Lola Hodge, 83, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab Center in Anita, Iowa.
Lola Louise Sieck was born February 3, 1940, on a farm in West Shelby County to John and Ella (Bramman Bunnell) Sieck. As a youngster, Lola was a jokester who always stayed busy just having fun. Her joyful disposition was a characteristic she would carry all the days of her life. On March 17, 1980, she and Melvin Hodge were wed at the Marne United Methodist Church where they would worship for many years.
Lola spent most of her adulthood working as a bookkeeper for numerous professional organizations throughout Cass County, including, farming implement dealers, Larson and Lowers International, and Cappel’s Ace Hardware, just to name a few. She was an active member of the Atlantic Red Hat Society, Patriotic Order of DOES, and spent many a night at the bowling lanes, the family-friendly Marne Bar, or on a local dance floor “cutting a rug”.
Lola and Melvin would frequently travel to Nebraska to spoil their grandkids, take trips to Colorado, occasionally camp in the great outdoors, and attend many 4H horse shows with Elizabeth. She had an amazing ability to tell great stories that would capture everyone’s attention, and her love for life was evident in her smile, her fun-loving ways, and the compassion she showed to others.
Lola was a resident at Allen Place for over ten years and recently moved to Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab Center in Anita for additional care.
She is survived by her sister, Larita (Bissell) Lesan, and husband Pete; two step-daughters, Jody (Dale) Weideman, and Marybeth Sidebottom; five grandchildren, Eric (Ashley) Weideman, Aaron (Beth) Weideman, Samuel (Nicole) Weideman, Matthew Weideman, Elizabeth Sidebottom and special friend Austin; six great-grandchildren; niece, Cherie (Jeff) Roadcap; nephew, Kevin Keim; and many cousins.
Lola is preceded in death by her husband Melvin (2015), parents John and Ella (Bramman Bunnell) Sieck; sister, MaryAnn Keim; two half-brothers, Kenneth Bunnell, and Harold Bunnell; brothers-in-law, David Bissell; and nephew, David Bissell Jr.
Open visitation will be Friday, December 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Roland Funeral Service with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 9th, at 10:30 a.m. at Marne United Methodist Church in Marne, Iowa. A private family burial will be at the Brighton Township Cemetery.
The family welcomes those in attendance at the funeral to a luncheon being held at the Marne United Methodist Church immediately following the service.
Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.