Iris Waters

Iris M. Waters, 84, of Waukon, IA, died Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner, IA. Graveside services will be held Saturday, March 26th, at 2:30 PM at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Iris Mae Waters was born November 30, 1937, in Volney, IA, the daughter of Leonard and Margeretta (Darling) Steele. She attended Waukon schools and later received her GED. On January 25, 1955, Iris married Earl Waters at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. They moved to Texas for a year and she worked as a CNA; Iris and Earl returned to Iowa, residing in Lansing, where they ran the laundromat. In 1960, they moved to Waukon and farmed for several years; Iris worked briefly at Quillin's Food Ranch and the turkey plant. For over 40 years, Iris worked for Good Samaritan Society, starting out as a CNA, then the activities director, before becoming the head of housekeeping.

Iris was a member of St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church and St. Patrick Catholic Church. She enjoyed going fishing and camping with her family in Texas and in Harpers Ferry. Iris also liked sewing, knitting, and doing whatever crafts were trendy at the moment. An avid shopper from the comfort of her chair, Iris had to have anything shown on TV that was pretty, colorful, or bejeweled whether she actually needed it or not. She loved flowers and gardening and owned a ton of houseplants, hens and chicks, and grew lilies and hollyhocks. Most of all, Iris enjoyed everything that involved her children and grandchildren, making sure that they all kept their act together.

She is survived by her five children: Leonard (Wanda) Waters of Newton, IA, Lesa (Kenny) Bulman of Savannah, GA, Luara (Rodney) Necker of Sumner, IA, Larry (Tara) Waters of Soldiers Grove, WI, and Loran Waters of Churchtown, IA; 25 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Kay (Curt) Vorwald of Fairbank, IA, and Diane Robertson of Red Wing, MN; and a brother-in-law Roger Palmer of Brandon, IA.

Iris was preceded in death by her father Leonard Steele; mother and stepfather Margeretta and Vernon Melcher; husband Earl in 2017; grandchildren Justin and Jessica Waters; great-grandson Blaine Schumacher; granddaughter-in-law Chelsea Waters; daughter-in-law Kelly Waters; her sister LaVonne Palmer; and brother-in-law Richard Robertson.

Iris' grandchildren will serve as honorary urnbearers.