karington, Brianna; nephews, Noel II, Torin, and Declan; her cat, Bessie; and finally, the second love of her life, her beloved cockapoo, Callie.

The family would like to give special thanks to the following caregivers: her friend, Mary Riley, who over the last few years has done too many things to mention, Dr. Steve Heddinger, nurse, Amy Bell, and all the staff at Medical Oncology and Hematology, Care Coordinators on Powell III, Edra Fouts and Diane Halber, and all the Powell III staff, the staff at the John Stoddard Infusion Center, as well as Mercy Hospice in Johnston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to John Stoddard Cancer Center and Mercy Hospice, Johnston, Iowa. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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