Izola Wylene Storm, age 82 of Earlham, passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020, after battling cancer. She was born to Leslie and Roberta Fielding on June 30, 1937, in Scranton, Iowa, where she was raised. She graduated from Simpson College and lived near Earlham. Izola married Ronald Storm on February 4, 1961.
Izola worked in a number of professions during her life. She was a high school mathematics teacher at Creston High School for one year and Earlham High School for another two years. For many years, she was a Home Interiors distributor as well as a seamstress and tailor at Beaman’s Fabrics in DeSoto. She worked as an insurance underwriting support associate at Continental Western Life Insurance and Equitable Life Insurance. For a number of years, she also was a teller at Earlham Savings Bank and enjoyed serving food and beverages at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. In addition, Izola was a homemaker for many years, raising five children with her husband Ron.
As a young girl she was active in 4-H in Scranton and continued her involvement as a 4-H leader in Earlham for a number of years. In her retirement years, Izola was accomplished at hybridizing daylilies. Her flower gardens flourished with over 400 varieties of lilies, with each one categorized, labeled, and uniquely named. Izola also enjoyed traveling with her husband Ron, family, and friends on cruises and sightseeing trips. In her home, she enjoyed playing the Lowrey organ nearly every day.
Survivors include her husband Ron; five children and their spouses: Kevin Storm (Laurie), Gary Storm (Sheri), April Dietel (John), Rhonda Axhoj (Kris), and Jonathan Storm, Ph.D. (Melissa); 15 grandchildren: Brian Storm,Samuel Storm (Elizabeth), Eric Storm, Shelby Kelley (Daniel), Rebecca Corrigan (Benjamin), Justin Dietel (Rachel), Benjamin Dietel, Matthew Dietel, Joseph Dietel, Christopher Dietel, Joshua Axhoj, Tucker Axhoj, Jane Axhoj, Elizabeth Storm, Lorelei Storm; and four siblings: Wilma Brafford, Wayne Fielding, Dr. René Fielding (Anna), and Susan Wilson (David). Izola was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Robert Fielding, and brother-in-law Ralph Brafford.
Services will be held on Friday, January 31 at 11 AM at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. Visitation will be Thursday, January 30 from 5-7 PM at McLaren Funeral Chapel in West Des Moines. For friends who wish to make a memorial contribution, the family has selected EveryStep Kavanagh House or Earlham Rescue.
