Esther Lucille Grow, daughter of Charles Taylor and Carrie Siebert Taylor, was born August 22, 1920 near Perry, Iowa and died April 12, 2008 at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry, Iowa at the age of 87 years.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m.at the Rippey United Methodist Church on Thursday April 17, 2008. Words of comfort were spoken by Pastor Deb Parkinson. Casket Bearers were Dan Striegel, Tom Striegel, Becky McCullough, Cathy Doorneweerd, Garrett Matuska, Andrea Striegel, Ryan McCullough, and Curtis Doorneweerd.
The organist was Marjorie Vannatta, and the soloist was Brenda Roberts, singing “May You Always”, and “Sweet Hour of Prayer/Softly and Tenderly”. The congregation joined together at the end of the service singing “God be With You”. The ushers were Phil Roberts and LaVere Derry.
Esther grew up in Dallas, Greene and Boone Counties. She was raised and later adopted by Ben and Retta Noack. She graduated from Rippey High School in 1938. She married Eldon “Pink” Grow on September 25, 1939 at the Christian Church Parsonage in Perry. They were blessed with two daughters Vickie Ann and Darla Jean. The family made their home on a farm east of Rippey where they lived and worked together for 45 years. They retired and moved into Perry in 1983. Esther worked for 15 years at Virginia’s Ready to Wear. She was a member of the Rippey United Methodist Church and the Rebekah Lodge. Esther had enjoyed refinishing furniture. She was preceded in death by her parents and adoptive parents, her husband Pink April 29, 2006; brothers: Donald Noack, Marion Taylor and Larry Taylor; sisters; Audrey Taylor and Wilma Jean Taylor Carpenter. Esther is survived by her daughters: Vickie Strigel and husband Jim of Delta, Iowa; Darla Grow and her significant other, Tom Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Dan Striegel and wife Andrea; Tom Striegel; Becky McCullough and husband Ryan; Cathy Doorneweerd and husband Curtis; and Garrett Matuska; two great grandchildren: Jackson and Isaac; two sisters-in law: Eleanor Noack of West Des Moines, Iowa and Edith Taylor of Charleston, West Virginia; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and many friends.
Interment was at the Rippey Cemetery, Rippey, Iowa.