Edith Goodchild, 85, of Le Mars passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 25, 2016 at her home near Le Mars. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Le Mars. Rev. Jon Meredith will officiate. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Washington Cemetery, Havelock, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service on Friday.
Edith Lucille Goodchild was born on September 20, 1931 in Mondamin, Iowa, the daughter of Kermit Johnson and Ada Margaret (Hewitt) Clark. She attended Mondamin High School and, following graduation, enrolled in Cedar Falls Teaching College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After graduating from Cedar Falls Teaching College, Edith moved to Mallard, Iowa where she taught in the elementary school.
On March 14, 1954, Edith and Freddie Goodchild were united in marriage in Mondamin. They made their first home in Mallard, Iowa. Along with teaching, Edith spent some years at home raising her family and in 1970 she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. In later years, she took a position at Westmar College in the business office. She would finish her working years at Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars as an Activities Director.
Edith was a member of the First Baptist Church in Le Mars. She was a longtime Sunday School Teacher. She was also active in children’s evangelism and the Good News Club program. In her spare time she loved to sew, travel, watch birds, feed squirrels and make stove top popcorn with her grandchildren.
Grateful to have shared her life are her children, Jill (Loren) Johnson of Le Mars, IA, June (Dave) Walker of Clark Fork, ID, Joanne (John) Cave of Ireton, IA, Joelyn (Kevin) Wladyka of Boise, ID, Clark (Jolynn) Goodchild of Le Mars, IA; a nephew, Kevin (Jane) Clark of New Hope, MN; a niece, Renee (Mrs. Kermit) Clark of Granville, IA; 30 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; a brother, Norman (Mary) Clark of Temecula, CA; and many other extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Freddie in 1989; infant daughter, Jean; an infant great-granddaughter, Christina Hope Walker; her brother, Roland; and a nephew, Kermit Clark.
Memorials may be directed to Youth for Christ or Orange City Area Hospice.
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