Mardelle Francys Birchard Obituary (1920

Mardelle F. Birchard, 94, of Oelwein, Iowa died Sunday morning, September 7, 2014, at Oelwein Health Care Center in Oelwein. Funeral Service: 11:00 A. M. Thursday, September 11, 2014, at the First Baptist Church in Oelwein with Rev. Tim Schoepf and Pastor Dan Driscoll officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before the service on Thursday at the church. Public Eastern Star Service: 8 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein. A Memorial Fund has been established. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com Mardelle Francys Driscoll was born on February 5, 1920 in Oelwein, Iowa, the daughter of Robert Jeremiah & Lenora Rae (Miller) Driscoll. She attended the Oelwein schools and graduated in 1939. Mardelle was united in marriage to Jason Joseph Birchard on May 20, 1941, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, by the Rev. O'Hagen. She was a homemaker and lived all of her life in Oelwein, except for the two years she lived in Hazleton and Waterloo. Through the years Mardelle stayed very busy volunteering at the local hospital, serving as president of the PTA, and working the polls during elections. She was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star, holding various offices for many years. She was heavily involved with the American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary, the Women of the Moose and many church committees and other groups, large and small. Mardelle worked as a seamstress during WWII. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Oelwein, where she served as church secretary for 16 years and finished her career working at the Easter Seal Society. Mardelle was an avid reader and also enjoyed Scrabble, sewing, crocheting and gardening. Mardelle is survived by her 7 children, Jerrald (Patricia) Birchard of Hillsboro, Texas, Jacqueline (Earl) Anderson of Hawkeye, Jean (Al) Baldwin of Oelwein, Jane (Dave) Briden of Janesville, Joy (Eugene) Purdy of Oelwein, Jolene (James) Olson of Newton and Joan (Lindsey) Hershey of Brandenburg, Kentucky; 16 Grandchildren; 27 Great grandchildren; 4 sisters, Beverly (Harold) Birchard of Independence, Shirley Gilliam of Oelwein, Marlene (James) Busch of Lamont and Judith Witte of Oelwein; 3 Sisters-in-law: Rose Caswell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Genevieve Birchard of Cedar Rapids & Lucille (Bob) Miller of Phoenix, Arizona; 3 Brothers-in-law: Harold (Beverly) Birchard of Independence, Leo (Joanne) Birchard of Waterloo & Robert (Edie) Birchard of Independence and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Jason on December 9, 1988; grandson: Aaron Purdy in 1980; great grandson: Reef Birchard in 2007; 3 brothers: Robert in 1924, Randy in 1941 and Daniel in 1988 and 2 brothers-in-law: Omar Witte in 2001 and Roland Gilliam in 2008.