Obituaries : Ila Jean Albert

Ila Jean Albert

VINTON – Ila Jean Albert, 78, died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2011, at First Christian Church in Vinton with Pastor Connie Wacht officiating. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, rural Brandon.

Ila Jean was born December 22, 1932, in rural Brandon, Iowa, the daughter of Glen and Edith Lint Geiger. She attended Brush College Country School and Brandon High School.

On October 14, 1950, Ila Jean was united in marriage with Lyle F. Albert. They later divorced.

Ila Jean worked at Richart’s Locker and J.C. Penney in Vinton, and spent 20 years as the night cook at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, retiring in April of 1998.

She was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Vinton.

Ila Jean is survived by her children: Debra (Larry) Christianson and Joyce (Roger) Calvert, both of Vinton, and Mark (Michelle) Albert of Waterloo; five grandchildren: Jennifer White and Jarron (Ashlyn) Christianson, both of Vinton; Hillary (Scott) Smith of Marion; Ross and Rachel Albert of Waterloo; five great-grandchildren: Jillian, Jozee and Jeana White and Byron Christianson, all of Vinton, and Kylee Smith of Marion; one brother, Lynn (Marian) Geiger of Vinton; two sisters-in-law, Oma and Irene Geiger, both of Vinton; many nieces and nephews and her best friend, her cat Lilly Rose.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Marvin, Arleigh, Dale and Earl Geiger and a brother in infancy; and one sister, Ivadell Faye Geiger.

A memorial fund has been established.

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