In Memory of Ila M. Oxendale

Ila M. Oxendale, age 81, of Arthur, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa.  The Rev. Trish Underberg will officiate.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., a prayer service will be held at the conclusion of the visitation Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Faith Lutheran Church of Odebolt.  The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Ila Oxendale was born on January 7, 1936, at the McVay Hospital in Lake City, IA, Calhoun County, the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Voss) Frank. Ila was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Lake View, IA.  She grew up on a farm southeast of Lake View and attended Viola #1 country school thru the 8^th grade.  Ila graduated Valedictorian of her class of 1954 from Lake View High School.

            Ila was united into marriage to John Oxendale on September 16, 1960, in Omaha, NE.  The couple made their family home on a farm near Arthur, IA and the couple were blessed with four children: Terry, Lori, Linda, and David.

            Ila worked for various businesses throughout her life. She worked at the Welfare Office, the bank, a car dealership, and the United States Post Office. Ila volunteered teaching adults to read and was also a substitute teacher for the country school program in Wall Lake, Lake View, and Odebolt. She helped with the elderly peer program, Road to Recovery cancer program as a driver, and at the nursing home.

            Ila found grace in the Lord. She volunteered her time as a Sunday school teacher for over 20 plus years, served on the church council, and helped with the music program. She enjoyed: painting, baking, country music, crossword puzzles, trivia, sewing, and sports events. Although she enjoyed these things, her true joy in life was her family especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.

            Left to cherish her memories are her children: Terry (Ruth) Oxendale of Arthur, Iowa, Lori (Jim) Bouza of Wagner, South Dakota, Linda (Marc) Barry of Glasgow, Scotland, David (Melissa) Oxendale of Arthur, Iowa; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister Velma Auen of Albert City, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Norma Frank of Des Moines, Iowa, Shirley Hemer of Arthur, Iowa, Lois Oxendale of Ida Grove, Iowa; brother-in-law James “Jim” (Pat) Oxendale of Ida Grove, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

            Ila was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Margaret Frank; husband John Edwin Oxendale; in-laws Joseph James and Margaret "Peg" Oxendale; twin daughters in infancy; one grandson and one granddaughter in infancy; brother Ernest “Charlie” Frank, and brothers-in-law Arthur Auen, Roland Oxendale, and Roy Hemer.