Alice Happe

Alice Happe was born February 4, 1933 in Iowa City, Iowa and passed from this life on February 13, 2017 at her home in Granger, Iowa. She lived her life to the age of 84 years and 9 days.

Alice was raised in Jefferson by her mother, Alice James, and her grandparents, John and Margaret James. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1951. In the fall of 1951, Alice started training for her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She received a two year degree in elementary education from Iowa Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls in 1953.

On September 28, 1954, Alice Thompson was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Happe at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Scranton. Ten children were born to this union. After their marriage, they lived in Scranton for a short time and then moved to a farm west of Churdan. In 1969, they moved to the family home in Churdan. Alice taught kindergarten, first, second and third grades at Paton-Churdan and Cedar Valley schools. In 1979, Alice received a B.A. degree from Drake University. Robert died in 1986 and Alice continued to live in Churdan. She retired from teaching in 1995. Due to Alice’s health, in 2015, she moved to a home in Granger to be close to her daughter, Merry Wilson.

Alice was a member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan and belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America. She was a member of the Retired Teachers of Greene County and also volunteered at the Churdan Library and as a Pink Lady at the Greene County Hospital. Alice enjoyed following her children and grand-children’s sports and other activities. She was a fan of tennis and would watch it on TV even if it meant staying up late at night. She enjoyed musicals, especially Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” her favorite. She liked to read and do word-find puzzles. She loved her dogs Megan and Happy, who were like two more children to her. Alice enjoyed traveling. Favorite travels included trips to Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Hawaii, Ireland and Rome.

Alice is survived by her ten children: Steve of Centralia, Mo., Tony (Jacque) of Churdan, Tim (Laura) of Deltona, Fla., Teresa Brandt (Tom) of Altoona, Pam Stanhope (Steve) of Chandler, Ariz., Pat (Julie) of DeWitt, Scott (Sara) of Burleson, Texas, Annette Fahr (Randy) of Eldora, Sandy Ostendorf (Jeff) of Jefferson and Merry Wilson (Kevin) of Granger; 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother; husband; two brothers, Leonard Rodgers and Bud Rodgers; sister, Maxine Smith; daughter-in-law, Dianna Happe and grandson-in-law, Jordan Murello.

Mass of the Christian burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 18, 2017, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan with Father Jeff Schleisman officiating. Burial was made in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery west of Churdan. Musical selections were sung by the church choir with special selections by soloist, Mark Brandt and accompanied by organist Lois Last. A Rosary was prayed and a Vigil for the deceased was held Friday evening at the church. Serving as casket bearers were grandsons: Chuck Miles, Eric Happe, Victor Anderson, Isaac Anderson, Mark Brandt, Kevin Brandt, Trevin Happe, Jordan Fahr, Keaton Ostendorf, Jacob Wilson and Nicholas Wilson. Honorary bearers were granddaughters: Chris Matusek, Errica Schriber, Christina Anderson, Jennifer Murello, Devin Happe, Jenna Fahr and Tiffany Kemp. Family and friends were invited to a time of lunch and fellowship at the church following the graveside services.

Assisting the family with arrangements was Brown Funeral Home, Churdan.