Itha Carns

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial following in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service. The Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements.  

Live Streaming: You may live stream the service at www.facebook.com/FontanelleLutheran. 

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family requests masks to be worn and there will be limited seating at the church. 

Open Visitation without the family present: Will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church or to the Adair County Historical Society. 

Itha Ann (Huff) Carns was born July 22, 1929 in Prussia Twp., Adair Co., Iowa to Cloyes Harvey and Blanche May (Meisenheimer) Huff and passed away Monday, June 29, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle, Iowa, at the age of 90.

Itha attended rural schools in Adair Co, graduating from Greenfield High School in 1947. She taught rural school 1 yr. She was baptized into United Presbyterian Church Sept 20, 1942, where she married Donald E. Carns on May 23, 1948. Three sons were born to this union: John Allan, Frank Wayne, and Clark Alvin.

Itha lived on farms in Adair Co all her life. Don and Itha purchased their own farm in 1966. After Don passed away on March 17, 1988, Itha purchased her home in Fontanelle but kept an active interest in the farm. She worked at Good Samaritan Center 31 years (1965-1996) in the nursing department and always enjoyed being able to help others.

Itha and Don were confirmed to membership in Emmanuel Lutheran Church, June 5, 1955. She and Don enjoyed camping and fishing. She loved her family and especially time spent with grandchildren. Other pastimes were gardening, sewing, and needlework, quilting and especially dancing. Her family and church always most important part of her life. She spent many hours volunteering for community projects, Women of the church, quilting, mission projects, Adair Co Historical Society, Am Legion Auxilliary, Bible studies and delivering Congregate Meals (for over 20 years).

On Nov 29, 1994, Itha married Albert Eshelman in Elliott, IA with renewed interest in farm activities. Helping Albert caring for his animals, sewing for his families, going to auctions and fishing. Albert passed away March 15, 2002.

Itha was preceded in death by her husbands, son John Carns, parents, sisters, Verle (in infancy) and Opal Krohn in 2015, brothers Dean and Dale Huff. Brothers and sisters in law Donald and Mary Sorensen, Harold and Dee Carns Robertson (Ed Robertson), Sonny Larkin, Millicent Huff, Leroy and Roberta Nelson, Carl Krohn, Paul Van Cleave, nephews Jim Huff and Tom Krohn.

She is survived by two sons, Frank (Kathy) Carns, Clark (Michelle) Carns of Greenfield, daughter-in-law, Karen Carns of Atlantic; five grandchildren, Ryan (Tara) Carns, Christen Carns (John Schneider), Lucas (Haylee) Carns, Nathan Carns, and Sam Carns; four great grandchildren and one expected in October 2020, Aubrey Carns, Oliver Carns, Avery Schneider and Coralie Carns; step grandchildren, Bennett and Brody Brown, and Tatum Pierce; sister, Ruby VanCleave of Des Moines; sister-in-law, Letty Larkin of Mesa, Arizona; special nephew, Doug Krohn of Duluth, Georgia; many nieces, nephews and friends; Albert’s six children, Steven, Cindy, Debby, Craig, Jerry and Todd and their families.