Estalene Chamberlin

Estalene Minona Chamberlin, 92, of Des Moines, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016 with family by her side. Estalene was born Mary Jeanette Brown on May 21, 1924 in Maxwell, Story County, Iowa to Charles Franklin and Mildred Dorothy (Brown) Stone. She was adopted as the only child of James Alfred and Ethel Mae (Hinkle) Bogue.

Estalene grew up in Des Moines, Iowa where she graduated from East High School in 1942. She married her high school sweetheart, Cecil Gale Chamberlin on June 20th of that same year. To that union were born four children; Linda, David, Ric and Greg. Besides her children, her grandchildren; Chris and Cari, were also the joys of her life along with her great-granddaughter, Riley.

In 1943, her husband joined the U.S. Navy to serve in the Pacific. Estalene followed her husband to Oakland, CA. while he was in training and gave birth to their daughter. After the war, they moved to Des Moines’ south side where they continued to raise their family.

Estalene was an active member of Park Avenue Christian Church since 1945. She has served as Elder, Deaconess, a Church Board Member and has also sang in the adult choir. Her commitment did not stop at church, she helped support a young girl in India through the Christian Children’s Fund, volunteered at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, helped to pass out meals to the homeless here in Des Moines, donated food and clothing and also mentored many students.

Estalene enjoyed singing and square dancing. She had a love of nature and the mountains: she shared this love with her family on numerous occasions. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren and they all loved her in return.

Estalene is survived by her daughter, Linda Chamberlin; son, Rick and daughter in-law, Susan (Bassett) Chamberlin; son, Greg M. Chamberlin and son in-law Brian Ohrberg; grandson, Christopher R. Chamberlin; granddaughter, Cari Lin (Ryan) Johnson and great- granddaughter, Riley Marie Johnson; and other loving family and friends.

Estalene was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Gale Chamberlin; son, David E. Chamberlin; her adoptive parents, James Alfred and Ethel Mae (Hinkle) Bogue; her birth parents, Charles Franklin and Mildred Dorothy (Brown) Stone and her siblings, William “Junior” Stone, Juanita Bruning and Dwight W. Stone.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2017 at Park Avenue Christian Church, 3219 SW 9th Street in Des Moines. Family will greet visitors from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. She will be laid to rest at 2:00 p.m. at Berwick Cemetery in Berwick, IA.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Park Avenue Christian Church in memory of Estalene.

On-line condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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