Iona Crawford

Friday, May 10, 2019 2:45 pm

Iona Crawford, 95, of Decorah, died Wednesday, May 8, at the Barthell O.E.S Home in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Monday, May 13, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson presiding. Visitation was from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Glenwood Lutheran Church on Monday morning. Organist was Lane Rich. Soloist was Joel Timmerman. Special music was “Amazing Grace” and “How Sweet the Sound.” Hymns were “This Is My Father’s World” and “How Great Thou Art.” Interment was at Glenwood East Cemetery, Decorah. The Schluter Balik Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Iona Pamela Doris (Rocksvold) Crawford was born Jan. 29, 1924, to Peter and Ida (Berg) Rocksvold on their home farm in Glenwood Township. She was baptized and confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran Church. Iona attended Rocksvold Country School and graduated from Decorah High School.
After graduation, Iona worked in the county recorder’s office and attended Luther College. Then she moved to St. Paul, Minn., where she worked as ‘Rosie the Riveter’ on the assembly line for B-24 bombers at Northwest Airlines.

Iona came back to Decorah and met her future husband, Leonard ‘Shorty’ Crawford, at Matter’s Ballroom and they married Sept. 15, 1946. Iona and Shorty spent 48 years of marriage together on the family farm in Frankville, and raised one son, Darrel Elliot. As a newlywed, Iona took on the role as caregiver for her mother-in-law who was a stroke patient, and did this for 19 years.

Iona was very active in church activities and community affairs. She was treasurer of the Frankville Street Light Association for over 30 years and was employed with Northland Agency on Aging for 15 years. She spent numerous hours making donuts for the Luren Singers’ fair stand, cookies for Nordic Fest and lefse for church suppers. She was also active in Glenwood Ladies Aid and Circle.

Iona played the piano and was a talented vocalist—singing with the Winneshiek County Farm Bureau Womens’ Chorus, Northern Lights Chorale and Glenwood Church Choir. She performed many solos at conventions, funerals and church services up until she started losing her eyesight due to macular degeneration.

When Iona wasn’t singing she could be found in her garden—picking berries or planting flowers—or in her kitchen baking the next batch of cookies or canning fresh peaches. Iona loved being a homemaker and spending time with her family, but she also enjoyed traveling and excelled at documenting her trips around the U.S., Norway and Russia.

Iona is survived by her daughter-in-law, Mary Crawford, Frankville; grandchildren,
Chris (Amanda) Crawford, Waukon and Stacy (Danny) Davi, Decorah; great-grandchildren: Kaelin, Taylor, Tristyn and Kooper Crawford; Luca and Adrian Davi.

Iona was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; son, Darrel; parents, Peter and Ida (Berg) Rocksvold; brothers, Russel and Dervin Rocksvold; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Irving and Alma (Leer) Crawford.

The family would like to thank Barthell O.E.S. Home and Winneshiek County Hospice for their exceptional care and support and Pastor Stacey Nalean-Carlson for her spiritual guidance.