Eleanor M. Arey

Eleanor M. Arey, 87, of DeWitt, Iowa, joined her husband in heaven, with family at her side, Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Wheatland Manor.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 1, 2023, at Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the church, Pastor Eric Obermann officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt.

Eleanor Mae Paarmann was born May 25, 1936, to Linley and Alma (Geffers) Paarmann at Jane Lamb Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. After graduating from DeWitt High School in 1954, she worked at DeWitt Hospital as a nurse’s aide. Eleanor married her high school sweetheart, John “Jack” Arey, after his return from service in the Army, on May 6, 1956, at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, by the Rev. Theodore Hinck. Eleanor was very proud to have resided on the family farm where she was raised. She was a homemaker and farmwife, and later worked for the A.S.C. office, Clinton Co. Extension office, and Ag Equipment Co., all in DeWitt. She was also very proud of the 25 years she worked at St. Ambrose University in Davenport as an Executive Assistant in the Advancement Office, serving under several vice-presidents of the department, retiring in 2006. Jack preceded her in death on December 17, 2020.

Eleanor was a lifetime member of Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt. She was a founding member of Central Community Historical Society, a lifetime member of Clinton Co. Historical Society, a member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Co. Historical Society in Virginia, the American Legion Auxiliary in DeWitt, and the Clinton Co. Farm Bureau. Eleanor was passionate about genealogy, doing extensive family tree research for many years, on her side as well as Jack’s. She enjoyed working in her flower garden, antiquing, and collecting rocks, fossils, and Native American artifacts. Eleanor also loved collecting Fenton, Depression, and Victorian glassware.

Eleanor loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with family. Particularly important to her were Labor Day weekend trips. In 2000, Eleanor and Jack toured Germany and the Island of Fehmarn in response to family history. They also visited Alaska in 2007, which they enjoyed very much.

Surviving are sons, Kevin (Sandy Bailey) Arey of Cordova, Illinois, Todd (Carol) Arey of Farmington, Minnesota, and Darin Arey of DeWitt; a daughter, Angela (Bane) Bates of Gilson, Illinois; grandchildren, Brianna (Ben) Martin, Brett (Heather) Arey, Benjamin Arey, Jessica Arey, TJ Arey, Joshua Arey, Hannah Arey, Olivia Bates and Andrew Bates; great-grandchildren, Ambrielle and Cohen Martin, and Carter and Hunter Arey; a sister-in-law, Margaret Arey; nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn (Gerhardt) Scheeper, sisters-in-law, Betty (Donald) Hill and Joy Schmidt, brothers-in-law, Robert Arey, and James Green, and an infant grandson, Luther Alfred Arey.

Memorials are suggested to Grace Lutheran Church and Central Community Historical Society, both of DeWitt, or the American Diabetes Association.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff members of Maggie’s House, Wheatland Manor, and Genesis Hospice for their loving care and kindness to Eleanor.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com