- Born on: August 4, 1929
- Departed on: May 15, 2016
- Resided in: Marion, IA
Lena Salven
Lena I. (Abbas) Salven, 86 of Marion, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Services will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marion, IA on Friday, June 10th at 2:30 p.m. The family will greet friends and celebrate her life following the services from 4 - 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 298, Marion, IA. A private family burial will be held at Geneva, Iowa at a later date.
Lena was born August 4, 1929 to George Sr. and Ida (Lauterbach) Abbas near Ackley, Iowa. Lena spent her childhood on the family farm; working in the fields, milking cows, and raising hogs. After graduating from Geneva high school in 1946, she attended the Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa graduating in 1950.
Lena had a 39 year teaching career in the Cedar Rapids Community School District which began at Franklin High School and ended with 29 years at Jefferson High School. Lena also worked at the Shorewood, Indian House, and Sirloin ‘N‘ Brew restaurants as a waitress and hostess. She and her husband, Ronald C. Salven, lived in Marion and raised 3 children; Tyler, Ronda, and Tim.
After retiring in 1991, Lena traveled to China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and France. She then kept herself busy by volunteering her cooking talents at both the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 298. The yearly Czech dinner at the American Legion was enjoyed by many. Her last few years were filled with much deserved relaxation, watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and the Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball games, and playing countless card games. Her favorites included Bridge, Euchre, and Hand and Foot. She enjoyed decorating her home with a colorful style that was both comfortable and pleasing to all who visited.
Lena’s passion for a job well done, her direct but laid back style, and her sense of humor is what made Lena the women and mom we will always remember.
She is survived by her children, Tyler Salven of Marion, Ronda (Jeff) Powers of Dubuque, and Tim Salven of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Jennifer, Justin, and Jeremy Powers of Dubuque; great grandchild Adalyn of Dubuque; sister Gertrude Himan of Ames, brother George (Donna) Abbas of Hampton, brother Bob (Ilene) Abbas of Hampton, sister-in-law Dorothy Abbas of Hampton; and many nieces and nephews. Lena was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Hiske Abbas, her sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Donald Horner, brother Bud Abbas, brother-in-law Leland Himan, sister and brother-in-law Norma and Roger Palmer, and infant sister Helen Marie.
Lena’s children would like to thank the staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for the dignified and compassionate care they provided.
Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, Iowa and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 298 in Marion, Iowa.
Lena was born August 4, 1929 to George Sr. and Ida (Lauterbach) Abbas near Ackley, Iowa. Lena spent her childhood on the family farm; working in the fields, milking cows, and raising hogs. After graduating from Geneva high school in 1946, she attended the Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa graduating in 1950.
Lena had a 39 year teaching career in the Cedar Rapids Community School District which began at Franklin High School and ended with 29 years at Jefferson High School. Lena also worked at the Shorewood, Indian House, and Sirloin ‘N‘ Brew restaurants as a waitress and hostess. She and her husband, Ronald C. Salven, lived in Marion and raised 3 children; Tyler, Ronda, and Tim.
After retiring in 1991, Lena traveled to China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and France. She then kept herself busy by volunteering her cooking talents at both the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 298. The yearly Czech dinner at the American Legion was enjoyed by many. Her last few years were filled with much deserved relaxation, watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and the Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball games, and playing countless card games. Her favorites included Bridge, Euchre, and Hand and Foot. She enjoyed decorating her home with a colorful style that was both comfortable and pleasing to all who visited.
Lena’s passion for a job well done, her direct but laid back style, and her sense of humor is what made Lena the women and mom we will always remember.
She is survived by her children, Tyler Salven of Marion, Ronda (Jeff) Powers of Dubuque, and Tim Salven of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Jennifer, Justin, and Jeremy Powers of Dubuque; great grandchild Adalyn of Dubuque; sister Gertrude Himan of Ames, brother George (Donna) Abbas of Hampton, brother Bob (Ilene) Abbas of Hampton, sister-in-law Dorothy Abbas of Hampton; and many nieces and nephews. Lena was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Hiske Abbas, her sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Donald Horner, brother Bud Abbas, brother-in-law Leland Himan, sister and brother-in-law Norma and Roger Palmer, and infant sister Helen Marie.
Lena’s children would like to thank the staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for the dignified and compassionate care they provided.
Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, Iowa and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 298 in Marion, Iowa.
