Online Obituaries
Kermit E. Bailey
December 29, 1919 - April 11, 2008
KERMIT EUGENE BAILEY
Kermit Eugene Bailey, 88, of Wiota, Iowa passed away at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Friday, April 11, 2008.
Kermit Bailey, youngest son of William Alfred and Edna Tompkin “Grandma Bailey”, was born December 29, 1919 at Wiota, Iowa.
He grew up on the farm in Lincoln Township and attended country schools and graduated from Anita High School Class of 1938. In the fall of ’38 he married Josephine C. Highley (his high school sweetheart). For two years they lived with his mother and he worked for various farmers as a single man, then moved to a farm near Wiota. He moved back to the home farm, living in the house he was born in for the rest of his life. He was an early conservationist, striving to leave the land better than he found it.
He served as a long time Farm Bureau director, school board director, helping to reorganize the Anita School District, and was involved in selling tourism in Iowa. He helped raise funds for the Atlantic Hospital as well as other organzations. At one time he opened a small farm shop repairing and building farm machinery. He was a long time member of the Anita Lions Club and rose through the ranks to District Governor in Soutwest Iowa and he was awarded the “Melvin Jones Award”.
After the death of his wife Josephine in 1970, he married Elsie Lee Oler Reinier on August 1, 1971. After retirement in 1983 they operated ‘Granpa’s Hide Away’, making wooden toys and furniture.
His family and friends will remember him as being an avid reader, honest, trustworthy and loving. He loved working with wood and was always making special gifts for his families and grandkids that will be cherished forever.
He is survived by his wife Elsie; his daughter Patricia Dunagan (engaged to Charley Dyer) of Pleasant Hill, IA, his son Emery Reinier of Riverside, IA, daughters, Edna Witzman and husband Dale of Atlantic, IA, Elsie Wilkins and husband Roger of Atlantic, IA, Karleen Evans of Omaha, NE, his sons Dale Reinier of Riverside, IA and Brian Smith (engaged to Deb Howe) of Stanton, IA: a sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mabel and Delbert Hobbs of Anita, IA; and a sister-in-law Ruth Oler of Atlantic, IA; 14 grandchildren, Ricky Dunagan of Havelock, NC and Shonna (Atticus) Dunagan of Des Moines, IA, Lodema (Mike) Cullum of Kremmling, CO, Lisa (Adam) Juckette of Des Moines, IA, Todd Witzman of Rocky Mount, MO, Amie (Nathan) Gieseke of Mineral Point, WI, Brett (Tabitha) Wilkins of Council Bluffs, IA and Brady Wilkins of Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, Natalie (Clint) Hite of Ankeny, IA, Shawnell (Phil) Richter of Atlantic, IA, Jason Evans of Waterloo, IA, Jeremy (Regina) Reinier of Ankeny, IA, Laura (John) Helmers of Perry, IA, Rebecca Longobardi of Greenfield, IA; 30 great grandchildren (and two on the way); cousins; nieces and nephews; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Josephine (Highley) Bailey, his mother and father; son-in-law Tommy Dunagan; three brothers, Tom, George and Leonard Bailey; sister Beva Bailey; and sisters-in-law, Iris and Ruth Bailey and brother-in-law John Oler.
Funeral Information
Roland Funeral Home is open throughout the week for viewing and signing Kermit’s register book. His family will meet with friends for a visitation from 6:00 until 8:00 on Wednesday evening at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 in the afternoon on Thursday, April, 17, at the Anita United Methodist Church in Anita, IA. Pastor Gary DeGeest of the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, IA will officiate. The committal service will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, IA. The family requests memorials be made out to Lions Club International Foundation or the Anita Volunteer Fire Department.
Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa is caring for Kermit’s family and the arrangements. Friends may leave their condolences at www.
IN REMEMBRANCE
KERMIT EUGENE BAILEY
BORN
December 29, 1919 in Wiota, Iowa
ENTERED INTO REST
At the Age of
88 Years, 3 Months and 12 Days
On Friday, April 11, 2008
At Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa
FUNERAL SERVICE
1:30 P.M. Thursday, April 17, 2008
Anita United Methodist Church
Anita, Iowa
OFFICIATING
Pastor Gary DeGeest of
First United Methodist in
Atlantic, Iowa
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
“It Is No Secret”
“One Day At A Time”
“In His Hands”
“There Is A Reason”
VOCALISTS
Lisa Witzman Juckette
Chrissy Kinzie
CLAVINOVA
Naomi Hackwell
BEARERS
Dan Miller George Behrends George Evans
Eldon Dorsey Phil Rabe Terry Hoskins
HONORARY BEARERS
Earl Miller Donald Eden Albert Eilts Leland Morgan Harold Henderson Kermit Kloppenburg
COMMITTAL
Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa
FLOWER COMMITTEE
Pat Stockham Margaret Taylor Marlene Miller
LUNCHEON
Kermit’s family invites friends to join them at the
Anita United Methodist Church following the committal.
Donations Information
The family requests memorials be made out to Lions Club International and Foundation or the Anita Volunteer Fire Department.
Directions
Funeral Home: Roland Funeral Service