June Gregory

June Barbara Gregory, 88, passed away December 8, 2023.

June was born June 8, 1935, to Andrew and Maude (Milligan) Anderson, on a farm in Kellogg, Iowa. She was the youngest of 7 children. She graduated from Kellogg High School in 1953.
June started playing the piano at age 5 and after an audition at age 13 at Grinnell College, she won an opportunity to take lessons at the college. This opened doors for her to accompany her school choir, church choir, and a multitude of people for solos, ensembles, and contests. She was a church organist at age 13. After a year as a piano performance major at Drake University and then working at Equitable Life Insurance Company, she married Paul Gregory on August 25, 1957, and moved to Indianola while Paul finished college at Simpson. They moved to Altoona in 1959 and raised their children there. She stayed in Altoona until she moved to The Cottages in Pella in August, 2021.

June taught piano lessons, was the organist and choir director at Altoona Christian Church for nearly 35 years and was known for her welcoming personality and musical giftedness. She loved Christmas and Easter music, a good bargain, and making a roast beef dinner for her family. She was victorious over cancer 35 years ago. After her children left home, she continued teaching piano lessons and took organ lessons again. Family holidays and birthdays always included a time around the piano singing or playing instruments. June will be remembered for her brilliant smile, her musical talents, her ability to believe the best about everyone and for being an expert seamstress. She loved attending sports and musical events of her children and grandchildren and recorded several CD’s with Paul and The Cornerstone Quartet. Even in the last year of her life she played the piano at The Cottages. The family would like to thank all the staff at The Cottages in Pella for their outstanding care for June over the last two years.

June is survived by her husband, Paul; daughter, Terry (Steve) Van Dusseldorp of Pella, Iowa; son, Dave (Tammy) Gregory of Altoona, Iowa; grandchildren, Mike (Heather) Van Dusseldorp, Laurel (Ryan) Pangman, Mark Van Dusseldorp, Sara (Andy) Nielsen, and Brett Gregory; as well as five great grandchildren, Henrik and Mira Van Dusseldorp, and Olivia, Emilia, and Sophia Pangman.

She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings, Vernon (Cap) Anderson, Elva Hulse, Wanda Parsons, Wayne (Chick) Anderson, Carroll (Shorty) Anderson, and Juanita Ahrens.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 starting at 9:00 am followed by a celebration of life service at 10:30 am at the Altoona Christian Church, 2890, 1st Avenue South, Altoona. A private burial was held at Our Silent City Cemetery in Kellogg, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Wesley Life Hospice Music Program (please make checks out with this information) that will be used to purchase a new keyboard.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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