Mildred Bodwell, age 92, of Wall Lake, Iowa, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, Iowa. Mildred was born on May 15, 1925, to Franklin Harden and Edna May (Adams) Cheyney. Mildred grew up very close with her aunt and uncle Otto Gottlieb and Bertha Lusina (Adams) Wunschel, and at the age of five, she was adopted by them. She attended grade school and high school in Wall Lake and spent a year at Wayne State Teacher College. Mildred was baptized August 20, 1931, and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on July 2, 1939.
On November 22, 1945, she married Harry Sanford Bodwell at the Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. They were blessed with three children: James, Ronald and Marsha. They later divorced, and Mildred was engaged to Ray Werkmeister, who unexpectedly passed away during the engagement.
Mildred and Harry made their home in Wall Lake, raising their kids on the farm. Mildred loved being a wife, homemaker, and mother. She also spent her time helping the residents at New Hope Village in Carroll. Mildred was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 60 years, and a cub scouts den mother. Researching history and genealogy were among her favorite things to do, as well as traveling, gardening, and flowers. Mildred also loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: James (Reta) Bodwell of Pilger, NE and Marsha (Donald) Stork of Breda, IA; grandchildren: Lori (Scott) McCormack, Jamie (Jill) Bodwell, Richard (Karrie) Bodwell, Timothy (Jessica) Stork, Tiffany (Cody) Fuchtman, Tony (Melissa) Stork; great-grandchildren: Carrick, Cole, and Caitlin, James, Julia and Deidrick, Landon, Johnathan, William, Cora, Mekysha, and Regan; and many extended family members and friends.
Mildred was preceded in death by parents and adoptive parents; son Ronald Bodwell; brothers: Cecil and Donald Cheyney; sisters: Adeline Shenshew, Ruth Van Buskirk, and Rosie Bigley-Salvador.
