Elaine Wadsworth

Elaine Wadsworth
Bondurant

Elaine (Dittmer) Wadsworth, 90, of Bondurant, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Elaine was born in Ohiowa, NE to Edward and Louise (Rippe) Dittmer on November 18, 1924.

Elaine married her Navy sweetheart, Brian on July 22, 1944. She was his loving wife for more than 71 years. Together they shared a special devotion to each other, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. When Brian was Superintendent of Schools in Mondamin, Elaine was employed as the school secretary. When they moved to Bondurant in 1967, she was a secretary at Methodist Hospital, which led to a secretarial position with Neurosurgeon, Dr. Frank Hudson. Following Dr. Hudson’s retirement, she worked for Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Greg Ganske, until her retirement.

Brian and Elaine could then become winter “snow birds” and soak up the warmth of Arizona while Iowans were dealing with snow. During their winters spent in Mesa, they especially enjoyed visits from friends and family, car club visits, and attending Victory Lutheran Church. Their orange trees had THE BEST oranges and they willingly shared them when they returned to Bondurant in the spring. Elaine enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, family gatherings, and distributing poppies for the American Legion Auxiliary where she also served as Treasurer for many years.

Elaine’s memory will be cherished by her loving husband, Brian; three daughters, Jenée (Allen) Ihde of Bondurant, Sharon Beerman of Urbandale, and Diane Gray of Scottsdale, AZ. She will be missed by her seven grandchildren, Maressa (Tom) Ponitch, Brian Gray, Michael (Marianne) Ihde, Kirsten (Andrew) Bugge, Elizabeth Beerman, Matthew Beerman, and Barry Wadsworth. Her great grandchildren, Gwendolyn, Audrey, and Alison Ihde, Gage Jensen, Ashlyn, Breilyn, and Ivy Wadsworth and step great-grandchildren, Regan, Damien, and Alessa Bugge will also miss her sweet smile and warm heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Craig (who died at birth) and Dr. Dennis Wadsworth; brother and sister-in-law, Dayle and Emma Dittmer; sister and brother-in-law, Birdeen and Jerry Havlicek; granddaughter, Rachael Ponitch; nephew, Richard Dittmer, and many cousins.

The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, Altoona. The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home with burial directly following at the Bondurant Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to her church (St. John’s Lutheran Church) or the Bondurant American Legion Auxiliary.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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