Corma Allen, 81, of Greenfield, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020, at her home in Greenfield.
Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Greenfield with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.
Open Visitation: Will be held on Friday, November 27, 2020, at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial that will go toward the reading mentor program for Elementary schools and to The Food Pantry at The Greenfield United Methodist Church. Corma volunteered at elementary schools and loved reading to children with all her heart. She shared many hugs and love with them.
On November 22, 2020, Heaven gained a precious angel. Corma was 81 and lived in Greenfield, Iowa. She was born on August 4, 1939, to Harold and Tresa (Skellenger) Kephart and had three siblings: Dick, Phyllis, and Kay. Corma attended country school, Harrison #8 and graduated at Greenfield High School in 1957. She married Ken Randel on August 10, 1957, and they were blessed with three children: Gary, Jeanne, and Greg. The family lived in Winterset, Iowa on a dairy farm. Every morning, to wake up her children, Corma would joyfully sing, “It’s time to get up, it’s time to get up this morning.” She worked extremely hard on the farm with a smile on her face and was determined to prove she was as valuable as any hired man. She taught valuable lessons on perseverance and always said, “I can do anything.” One of her favorite things was receiving freshly picked lilacs from her kids. On the farm, she still had to get her hair fixed at the beauty shop every week, even though she was milking the cows with Gary twice a day. It’s a good thing she wore her satin hair bonnet to make it last.
Moving from farm life to town life, and then to lake life, Corma was the “hostess with the mostess.” She loved entertaining and having lots of fun with everyone that came for the weekend at Lake Panorama. There were some incredibly fun times on the lake. Throughout her life, Corma loved working outside and enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, mowing, and canning vegetables. She loved to be able to share jars of canned beets, pickles, tomato juice, salsa, apple chili, and applesauce as gifts with others. Another passion that filled Corma’s heart with joy was volunteering with children in elementary schools and reading to them while sharing love and many hugs with them. She loved them so much. She was also talented at woodworking and built many cradles, rocking chairs, desks, decorations, and other craft items made from solid oak.
Family was everything to Corma. She was such a loving mother and a wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Nothing would make her happier than being surrounded by her family. She would always sing to her family, “You are my sunshine” and “I love you a bushel and a peck.” She loved following her children and grandchildren, whether it be football games, band performances, 4-H events, softball games, cheer/dance competitions, and cross country meets. She was there. She always did as much as she could for her family. Throughout her life, she loved to cook special birthday and celebration meals for her family, including fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, goulash (just to name a few), and all the fixings. She was young at heart and always had a spring in her step. Corma “shopped until she dropped” with her family on “Black Fridays” for over 30 years. She also loved to play all kinds of card games with them. It wasn’t a gathering unless they played cards. No matter the game, everyone always wanted her as a partner. Corma also loved trying her luck in Vegas and playing slots at the casinos. She was one lucky lady, taking after her mother.
Upon moving to the Homestead in Greenfield, she was able to create many more special memories with her siblings and their families. Along with living everyday life in their hometown with one another, they enjoyed having home-cooked meals, playing cards, dining out, watching football games, traveling, and spending their holidays together.
Corma created many special friendships at the Homestead. They spent lots of time playing cards, putting puzzles together, having daily afternoon coffee and sweets, and decorating for Christmas. She was proud of being the President of the association and being able to help everyone with whatever they needed.
Corma was a member of the Greenfield United Methodist Church. She shared her faith by serving others and giving from her heart. She was incredibly generous and always wanted to give the perfect gift. Her favorite quote was the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Corma was always willing to help and do for other people. ~ Well done, good and faithful servant.
Corma had many blessings, including her lifelong, best friend of over 60 years, Helen Ann. They did everything together, including many shopping trips to Des Moines, going to each other’s doctor appointments, lunches, and talking on the telephone daily. Helen Ann was always there for Corma.
Some comments that have been shared about her from others that tell her story: She radiated joy and love… I’m not sure she ever met a stranger, just future friends… She lives in the hearts of so many… She was always so happy and upbeat… She truly loved everyone she met and it was evident in her smile… She had such love for her family… One of the loveliest women I have known… Loved her laugh and smile… Thankful to have known her… Abundance of great memories… Fabulous lady… Special friend… Beautiful soul and light in this world… Made you feel invited, welcomed and lit up the room… Very special lady and holds a special place in my heart… Made sure everyone around her felt loved… Strong… We were blessed to have known her… Her smile and contagious laugh will be missed by so many of us… She showed so much love and kindness.
Corma will leave a legacy of love. She always had a smile on her face and was a beautiful lady. She shared her heart and joy with all. Corma’s life was full of blessings and now she is dancing in Heaven. We praise God for Corma and are grateful for having shared her precious life. She is survived by her children, Gary (Trish) Randel of Greenfield; Jeanne (Skip) Jensen of Brandon, South Dakota; Greg (Renae) Randel of Panora; her grandchildren, Randy (Tori) Randel; Merissa Kringen; Lindsey (Bobby) Hedeen; Rachel Randel; Cameron Randel; Kaleb Randel; Hannah Woodworth; Ryan Randel; Claire Woodworth; Meredith Woodworth; her great-grandchildren, Veronica “Roni” and Ruger Randel; her brother, Dick (Judy) Kephart; two sisters, Phyllis (Frank) Lane; and Kay (Dennis) Kellenberg, all of Greenfield; her special friend, Helen Ann Shoesmith, many nieces and nephews and others that loved her like a Grandma.
Corma was preceded in death by Harold Kephart (Father), Tresa Kephart Searles (Mother), and Ken Searles (Stepfather).
Survivors: She is survived by her children, Gary (Trish) Randel of Greenfield; Jeanne (Skip) Jensen of Brandon, South Dakota; Greg (Renae) Randel of Panora; her grandchildren, Randy (Tori) Randel; Merissa Kringen; Lindsey (Bobby) Hedeen; Rachel Randel; Cameron Randel; Kaleb Randel; Hannah Woodworth; Ryan Randel; Claire Woodworth; Meredith Woodworth; her great-grandchildren, Roni and Ruger Randel; her brother, Dick (Judy) Kephart; two sisters, Phyllis (Frank) Lane; and Kay (Dennis) Kellenberg, all of Greenfield; many nieces and nephews and others that loved her like a grandma.
