Waldine Marie Jeske Greenslate

My name is Waldine Marie Jeske Greenslate. I was born February 17, 1944, in Seefeld Kreis Gnesen, Poland. My parents are Rudolf and Emma Jeske. I was child number six of seven children born to my parents. My siblings are Amanda (deceased), Olga (deceased), Martha, Lucy (deceased), Edmund (deceased), and Sigfried.

By the grace of our Lord my family all survived the horrors of World War II. Hitler had ordered all Germans back to Germany as he needed more fighting men. We were given two hours to pack our belongings and be on our way. If we were not ready we would be sent to a concentration camp. In the heart of winter in the middle of a war zone, we traveled in two wagons. Food was very scarce and hard to find. It took two months to get to Germany. My brother, Sigfried was born on this journey.

We stayed in Germany for seven years and in 1952 my family and I sailed to America on the USS Hershey. By train we made our way to Iowa. Our sponsors met us at the train station in Creston, Iowa. We moved four times in the next three years. We finally settled in Afton, Iowa, our forever home. We bought a small acreage and later a 60 acre farm. We had milking cows, pigs, chickens, and planted a big garden. All chores had to be done before and after school, and we delivered newspapers. We were a busy, hardworking family - dependent on no one. Our father went to work for the railroad in Chicago and came home on weekends.

I moved to Des Moines in 1963 on my own, found a job, a place to stay, and made my own way. I had no help from anyone.

My greatest accomplishments are my three children – Amanda (Chuck), Fritz (Beth), and Martin (Diana). They are fine upstanding, hardworking, kind adults, good husbands and wives, and excellent parents. I’m proud of all of them and they give me a sense of pride. I have ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. They are my pride and joy.

May you have the two greatest gifts in life - someone to love, and someone who loves you.

I have been very blessed, I’ve received these gifts twice – my second husband, Alvin Marshall and I were married for eleven years. He passed away May 2001. He was a very kind, gentle, soft spoken man. We built a cabin in the woods, traveled some, enjoyed being together, and we always had some fun each day.

My third husband, Robert Greenslate moved from Texas in 2007 – I call him my Southern Gentleman. He always treated me with respect, looked me in the eye when he spoke to me, opened doors for me and always insisted I go first. We enjoyed dancing, photography, and we traveled a lot. We went to the East, West, and South coasts, crossed many rivers, drove thru many mountains, and went to the top of Crazy Horse monument. Oh we had so much fun! I still feel his love, his tender touch, the look in his eyes. I miss him so very much.

Life has been good to me! I now join those who have gone before me and the two men who loved me! I’m sure they still love me.

For my children, I wish you a good life. May our Lord bless you all and keep you safe. I love you.




Waldine Marie Jeske Greenslate
February 17, 1944 - August 27, 2024

Service information:

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines.

Funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2024, at Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 5930 Indianola Avenue, Des Moines. Coffee and donuts will be served prior to the service from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Burial will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery in Afton, Iowa.

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