Lorraine Rosalind Isley

Lorraine Rosalind Isley, 99, of Cedar Falls, passed away peacefully at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck on Saturday, August 24, 2024.  She was born in Traer, Iowa, on November 1, 1924, daughter of Laurits and Christina (Olsen) Nielsen.  Lorraine attended Cedar Falls High School until school realignments placed her in the TC/Lab School district for her Senior year.  Though it was painful to start over in a new school, it ultimately led her to meet a young man named George Russell Isley who she married on March 21, 1945, in the Little Brown Church near Nashua.  Lorraine and George were true partners in their farming enterprise.  She was hard working, capable, smart and a devoted farm wife.  In addition to crops and animals, they continued George's father's business of breeding and selling English Shepherd puppies as stock dogs that were shipped, literally, across the country.  And in her "spare time" Lorraine was an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables which were canned and preserved.  She also loved trees and established a nature preserve on family property where she worked with the state to cultivate prairie grasses, hedges and a wide variety of trees.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; and her brother, Arnold Nielsen, M.D.  She is survived by her children: Janice (Earl) Smith of Liberty, Missouri, Arlinda McKeen of Urbandale, and Gaylon (Christina) Isley of Cedar Falls; 6 grandchildren:  Matthew Smith, Burton Smith, Nathan McKeen, Amy (Jason) McKeen Toth, Catherine Isley and Will Isley; 4 great-grandchildren: Allison, Alexander, Emily and James; and extended family members and friends.

Lorraine's Visitation will be from 4-7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at the Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home.  Private Burial by Family at Fairview Cemetery of Cedar Falls.  Memorials may be directed to her family for future designation.