Obituaries : June M. Edmond

Des Moines—June M. Edmond, 79, formerly of Vinton and Marshalltown, went home to the Lord Thursday, December 24, 2015 at Trinity Center at Luther Park in Des Moines following a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at New Hope Christian Church in Marshalltown with Pastor Kerry Jech officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton with Rev. Jonathan Offt officiating.

June was born June 24, 1936 in Champaign, IL, the daughter of John and Iola Rhoeder Halberstadt. Her parents moved to Marshalltown where she grew up and attended school. June married Donald Ecklor in 1952 and they had two children, Diane and Dan. They divorced in 1962. She married Richard Edmond and they had three children, Rich, Mary and Mike. He preceded her in death in March, 1994. June was primarily a homemaker. She and Richard owned a motel near Lake of the Ozarks and she and Richard owned and operated two restaurants, one in Vinton and one in Missouri.

June was an avid reader and many days you could fine her reading at Barnes and Noble. June also could grow absolutely anything, and sold countless plants at her small gift shop at the motel in Missouri. June could accomplish anything as well. There is a story about how she decided to brick a kitchen wall in their home in Vinton. June went to the local library and read about how to do it, purchased the supplies and the bricked the wall herself!

June was from a rich German heritage and one of her gifts was cooking. At Christmas time you could count on those yummy homemade sticky pecan rolls that would melt in your mouth (with real butter, of course)! And, oh, those breads and pies of hers!

The highest priority in June’s life was her children and grandchildren and she lived to encourage them. Her words of encouragement would call her children to go beyond and reach higher to achieve their dreams. June had a love for life, a gusto that was mighty! She enjoyed laughing and having fun, the family could tell you countless stories!

She is survived by her five children; Diane (Sam) Moussalli, Ankeny, IA, Dan (Loretta) Ecklor, Cedar Rapids, Rich Edmond, Marshalltown, Mary (Ken) Sigman, Tampa, FL and Mike Edmond, Ankeny; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren and one brother, Jim (Sandy) Halberstadt, St. Cloud, MN.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, John Halberstadt.

Memorials will be directed to Unity Point Hospice.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for June and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com