Evelyn Marie Straub

Evelyn Marie (Gaul) Straub, 94, died Monday, December 5, 2011 in Cedar Manor Nursing Home, Tipton. Visitation for Evelyn will be held Friday, December 9 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 10 at 11:00 am with visitation from 10:00 - 11:00 am prior to the service at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton with burial in Masonic Cemetery, Tipton. Reception will follow services and burial at Fry Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Iowa City Hospice, 1025 Wade Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 in memory of Evelyn. Evelyn (or "Tootsie" to her relatives) was born March 11, 1917 near Mediapolis, Iowa to George Philip and Bernice (Maurer) Gaul. She graduated from Mediapolis High School and attended the University of Iowa. Before her marriage she taught several years in the rural schools of Cass and Gower townships. On December 20, 1941 Evelyn was united in marriage to George Carl Straub in Wayland, MO. She returned to teaching after her two children were grown. She then taught in a Rochester Township country school and in the Muscatine school system. Prior to purchasing a farm southeast of Tipton in 1952, George and Evelyn farmed near Cedar Bluffs, Mechanicsville and Bennett. They lived on their farm until 1983 when they moved to Tipton. In 1991 George & Evelyn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Straub had many interests which included reading, music, gardening, politics and genealogy. Music was always a special part of her life. She was blessed with an exceptionally fine soprano voice. She often sang solos in various area churches and was a member of the former Cedar County Rural Women's Chorus. For many years she was a member of the Koinonia Choral Society, a group of singers from several counties who meet each year at Wheatland and nearby towns to practice and perform Handel's Messiah. From 1993 to 1995, Evelyn was one of the soloists. For years, Evelyn shared her passion for piano music by entertaining Cedar Manor residents and accompanying hymns for their worship services. As a Tipton Federated Garden Club member she served as District I Director in 1982-83 and was selected as a State Life Member. She had been a member of the Open Prairie Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and served as Registrar many years. She was a charter member of the Cedar County Genealogical Society and a member of the Cedar County Historical Society. She served many years on the Cedar County Republican Central Committee and frequently shared her political views through letters to the editor. She was a former member of the Mechanicsville Presbyterian Church. Later she was a member of the Evangelical & Reformed Church and the First United Church of Christ Church in Tipton. She also attended the Cedar Street Baptist Church and the Tipton Bible Church. She was a former county president of the International Order of the King's Daughters and Sons. Evelyn is survived by her sister Cleo M. Lisle of CA; son Rodney L. (Connie) Straub of CO and daughter Colleen (Richard) Olson of CT; four grandchildren: Jason (Angela) Straub of CO, Jennifer Straub of CO, Andrea Olson of MA and Rebecca Olson (Anton) Naef of Sydney, Australia; and two great-grandchildren, Nathan and Hannah Straub. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and her brother Leroy Gaul.