Iola Iona Awald

Iola was born February 14, 1928, in Ashley, North Dakota to Jacob A and Sophia Bertsch. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband John T. Awald, and brother Reno Bertsch. Surviving are sons: John M. (spouse Nadine) and Paul D. (spouse Sharon); siblings: Mercedes (Lester, deceased) Hash, Betty McCall (Denny, deceased) and James (spouse Shirley) Bertsch; and grandchildren: Joshua, Daniel and Tessa; nieces and nephews.

Iola married John T. Awald in Casper, WY on March 31, 1956. The family lived in western Colorado, New York City and Grand Island suburbs in NY, the Palo Alto, CA area and finally in the Denver metro area.

Iola graduated from Ashley, ND High School in 1945 and in 1948 from Sioux Falls College with an AA Degree and teaching certification. Iola taught elementary grades in Ashley and Williston, ND. She also worked for Amerada Petroleum Corporation in their Williston and Casper, WY offices. Upon coming to the Denver area, she was employed by Jefferson County Schools and worked as Principal/Financial Secretary in several schools in the Lakewood and Golden areas.

Iola’s priority was her husband John and sons John and Paul. She loved her grandchildren Joshua, Daniel and Tessa.

Her favorite pastime was reading and listening to music. She enjoyed sitting on her patio in the peace and quite watching the birds, squirrels and other wildlife living around her home. She and her husband John enjoyed entertaining friends for dinner, followed by discussions of real-life and in-depth aspects of the Christian faith.

Iola accepted Christ as personal savior in October of 1938 and was baptized that same year becoming a member of the Ashley Baptist Church at age 10. Her faith was strong and unwavering throughout her life. In 1997 she and her husband John joined Riverside Baptist Church, remaining faithful and active members while she was physically able.

On July 31, 2025, Iola passed into eternity at the age of 97 in a peaceful and loving environment surrounded by the wonderful caretakers at Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs. She is buried beside her husband at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO. The world shall greatly miss Iola’s contributions and her beautiful spirit on this physical earth. We love you.