Ardis Evelyn Cole

Ardis E. Cole, 96, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 24th, at 11:00 AM at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing, IA. Friends may call one before services at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ardis Evelyn Cole was born on June 30, 1917 at her parents' home in the Village Creek area of rural Lansing, IA. She was the daughter of Flavius Myron and Julia Ellen (Miles) Wilder. Ardis attended the Village Creek area schools and then attended high school in Hampton, IA where she stayed with a cousin. On October 10, 1936 she married Arthur R. Cole in Waukon, IA. After marriage they lived in New Albin and Lansing before starting to farm in rural Village Creek. Following that they rented farms in several northeast Iowa areas before retiring to Lansing. Ardis was a busy homemaker and farmwife and also worked at the Lansing Button Factory and Northern Engraving.

Her favorite pastimes included gardening, raising flowers, playing cards, especially euchre, and dancing. She was an avid NASCAR fan and accomplished at many kinds of handiwork as she sewed and did crochet, embroidery, and quilting. Being a loving mother and family oriented, Ardis enjoyed having relatives in her home as often as possible for any kind of get-together.

Survivors include her 3 children: Helen Christianson of Waukon, Duane Cole of Calmar, IA, and Myron (Sandy) Cole of Dubuque, IA; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and a brother Gene (Lotus) Wilder of Waukon. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Arthur, who died in 1990; 2 sisters: Iva Sandry and Ella Wilder; and 3 brothers: Jim and Mark Wilder, and infant Newton Wilder.

Casketbearers are David Burrett, Jim, Clayton, and Devin Cole, Ross Christianson, and Blaine Wilder.