Eleanor Amanda (Brones) Fogue McConkey

On November 11, 2010, her beloved Veteran’s Day, Eleanor Amanda (Brones) Fogue McConkey left her worldly home and joined her family in their heavenly home after 100 years, two months and 18 days.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, November 15, 2010, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, formerly known as the Norwegian Methodist Church, in Forest City, IA, followed by burial at Forest Home Cemetery in Leland, IA. Lunch to follow the burial at the United Methodist Church in Forest City.

Eleanor was born August 24, 1910, south of Lake Mills, Iowa, to Ellsworth and Ida (Halvorson-Brekke) Brones. She was baptized and confirmed in the Norwegian Methodist church that her grandfather Peter Brones was a founder of. Eleanor attended schools at the Higgenbotham and Vatne schools near their home in Mount Valley Township. She married Norris Fogue and to that union one son, Richard Dean was born. That marriage later ended in divorce. She then married D.C. McConkey where her husband and his brothers built an apartment complex in which they lived and managed for many years, until D.C. built Eleanor a new home overlooking the city of Des Moines. He told her she deserved a home, not an apartment. Eleanor managed the apartments for over 60 years until the time of her death. She also had worked at S.S. Kresge's in downtown Des Moines.

Eleanor volunteered her services for many organizations. She loved people and she loved helping people in need. Eleanor would give up things for herself in order to give to others. One of her favorite places was the Veteran's Home. She knew these men gave up many things for their country, so she said what she could do for them was little for what they had given up. She volunteered there for a total of 4,007 hours. Another favorite was Iowa Public Television. Not only was it her favorite station to watch, it was an opportunity for her to give back. She was the beloved "Popcorn Lady" from 1987-1995 for Friends of IPTV telethons. She not only popped the popcorn, she provided the poppers, popcorn and all the seasoning for it.

She was a member of Clifton Heights Presbyterian Church, was a member and served as President of the Civil War Rountable Daughters of Union Veteran’s of the Civil War, the National Organization of the Auxiliary of the Son's of the Union Veteran's of the Civil War, a 50-year member of AARP, and for the last few years served as the AARP’s Sunshine Girl, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and many more.

One of her true great passions was working on her family tree. She had traveled extensively doing research and was very excited to go to Norway to see where it all began. She was very passionate in getting her family to know where they came from.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her son, Richard Dean; three brothers, Lloyde (Ester), Richard (Dorthy) and James (Violet); two sisters, Helen (Porter) and Stella (Dean); and six nieces and nephews.

Eleanor is survived by four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; thirteen very special nieces and nephews, and an abundance more of special relatives and friends.

Peace be With you Eleanor and a Great Big HUG!!

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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