Alice (Kester) Henderson

Alice Henderson, age 97 passed away on February 14, 2018 at the Holstein Good Samaritan Nursing Home. A memorial funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Indianola First United Methodist Church. Interment of ashes will take place at a later date.

Alice was born on February 16, 1920 to Dr. Charles and Mamie Kester in Grand Junction, Iowa.   Alice went to school in Grand Junction, IA until her senior year in high school where she moved to Jefferson. She spent 3 years at Simpson College pledging Phi Betta Phi sorority before transferring to the University of Iowa school of Nursing where she received her RN and BSN. Two months before graduating from nursing school she secretly married Frank C Henderson on St Patrick’s Day 1944 while Frank was on a brief leave from the Navy during WWII. In those days you couldn’t be married and go to nursing school. All during their married life, Frank would remember how many months they were married. Even two weeks before his death in 1991 he wished her a 571st Anniversary.   Due to Frank’s work in the banking field, they moved frequently from Iowa City; Des Moines; Naperville, IL; Ames, IA; Bettendorf, IA; Cameron, MO; Indianola, IA; and Lacona, IA where they stayed happily for many years on 70 acres overlooking miles of beautiful countryside. Alice worked most of her life as a Registered Nurse in many different capacities from teaching to being the Warren County Iowa Public Health Nurse retiring after 15 years.

After Frank passed away Alice sold her home and moved to Indianola, where she lived until moving to the Village Retirement Center then transferred 8 years ago to the nursing home at Holstein, IA where her son, Dennis lives. Alice was very active in many organizations over the years; PEO NG Chapter, Warren Co Civic Agencies, the American Cancer Society, Chi Delta Phi Club, John Whitcomb Riley Club, Historical Society, Indianola Helping Hand and most important of all to her the Indianola Methodist Church and UMW.  

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Dennis (Karla) Henderson, Holstein, IA and daughter, Jane Ward, Ankeny, IA; 4 grandchildren, Tracy (Jeff) Casey; Todd (Sarah) Henderson; Ryan (Lisa) Ward; and Kristine (Dan) Droegmiller; plus 9 great-grandchildren, Meghan, Zach, Ben, Josh, Cameron, Aiden, Nathan, Ella and Ainsley. Also added to her family are 6 step-great-grandchildren, Cloe, Jaden, Ross, Reed, Natalie and Maci.   Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; sister, Naomi Kendrick; step brother, Frank Kester; brother-in-law, Newell Kendrick and many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Indianola Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society in memory of Alice. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonfuneralservice.com

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