Lucille Sunleaf-Strawman

Lucille Ellen Remley Williams Sunleaf Strawman died on September 5, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines from a heart attack. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 9 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines where the family will receive friends following the service. Additional services will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Bellevue, Iowa where the family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be at St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Bellevue. Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel, Des Moines and Hachmann Funeral Home, Bellevue are in charge of arrangements. She was born on August 1, 1924, in Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of James Edward and Lucy Ann (Tucker) Remley. She graduated from Anamosa High School, and earned a Bachelors degree in psychology and a Masters degree in early childhood development from the University of Iowa. On June 23, 1946, she was united in marriage to Dr. L.B. Williams, with whom she was parent to Larry, Ed, and Lucy Ann. On November 6, 1965, she married Dr. A.W. Sunleaf, and became parent to Roger and Dave before being blessed with a son, Arthur. On March 13, 1999, she was united with her childhood sweetheart, Gene W. Strawman and became parent to Tom, Jerry, and Linda. Lucille founded St. Nicholas Preschool in Bellevue. She was a 50-plus year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a 50-plus year member of P.E.O., and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She was a breast cancer survivor. Lucille had a great zest for life, and loved to swim, golf, and travel. She was a life-long learner, an advocate of fine and folk arts. She was an accomplished knitter, most recently making and donating hats for premature babies and cancer patients as well as beautiful sweaters, purses and other gifts for family and friends. She was a supporter of wildlife, zoos in Little Rock, Arkansas and Des Moines, the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, and Heifer International. She was a long-time supporter of the University of Iowa, the University of Iowa School of Dentistry, the Iowa Hawkeye sports teams, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Bears. Lucille was a disciple of Jesus Christ and supporter of all of the churches she attended during her life, especially St. Andrews Episcopal, Des Moines where she was a member of the Occasional Choir and Westminster Presbyterian, Des Moines and St Johns Lutheran, Bellevue, where she remained a member. Lucille was a generous woman who left a lasting impact on many lives. She is survived by her husband, Gene; children, Lawrence (Mary), Edward (Laurine), Lucy Ann (Curt) Zeimet, David (Sue), Arthur (Amy), Jerry (Ardith), Tom (Jan) and Linda (Mike) Baldwin; grandchildren, Brianna (fiance Matt Brubaker), Bethany, Paul, Brian (Carrie), Mandy, Grant, Maja, Annika, Eliza, Jeff (Michelle), Carey, Ella, Ryan (Heidi) and Whitney (Mark); great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Emilee, Anna, Jackson, John Paul, and Lainey; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. A.W. Sunleaf; her parents; two brothers, James Tucker and Wheeler; one sister, Mary Cecelia; and stepson, Roger.