Alice Ruth McCalley

Alice Ruth (Strauser) McCalley, 93, went to be with her Lord Thursday, May 22, 2014. Alice was born December 19, 1920, in Plainfield, Iowa, to Ralph and Alida (Jackson) Strauser. She was born again June 17, 1939. She married John A. “Jack” McCalley Sept. 30, 1942 while he was serving in World War II. He preceded her in death on June 19, 2011. Alice is survived by seven children: Ruth (John) Gross of Grapevine, TX; Mary Wardell of Cedar Falls, IA; Anne (Jerald) Lukensmeyer of Cedar Falls, IA; Lois Hohenberger of Littleton, CO; Phillip (Louise) McCalley of Ankeny, IA; Timothy (Eunice) McCalley of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Stephen McCalley of Adel, IA; 20 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; three siblings: Lorraine Jacobs of Clarksville, Iowa; Paul Strauser of Shell Rock, Iowa; and William “Bill” Strauser of Poplar, Montana. She was preceded in death by her parents and by siblings: Clyde Strauser, Lawrence Strauser and Marlene (Strauser) Thompson. She was also preceded in death by one grandson, Timothy McCalley. Alice’s lifelong desire has been for all of her family to be part of the happy circle of those enjoying the salvation the Lord has provided through His Son Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. And then, for each member of the family to go on to serve the Lord in the way God chose for them. She spent her life as a care giver. First as a big sister to her siblings, then she worked for several families in her early years. She assisted Russell and Tillie Nesbit when their son Russell Jr. was born and she worked for the Goff family in Oregon and Perry and Mary Harmon of Waterloo, Iowa. Then she faithfully cared for her seven children and most of her grandchildren as they arrived. She loyally cared for her parents through their declining years and death. When her nest emptied, Alice obtained a diploma from Hawkeye Institute to be an administrative assistant, but instead she spent several years caring for Mildred Sutherland in her final years. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the Cedar Falls Gospel Hall with burial in Elmwood Cemetery, Dike. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday, at Richardson Funeral Home in Cedar Falls where the family will greet friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Memorial contributions can be directed to Seed Sowers USA, or Linn Manor Care in Marion, Iowa. Online condolences can be left for her family at richardsonfuneralservice.com or mccalleyfuneralhome.com.

Alice Ruth McCalley

December 19, 1920 - May 22, 2014