Mildred Sears

Funeral Services: Will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at the Fontanelle United Methodist Church with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastors Shirley Textor and Cathy Nutting will officiate the service. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery.   

Open Visitation: Will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Wednesday at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Memorials: To the Fontanelle United Methodist Church or to the Fontanelle Public Library. 

Florence Mildred Rafter, oldest daughter of Harley C. and Eva Speed Rafter, was born December 5, 1915, in Fontanelle, Iowa. Mildred was baptized and received into membership in the Fontanelle Methodist Church. She received her formal education in the Fontanelle School, graduating with the class of 1933 with a Normal Training certificate. Following high school graduation Mildred taught in various rural Adair County schools for twelve years. She enjoyed keeping in contact with her former students, even received an apple from one on her 90th birthday.

On August 4, 1942 Mildred married Otis George Sears, Jr. at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Two daughters were born to this union: Cynthia Annette in 1946 and Nancy Lea in 1950. George and Mildred first made their home in Fontanelle, then later moved to the Sears family farm five miles south of Fontanelle. Through the years Mildred worked in various businesses in Fontanelle. She was very active in her church: teaching Sunday School, holding various offices in the women’s group and her local church board, and representing her church at Annual Conference. In later years she enjoyed chairing the In-Gathering. Mildred was a 78-year member of the Rebekah Lodge and belonged to L.A.P.M. and the VFW Auxiliary. She was an avid reader. Mildred was a life-long resident of Adair County and when asked would always say she was from Fontanelle. 

On April 3, 2010 Mildred entered the Greenfield Manor and passed away there Sunday, October 19, 2014. 

Mildred is survived by: her children, Cynthia Campbell and husband Steve, Greenfield IA, and Nancy Burk and husband Jack, Athens GA; four grandchildren: Emily Parrott and husband Scott, Donna Zimmerline and husband Jack, Collin Burk and wife Miranda Andrews and Amanda Burk and husband Randy Smyre; two special great-grandsons: Jordan and Jared Zimmerline; sister: Eleanor Childs; nieces and nephews, several who called her “Aunt Midge”; other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death were: her husband George in 1984; her parents: brother Lloyd Rafter and wife Marie; sister Esther Tipling; brother-in-law Dean Childs; sister-in-law Mildred Ford and husband Merril.