Iona Rose McLaughlin

Iona Rose McLaughlin, 92, passed away Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Calvin Community while under hospice care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in the Irish Settlement near Cumming, IA. A Visitation will be from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 22 at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines.

Iona was born May 21, 1926 in Rusk County, Wisconsin to Philip and Grace (Deheck) Miller. She was the fourth of five children. In 1943 she graduated from Martensdale High School. Iona worked in the accounting department of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for five years.

Iona met the love of her life, Francis (Bud) McLaughlin, while in high school and they married in 1945 at the Church of Assumption in Churchville, Iowa. They lived on the south side of Des Moines, Waterloo, and eventually settled in West Des Moines. They had eight children. Iona worked 17 years as secretary of Sacred Heart School in West Des Moines. Iona and Bud spent their later years traveling. They wintered in South Padre and San Benito, Texas. In their last years, Iona and Bud resided at Calvin Community where she often told people, “My family always comes first”.

Iona is survived by her three daughters: Patty (Bill) Skow, Toledo, IA, Janice (John) Rilett, Cedar Rapids, and Kathy (Tom) Birkett, Plano, Texas, and four sons: Dave of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Tom (Katy) Iowa City, Jim (Marianne) Las Cruces, New Mexico, Joe (Cathy) West Des Moines, 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and her sister Anna Mae Stewart of Urbandale. She is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Bud; her infant son, John; her parents; her brothers, Paul and Earl; a sister, Alice Siedel; and a daughter-in-law, Donna.

Memorial contributions may be made to HCI Hospice Care Services.