Alice Elaine Strickland

Alice Elaine Strickland, daughter of Clay Dean and Emily Alice (Ingersole) Giles, was born January 30, 1912, at home on the farm near Pulaski, IA. She graduated from Niagara Falls High School in Niagara Falls, NY. Prior to graduation, her freshman year was at Pulaski High School in Iowa and her sophomore and junior years were at Clarinda High School in Clarinda, IA. Her sister, Phyllis, taught at Clarinda High School and then moved to Niagara Falls with her husband, and Elaine moved with her sister to Niagara Falls. After graduation she attended Kelly Business College for one year in Niagara Falls. On January 30, 1931, she married Darwin Leo Strickland in Kellerton, IA, and took up residence on a farm near Villisca, IA. With this union, three children were born. Her husband died September 29, 1978 at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, NE at the age of 72. She then lived by herself on the farm for two years before moving to Denver, CO to be close to her son and daughter. Elaine is survived by two sons, Darwin Jan (Suzanne Laura) Strickland of Denver, CO, Robert Patrick (Gayle Ann) Strickland of Oakland, IA and daughter Melodie Sue (Louis Joseph) Della Cava of Boulder, CO; seven grandchildren: Laura Jane (James) Richardson, currently serving in Afghanistan, Elaine Suzanne Strickland, Longmont, CO, Jason Clay (Mia) Della Cava, Boulder, CO, Christopher Pearson (Kerry) Della Cava, Bedford NH, Janis Lyn (David) Coffin of Augusta, GA, Darwin Thomas (Kristen) Strickland of Monterey, CA, Jenna Kristine (Adam) Schlismann, currently serving in Stuttgart, Germany; eleven great grandchildren: Lauren Suzanne Richardson, John Louis Della Cava, Kathleen Ann Della Cava, Madison Juliene Coffin, Kaitlyn Marie Vandenbos, Chloe Suzanne Coffin, John Ulysess Schlismann, Thomas Grant Schlismann, Darwin James Strickland, Samantha Marie Strickland, and Rocco Nicholas Della Cava. She is also survived by her niece, Lyn Louise Dodd (Orville) of Minneapolis, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Darwin; her parents; brother, Don Giles; and sister, Phyllis Tucker. Elaine always had a large and productive garden and enjoyed preparing food. She also was an avid sports fan and was especially fond of the Denver Broncos and Nuggets. She had a number of interesting pets, among them was a black bear cub which she raised to a 700 pound adult. She had him on a leash on the farm and he would follow her around. Elaine was alert, coherent, and very sharp up to her final days, which was God's blessing. Elaine passed away at Alpine Living Center in Thornton, CO, November 12. Services will be held at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 9998 Grant St., Thornton, CO on Monday, November 18th at 11:00am. Graveside services will be held at the Villisca Cemetery in Villisca, IA, where she will be buried in the Strickland family plot next to her husband.