In Memory of Ethel P. Sundell



Ethel P. Sundell
Ethel P. Sundell
Born: September 12, 1917
Died: February 2, 2015
Age: 97
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Ethel P. Sundell
September 12, 1917 - February 2, 2015
From: Odebolt, IA
Ethel P. Sundell, age 97, of Odebolt, Iowa passed away on Monday, February 2, 2015, at the Cascades of the Sierra in Sparks, Nevada

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 8, 2015, at the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Reverend Trish Underberg will officiate. Burial will be in the Odebolt Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. There will be visitation one hour prior to Funeral Service from 1p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com  

Ethel P. Sundell passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Monday, February 2, 2015 in her apartment in Sparks, Nevada.  Ethel was the second youngest, and last surviving child of ten children of Oscar and Ida Peterson, a farm family in Buena Vista County, near Alta, Iowa.  Ethel graduated from Alta High School and enrolled in the teacher certificate program at Buena Vista College at the age of 17.  She earned a teaching certificate from Buena Vista College and began teaching elementary school in Rolf, Iowa.

Ethel married August E. Sundell in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1943 before he went to serve in the Army Air Cops in the South Pacific during WWII.  Following the conclusion of WWII, Ethel and August began farming South of Odebolt.  Ethel had two sons while living on the farm; James, retired teacher and education consultant of Salem, Oregon, and Charles, Air Force Veteran and Southwest Airlines Captain of Reno, Nevada.  

Ethel and the family moved to the South Los Angeles area in 1955 where she taught elementary school and studied toward a Bachelors Degree until 1959 when the family returned to Odebolt.  Ethel earned her Bachelors Degree from Buena Vista College in 1964.  Her husband, August, passed away in 1968, Ethel continued to serve as a First Grade teacher for the Odebolt-Arthur Community Schools until she retired in 1983.   She enjoyed being with her grandchildren and traveling to visit her sons and many wonderful places in the US.  Ethel moved to the Reno / Sparks, Nevada area to be close to her son and grandchildren.  Ethel was a teacher, inspiration and motivator for her sons and her students.  Everywhere Ethel went she forged lifetime friendships and enormous respect with those she met. 

Ethel is survived by;

Son James and his wife Kathleen Sundell of Salem, Oregon; granddaughter Jamie Scarbrough and her husband Jeff Danz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; great-granddaughters Ingry Thurow of Portland, Oregon; Hannah and Alice Scarbrough of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; granddaughter Melissa Sundell and her husband Joseph Hall; great-grandsons Oliver and Simon Hall of Auburn, Maine and grandson Jeffrey Sundell of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Son Charles and his wife Janet Sundell of Reno, Nevada; grandson Eric Sundell, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah and granddaughter Ingrid Sundell of Reno, Nevada.

 


SERVICES

2:00  PM, Sunday,
February 8, 2015

Faith Lutheran Church
Odebolt, Iowa

OFFICIATING

Reverend Trish Underberg

VISITATION

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
February 8, 2015

Faith Lutheran Church
Odebolt, Iowa

MUSIC

Carol Raasch, Organist

INTERMENT

Odebolt Cemetery
Odebolt, Iowa


Condolences


Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 3:56 PM
“Sorry to hear of your loss. She was a great teacher. She will be missed by many. Rest in peace.”
- sheila bender
Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 8:55 PM
“Thinking of you today, Jim & Chuck and families, as you celebrate the life of your loving and gentle mother.”
- Cheryl Sellstrom Moe
Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 8:55 PM
“Thinking of you, Jim & Chuck & families, as you celebrate the live of your dear and gentle mother today. Ethel always had a kind word and smile. I'm sure she's smiling down on you today.”
- Cheryl Sellstrom Moe
Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 10:16 PM
“Ethel was a wonderful mentor to me as a new teacher. She was so kind to me when I first came to Odebolt. It was so fun to see her when she visited Odebolt and school a few years ago. She was the same Ethel that I had remembered. She talked of her sons and grandchildren often during our teaching years. You all have my sympathy. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.”
- Ann Youngquist
Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 10:16 PM
“Jim, sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. Thinking of you and your family at this time.
Mike Davis and family
Marilyn Davis”
- Mike Davis & Family
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 7:47 PM
“Ethel will always be our 'Grandma Ethel' as she took us 'under her wing' from our first days in Odebolt. Our daughters, Meghan & Katie adored her as their adopted grandmother as we shared trips, dinners, the game
'Pit' and so many special, wonderful times with Ethel. Jane had a special connection with her as a fellow educator and Tom was privileged to have been her pastor and friend. We will be thinking of you, Jim and Chuck and your families as you gather on Sunday for the celebration of a grand lady and our great God! Peace be to her memory! Pr. Tom & Jane Junkert”
- Tom & Jane Junkert
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 7:12 PM
“Ethel saw fit to share her warmth and kindness with me, a scruffy rag-tag boy who hung around the back door. I will always be grateful for the kindness and understanding she brought into my life - and can still taste the nurturing flavor of milk with Peanut Butter Sandwiches, smiles, and compassionate glances. To Jim and Chuck I can never begin to explain or repay the wonderful hope the Sundell Family brought into my horizon. Truly, her love and compassion for others was the life-line and inspiration of my life. I celebrate her now, and forever. Thank you Sweetheart!”
- SGT Jim H Stockwell, USAF Retired
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 7:11 PM
“Carolyn and I both taught with Ethel when it was O-A. She was always a very thoughtful person and nice to be around. Condolences to the family.”
- eEdo and Carolyn Moeller
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 8:37 AM
“Ethel really was a beautiful person who always had a kind word and a smile for everyone. This community was a better place for her living and teaching here. Our thoughts and prayers are following you, Jim and Chuck, and your families. God Bless!
”
- Ann Onnen
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:09 PM
“Ethel's life was such a blessing to those around her. I still remember her as a fellow teacher at O-A. She was a good friend....time to celebrate a wonderful life.”
- Jim Mickelson
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:09 PM
“My deepest sympathies to the family of Mrs. Sundell. I remember loving her as my teacher. I got to know her even better when i did her hair when I lived in odebolt. We had some good laughs together. May God be with you all. ”
- Jolie Hudson
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:09 PM
“Chuck and Jim, We very sorry for your loss. Ethel was such a wonderful person. You and your families will be in our thoughts and prayers. ”
- Mike Peterson, Jean Jones, Eleanor Peterson
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:09 PM
“So very sorry to hear of Mrs. Sundell's passing! She had so much impact on so many lives! So very loving and caring! She was an amazing woman! Loved her!”
- Lori (Oxendale) Bouza
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 2:13 PM
“We are saddened to hear of Ethel's passing. We really enjoyed having her as a great backyard neighbor. She was so kind and helpful. It was wonderful when she offered to help us with daycare for our son when we were in a bind. We thought of Ethel often and will continue to have special memories of her always.”
- Slim and Mary Schroeder
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 8:35 AM
“Eternal blessings on Ethel. I have many fond memories of her as my backyard neighbor. In fact my brother and I dutifully mowed her lawn for years:-). What a wonderfully sweet woman who made an impact on many. ”
- Angela (Schroeder) Oest
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 8:35 AM
“Prayers to the family. Ethel was a beautiful person.”
- Gary& Sharon Rohlf
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