Arlene Emma Sievers was born on May 6, 1923 on the family farm seven miles southeast of Avoca to Harry and Lena (Gustafsen) Wiese. She had an older sister, Eleanor, and a younger sister, Clara.
She attended high school in Avoca, taking Normal Training classes to become a teacher. Arlene graduated from Avoca High School in 1940. Arlene taught at two Avoca area different country schools. One was Pleasant #7 southwest of Avoca. She also taught at Knox #6 southeast of Avoca, the same school she had attended as a girl.
Following World War II, Arlene married Walnut native, Dale Sievers, who had recently returned from serving in the Army overseas in Europe. During their early years of marriage, they lived in a remodeled country school house outside of Walnut – the same school Dale had attended as a boy. Dale and Arlene purchased her parents’ family farm and raised cattle, hogs, row crops, and milked cows. They retired in 1985, but continued to live on the farm until Dale’s death in 1997. Arlene has been a resident of Avoca’s Care Center for the past four years.
Arlene loved to bake and was known especially for her homemade crescent rolls. She volunteered at the United Church of Avoca as a teacher of both Sunday School and Bible School and served as superintendent. She brought her homemade pickles and candy to the annual bazaar and worked many hours serving in the church kitchen. She was a member and held many offices in Ladies Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, the Order of Eastern Star, and Past Matrons. She enjoyed getting together with her neighbor ladies for shopping trips, coffees, and card-playing. She counted them all as her best friends.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, Arlene passed away at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of 100 years, 8 months and 29 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dale; and sisters Eleanor and Clara.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Roger Sievers of Avoca, Iowa; Sandy (Larry) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; 2 grandsons: Ryan (Claire) Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; Chris Petersen (girlfriend Alicia Abbound) of Avoca, Iowa; 2 grandsons: Tucker and Charles Petersen of Avoca, Iowa; other family and many friends.
A private service was held for Arlene on February 8 at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa with burial in Graceland Cemetery at Avoca. (www.pauleyjones.com)
[See July 2023 ACR for more details on Arlene’s life.]