TOLEDO-Iola Elizabeth McAteer, 94, of Toledo, passed away Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at her home under the care of Iowa River Hospice. Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 10, 2010 at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Toledo with Pastor Clair Hein officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 9, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Iola was born on January 21, 1916, on a farm south of Montour, Iowa, the daughter of Gunder and Cora (Ingraham) Mikkelson. She attended school in Marshalltown, graduating with the class of 1933.
She married John Spear in Marshalltown. He died in a car accident on June 18, 1937. On January 21, 1939, she was united in marriage to William "Buster" McAteer in Unionville, MO. They made their home in Toledo from 1947 until the present time. She was a care giver for many families over the years. Her love of family was always the top of her list. She loved nature and her garden was always full of bloom. Iola was an artist, enjoying drawing, painting and needlework. She was very creative.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, William in 1991; two grandchildren, John Spear and Mary Jane (Spear) Colaneri.
Survivors include her four children, John William (Margola) Spear of St. Jacob, IL, Beverly Jo (Ed) Vesely, Judith Ann (Fred) Haynes and Jacquelin Jean (Delane) Cizek all of Toledo; twelve grandchildren, Debra, Tracy, John, Mary Jane, Steven, Laura, Robert, Tammie, Kurt, Paige, Julie and Bryan; twenty-one great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Madonna Locke of Marshalltown; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to Iowa River Hospice or the First Presbyterian Church in Toledo.