Jeanne Strahorn

Martha Jeanne Strahorn passed from this life on Wednesday afternoon, January 30, 2013. Memorial Services will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, February 4, at Prairie View Assisted Living in Creston. Rev. Janna Steed will officiate. Inurnment will be private at a later date. Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no public viewing and no visitation is planned. On-line condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Martha Jeanne Russ was born April 17, 1922 to Mabel (Gardalen) Russ and Earl Russ in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Jeanne Russ married her high school sweetheart, Keith Strahorn in 1942 in Unionville, Missouri. They lived in Texas near an Army Air Corps base during the war and returned to Iowa in 1946 where she and Keith purchased and operated a hardware store in Kanawha, Iowa. In the late 1960’s Keith purchased Iowa Falls Roofing and the couple moved to Iowa Falls.
Jeanne graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1940. She graduated from Ellsworth Junior College in 1942 with an AA in elementary education and taught elementary school in Union, Iowa. Further teacher education at Drake University enabled her to teach high school biology, also in Union, Iowa. Later she worked with her husband in their hardware store.
A devoted reader, born leader and lifetime learner, Jeanne Strahorn considered starting and improving community libraries everywhere she lived her greatest accomplishment.
Jeanne was a tireless community volunteer, who served as president of the Iowa Falls Library Board, where her final accomplishment prior to the couple’s relocation to Arizona was leading a successful campaign to build a new library. She served as president of the Ellsworth Hospital Guild and was recognized by the Iowa Hospital Association for her fund raising efforts. She was active in the United Methodist Church, president of the Isabella Literary Society, was an active Lady Elk, and was an active member of the Hardin County Historical Society.
During her years in Kanawha she is credited with starting the community’s first public library, initiating and leading the first Girl Scouting program, and together with Keith leading the campaign to build the community’s first swimming pool.
During their marriage Jeanne and Keith traveled extensively throughout the United States, and in Europe, Mexico, Australia, Fiji, and South America.
Jeanne and Keith enjoyed their retirement years in Tucson, Arizona, where Jeanne continued to volunteer for libraries and participate in book clubs. She had a passion for the Sonoran desert and Tucson Mountains.
In October 2012 Jeanne and Keith moved to Prairie View Assisted Living in Creston, Iowa where she served on the Resident’s Council.
Jeanne is survived by her husband of 70 years, Keith L. Strahorn, daughters Kathy Strahorn of Tucson, Arizona, Janet Knock (Karl) of Creston, Iowa, Barbara Strahorn of Tucson, Arizona and grandchildren Joel Lown (Jessica) of Des Moines, Iowa and Zachary Schaefer (Emily Rhodes) of Chicago, Illinois, niece Martie Higgins of Los Angeles, California and good friends Ray and Eula Weathers of Tucson, Arizona.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Dick Comly.
Memorials in her name can be made to the Robert W. Barlow Memorial Public Library, Iowa Falls, Iowa, the TEPOA library, Tucson Estates, Tucson, Arizona, or Prairie View Assisted Living Resident’s Council in Creston.