Obituaries : Cynthia Ann (Holmes) Ohlen

Cynthia Ann (Holmes) Ohlen, 79, of Blairstown, died unexpectedly on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Private memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown with Rev. Jeff Schanbacher officiating. Interment will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Due to COVID 19 concerns, the service will be live streamed on the Grace Lutheran Church Blairstown Facebook page beginning at service time.

Cynthia was born on July 28, 1941 in Belle Plaine, to Charles and Orpha Augusta (Waterman) Holmes, their only child. Cynthia lived her first few years in Cedar Rapids, until her dad retired from Collins Radio to open a family business in Blairstown. Her parents owned and operated Holmes Sundries on Main Street, where the family lived above the store. She graduated from Blairstown High School in 1959, and shortly after, married her classmate William P. "Bill" Ohlen on June 4, 1960. Cynthia and Bill had 3 children, Todd, Kim, and Julie, who she loved dearly, and later in life was blessed with 5 grandchildren who where all truly her world.

Cynthia enjoyed playing cards, and board games with her family and friends, crocheting and music. God gave her the love of music, and the gift to play piano and organ. With this gift, she played the organ at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown for many years and gave piano lessons to numerous children and adults in the community. For a good portion of Cynthia's career, she worked at the Marengo Printing Press (under several names) in the H.R. Department.

She is survived by her son Todd Ohlen (Sam Walker) of Naperville, IL; daughters, Kim Ohlen (Tom Martin) of Cedar Rapids, and Julie Lynn (Paul) of Victor; 5 grandchildren, Colton, Mackenzie, Hunter, Dalton Lynn (Julie), and Megan Ohlen (Todd).

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Cynthia and her family will be forever grateful to the wonderful community of Blairstown and the great friends who gave of themselves and their time to help her along her journey. So many wonderful women and sometimes husbands who drove her to and from dialysis 3 times a week without fail. We love and thank you all, we are truly blessed. And a shout out to River Valley Dialysis in Marengo, and all their incredible hard-working and talented women who loved our mom and cared for her. All of you made her time during these days bearable…you are truly our Hero's

Online condolences www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com