Ila Mae Brewer, 86, of Dallas Center passed away Friday, June 16, 2017, at Spurgeon Manor of cancer.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20 at Minburn United Methodist Church, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private family burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Minburn.
Ila Mae was born Nov. 7, 1930, in Harcourt, Iowa, to Alvin and Lillie (Erickson) Swanson.
She graduated from East High School in Des Moines.
In 1948 she met the love of her life on a blind date, marrying Harry Jr. Brewer Dec. 26, 1951.
Following Jr.’s military service during the Korean War, the couple settled on the family farm in 1953.
Ila Mae worked in the insurance industry for many years, retiring from Auto-Owners Insurance Company at the age of 65. She then worked part-time, about 30 hours a week, for Midwest Oil Seed.
Ila Mae enjoyed crocheting, gardening, cooking, shopping and spending time with her family. She loved attending horse shows with her granddaughters and was known as the “Horse Show Grandma.”
Survivors include her husband, Harry Jr. of Adel; children, Mary Beth (Dale) Day of Urbandale and Laura (Don) Richardson of Minburn; grandchildren, Sarah (Fizz) Van Pelt of Woodward, Benjamin Day of Vancouver, B.C., Abbey (Clinton) Luellen of Minburn and Calvin (Abby) Day of Dallas Center; great-granddaughters, Blair Renee and Willa Mae; and her beloved pets, Lucy, Peaches and Tipper.
Ila Mae was preceded in death by her children, Lanette Brewer and Larry Brewer; and brothers, Gale Swanson and John Swanson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Association. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com. Arrangements by the Iles-Brandt Dallas Center Chapel.
