Ilo A. Savage "Ila"

Ilo Savage (Jacobs) was born November 10, 1925, to Clyde and Mary Jacobs in Centerville, Iowa. Ilo passed away quietly and peacefully with family at her side Sunday morning (New Year’s Day) at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.

Services will be held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2017. Funeral services will begin at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2017, followed by burial at Glendale Cemetery.

Ilo graduated from Centerville High School and later moved to Rockford, Illinois. It was there that she met and fell in love with her husband of 56 ½ years, Melvin. Three sons were born to them: Jack (Elaine), Steve (Diana), and Stan. Ilo and Melvin lived in northeast Iowa (Garnavillo) from 1951 to 1956. They moved to Des Moines in 1956. Upon moving to Des Moines, Ilo went to the Iowa Barber College and graduated in early 1957. Mel and Ilo very successfully owned and operated Mel and Ila’s Barber Shop in Des Moines on Euclid Avenue from 1957 through 1982. They worked side by side in their shop. Upon retiring from barbering, Ilo dedicated herself to her son Stan who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. She took him into her home and when she became physically unable to care for him, visited him every day at Valley View Village in Des Moines. Ilo’s other passion was to go to the Barber Shop and give her son, Steve lunch and coffee breaks on a daily basis. She thoroughly loved visiting with Steve’s customers, many of whom had been Mom and Dad’s customers.

Ilo had a very deep faith in God and attended both Union Park and Norwoodville Baptist Churches. She enjoyed country music. Her first loves in life were her husband, children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her sons, Jack (Elaine) and Steve (Diana); grandchildren, Jack D., Joseph H., Kasandra, Kenny (Holli), Terri Sue (Kirk) McClelland, Tammy (Randy) Michaels, Stan, and Scott (Mandi); and 14 great-grandchildren. Ilo was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Mel, son, Stan, and grandsons, Jeffrey and Steve II. She also was preceded in death by her very special friend, Billie Jean Brugioni.

A special thank you to her caregivers for the past 18 months, Marcia Thoren and Jan Youngs.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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