Obituary of Lelah G. Main

Lelah G. Main

Lelah passed away on Friday morning, July 10, 2020, at her home. 

   A time of remembrance and celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church in Newton.  Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, are entrusted with the arrangements.  Visitation will be an hour prior to the services.  Burial will be in Newton Union Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be designated to Jasper County Historical Society, First United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choosing.  

   Lelah G. Main, 93, the daughter of Lee Raymond and Elizabeth (Keller) Rucker, was born January 15, 1927, near Newton.  She was a graduate of the Newton Senior High, Class of 1945.  She went on to attend Colorado University in Bolder, for a year. 

   On September 21, 1947, Lelah was united in marriage with Robert D. Main in Newton.  A lifelong resident of Jasper County, she was employed by the US Postal Service, as a clerk, retiring after 30 years of service.  She was a member of the Jasper County Historical Society, Richland Grange, a penuckle club for over 40 years, Spirit of 76 Questers, VFW Auxiliary, DAR, 20 plus year with RSVP, Genealogical Society and First United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs, volunteer work, antiquing, yearly class reunions and mini class reunions and her family and friends.

   Lelah is survived by her two daughters: Margaret (Doug) Shafer of Tracy, and their children: Jennifer (Michael) Doyle, Janet (Charles) Smith, Julie (DJ) Reed and Jolene (Jon) Liebl; and Carol (Gregg) Trease of Newton, and their children: Ben (Val) Moore, Heather Moore (Justin Faircloth), Brianne (Dan) Fitzgerald and Sara Ware; and fourteen great-grandchildren.  Lelah’s sisters-in-law: LaVena Fries and Dorothy Balbiani; brother-in-law Bill (Jan) Main; her 5 nieces; 4 nephews; a special friend Frieda DeHaai; and many friends, with many thanks to her caregiver Vicki Moore. 

   Lelah was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert in 1997; a daughter Nancy Jo Harris on March 7, 2020; and her three brothers: Herb, Kelly and Carroll Rucker; and brother-in-law Enno Balbiani.  {Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks are encouraged at the services.}