Arlene Sievers
May 6, 1923 — February 4, 2024
Arlene Emma Sievers was born on the family farm seven miles southeast of Avoca to Harry and Lena (Gustafsen) Wiese. She had an older sister, Eleanor, and a younger sister, Clara. Eleanor and Arlene began kindergarten together at Knox #6 country school, walking three miles daily from home to school and back. Only if it was pouring down rain did their dad take them to school in a pony cart.
She attended high school in Avoca, taking Normal Training classes to become a teacher. Since there were no school buses at the time, she and her sister shared an apartment in town during the week and then went home on weekends. Arlene and her sister both graduated from Avoca High School in 1940. She was the last surviving member of her class.
Arlene taught at two Avoca area country schools. One was Pleasant #7 southwest of Avoca, and since she had no car she was still walking to and from school every day. One day she told her students that she would not return in the fall as she had taken another job. The kids all made her promise to stay overnight at each of their homes before she left. And she did! And while staying overnight at the Hoepner home, their new baby brother arrived that same night! She also taught at Knox #6 southeast of Avoca, the same school she had attended as a girl.
World War II impacted all Americans, and Arlene wanted to do her part. She moved to Lincoln, NE for a year to work at the Western Electric Plant where she wound coils for radios used by our servicemen overseas. Arlene learned sewing skills at an early age. Getting new clothes during the Depression was very difficult, but every few months a package with a variety of girls’ clothing would arrive from Arlene’s Great Aunt Emma in California. Emma was housekeeper for the family of George Bancroft, a movie star in Hollywood. As Bancroft’s daughter outgrew her dresses and coats, Emma would mail them to her niece Arlene who could remake the clothes to fit her and her sisters. She enjoyed crocheting and made hundreds of items from sweater vests to baby clothes to large floor rugs.
Following World War II, Arlene married Walnut native, Dale Sievers, who had recently returned from serving in the Army overseas in Europe. She became a farmers wife and devoted the next 50 years to the job she loved most. During their early years of marriage, they lived in a remodeled country school house outside of Walnut - the same school Dale had attended as a boy. Much of Arlene’s life has been centered around country schools - she attended one, she taught in two, and she even lived in one while they raised their two children, Roger and Sandy, before moving to their farm southeast of Avoca.
Dale and Arlene purchased her parents’ family farm and raised cattle, hogs, row crops, and milked cows. They retired in 1985 but continued to live on the farm until Dale’s death in 1997. Arlene has been a resident of Avoca’s Care Center for the past four years.
Arlene loved to bake and was known especially for her homemade crescent rolls. She loved giving away batches of her special English toffee to friends and family, and her homemade pickles were always a special treat. She loved to cook and always remembered fondly the huge meals she would make for the men who came to shell corn or bale hay.
She volunteered at the United Church of Avoca as a teacher of both Sunday School and Bible School and served as superintendent. She brought her homemade pickles and candy to the annual bazaar and worked many hours serving in the church kitchen. She was a member and held many offices in Ladies Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, the Order of Eastern Star, and Past Matrons. She enjoyed getting together with her neighbor ladies for shopping trips, coffees, and card-playing. She counted them all as her best friends.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, Arlene passed away at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of 100 years, 8 months and 29 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dale; and sisters Eleanor and Clara.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Roger Sievers of Avoca, Iowa; Sandy (Larry) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; 2 grandsons: Ryan (Claire) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; Chris Petersen (girlfriend Alicia Abboud) of Avoca, Iowa; 2 great-grandsons: Tucker and Charles Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; other family and many friends.
She attended high school in Avoca, taking Normal Training classes to become a teacher. Since there were no school buses at the time, she and her sister shared an apartment in town during the week and then went home on weekends. Arlene and her sister both graduated from Avoca High School in 1940. She was the last surviving member of her class.
Arlene taught at two Avoca area country schools. One was Pleasant #7 southwest of Avoca, and since she had no car she was still walking to and from school every day. One day she told her students that she would not return in the fall as she had taken another job. The kids all made her promise to stay overnight at each of their homes before she left. And she did! And while staying overnight at the Hoepner home, their new baby brother arrived that same night! She also taught at Knox #6 southeast of Avoca, the same school she had attended as a girl.
World War II impacted all Americans, and Arlene wanted to do her part. She moved to Lincoln, NE for a year to work at the Western Electric Plant where she wound coils for radios used by our servicemen overseas. Arlene learned sewing skills at an early age. Getting new clothes during the Depression was very difficult, but every few months a package with a variety of girls’ clothing would arrive from Arlene’s Great Aunt Emma in California. Emma was housekeeper for the family of George Bancroft, a movie star in Hollywood. As Bancroft’s daughter outgrew her dresses and coats, Emma would mail them to her niece Arlene who could remake the clothes to fit her and her sisters. She enjoyed crocheting and made hundreds of items from sweater vests to baby clothes to large floor rugs.
Following World War II, Arlene married Walnut native, Dale Sievers, who had recently returned from serving in the Army overseas in Europe. She became a farmers wife and devoted the next 50 years to the job she loved most. During their early years of marriage, they lived in a remodeled country school house outside of Walnut - the same school Dale had attended as a boy. Much of Arlene’s life has been centered around country schools - she attended one, she taught in two, and she even lived in one while they raised their two children, Roger and Sandy, before moving to their farm southeast of Avoca.
Dale and Arlene purchased her parents’ family farm and raised cattle, hogs, row crops, and milked cows. They retired in 1985 but continued to live on the farm until Dale’s death in 1997. Arlene has been a resident of Avoca’s Care Center for the past four years.
Arlene loved to bake and was known especially for her homemade crescent rolls. She loved giving away batches of her special English toffee to friends and family, and her homemade pickles were always a special treat. She loved to cook and always remembered fondly the huge meals she would make for the men who came to shell corn or bale hay.
She volunteered at the United Church of Avoca as a teacher of both Sunday School and Bible School and served as superintendent. She brought her homemade pickles and candy to the annual bazaar and worked many hours serving in the church kitchen. She was a member and held many offices in Ladies Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, the Order of Eastern Star, and Past Matrons. She enjoyed getting together with her neighbor ladies for shopping trips, coffees, and card-playing. She counted them all as her best friends.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, Arlene passed away at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of 100 years, 8 months and 29 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dale; and sisters Eleanor and Clara.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Roger Sievers of Avoca, Iowa; Sandy (Larry) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; 2 grandsons: Ryan (Claire) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; Chris Petersen (girlfriend Alicia Abboud) of Avoca, Iowa; 2 great-grandsons: Tucker and Charles Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; other family and many friends.
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