Lela Gwendolyn Block
April 8, 1922 — December 23, 2016
Lela Gwendolyn Block, daughter of John and Lela (Knouse) Carter, was born on April 8, 1922 in Kirkman, Iowa. She attended school in Kirkman and graduated with the class of 1939.
On November 23, 1942, Gwen was united in marriage to Nels C. Block, Jr. at the First Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska while Nels was still in the United States Army. Three children were born to this union: Cheryl, Don and Ron.
Gwen worked at Variety Distributor’s and later Farner’s Department Store in Harlan for many years. She loved traveling with Nels, especially on trips to see his World War II buddies. They also loved spending time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and watching their many church, school and athletic activities.
Nels and Gwen moved into the Elm Crest Retirement Community in 2009. Nels died on December 4, 2010 and Gwen continued to reside at Elm Crest. It was here that she died on December 23, 2016 having attained the age of ninety-four years, eight months and fifteen days. In addition to her parents and husband, Gwen was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Keast.
She is survived by her twin sons: Don Block and his wife Martha of Cooper City, Florida; Ron Block and is wife Kathy of Harlan; son-in-law Walt Keast of Oakland, Iowa; grandchildren: Debbie Keast, Steve Keast, Teckla Coven, Michaell Block, Amy Purcell, Alexis Block and Brandon Block; great grandchildren: Madison Keast, Ellen Keast, Jackson Purcell, Cayden Coven, Kyndall Purcell, Emercyn Block and Bauer Block; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
On November 23, 1942, Gwen was united in marriage to Nels C. Block, Jr. at the First Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska while Nels was still in the United States Army. Three children were born to this union: Cheryl, Don and Ron.
Gwen worked at Variety Distributor’s and later Farner’s Department Store in Harlan for many years. She loved traveling with Nels, especially on trips to see his World War II buddies. They also loved spending time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and watching their many church, school and athletic activities.
Nels and Gwen moved into the Elm Crest Retirement Community in 2009. Nels died on December 4, 2010 and Gwen continued to reside at Elm Crest. It was here that she died on December 23, 2016 having attained the age of ninety-four years, eight months and fifteen days. In addition to her parents and husband, Gwen was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Keast.
She is survived by her twin sons: Don Block and his wife Martha of Cooper City, Florida; Ron Block and is wife Kathy of Harlan; son-in-law Walt Keast of Oakland, Iowa; grandchildren: Debbie Keast, Steve Keast, Teckla Coven, Michaell Block, Amy Purcell, Alexis Block and Brandon Block; great grandchildren: Madison Keast, Ellen Keast, Jackson Purcell, Cayden Coven, Kyndall Purcell, Emercyn Block and Bauer Block; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
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