Iola Myren

MADISON-Iola C. (Dahlen) Myren, age 93, passed away on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. She was born on Feb. 2, 1918, in New Hampton, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Carrie (Gordon) Dahlen. Iola married Arnold Myren on Sept. 11, 1942, at Jerico Lutheran Church in New Hampton, Iowa, and spent the rest of her life in Wisconsin. After World War II, they settled in Lodi where she and Arnold helped run the Log Cabin restaurant. Then in 1948, they relocated to Madison until 1970, when they moved to Monona. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Eastern Star Starlite Chapter 283, Daughters of the Nile, Ladies Auxiliary of Elks 3410, and a charter member of the Zor Arab Patrol Auxiliary. Iola was first and foremost a dedicated homemaker devoted to raising two wonderful sons, who both died in their youth; Gordon, age 13, and Thomas, age 23, soon after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater. She also worked for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in the motor vehicle department until her retirement, in 1980. Throughout her married life, she was a generous volunteer giving freely of her time primarily to the Bethel Parish Shoppe, the Red Cross, and Meriter Heights. She was a cub scout den mother, and helped with whatever activities her sons were in. Iola traveled extensively with family in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Pacific. She also loved the cruises they went on. Iola took great pride in her bounteous garden, especially her beautiful roses. An avid reader, she enjoyed history, more than any other subject, and spent her free-time golfing and playing euchre. Above all else, she was a loving wife and mother, admired by all, for her cheerful, positive outlook on life and her unselfish unstinting concern for the well-being of her family and friends. Iola is survived by a brother-in-law, Richard (Patricia) Myren of Chicago, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold on March 18, 2002; sons, Gordon and Thomas; her parents; brothers, John and Carlton; sisters, Marian Moen and Bernice McCourt; special nieces, Debra Favila, Janis Hildahl, and Ileen Wedo; and special nephews, Harlan and James Moen. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011, with Pastor Curt Everson presiding. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Media Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church or Shriners Childrens Hospital. Cemetery: Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation: A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. Service: Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011, with Pastor Curt Everson presiding.