In loving memory of

Winifred Arlene Simpson
August 11, 1922 - June 7, 2018

Arlene Simpson, 95, of Webster City, died Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Southfield Wellness Community. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center with Pastor Richard Laird, officiating. Burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2018 at the funeral home.
Winifred Arlene Buckles, was born August 11, 1922 in Webster City, the daughter of Aaron and Maude Bateman Buckles. She graduated from Webster City Schools in 1939, then attended Webster City Junior College and received her Bachelors in teaching from the University of Northern Iowa. In the summer of 1942, Arlene went to Milwaukee to work at Briggs and Stratton making magnetos for fighter planes to help the war effort. She married Hio Simpson on August 4, 1946 at the Universalist Church in Webster City. Arlene began her teaching career in a rural one room schoolhouse. She was a 5th grade teacher with Webster City until her retirement in 1984.
Arlene is survived by her children, Patricia (Fred) Foster of Staunton, VA; Jill (Don) Christoffersen of Kimballton, IA; grandchildren, Melinda (Brett) Wills, Katie (Randy Mains) Christoffersen, Travis (Kelly) Christoffersen; great-grandchildren, Aaron Wills, Bryan Wills, Eva Christoffersen and Kenneth Christoffersen; sister, Phyllis McKinney of Webster City; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband, Hio in 2016; daughter-in-infancy, Martha Simpson; brothers, Wilbur Dean Buckles and Richard Dwight Buckles.
She was an active member of the New Testament Church of Christ and the VFW Auxiliary. Arlene enjoyed knitting, sewing and quilting. She would tie quilts at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and knitted baby caps for newborns at the hospital.
Write a personal tribute for the family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com.

Tributes

Gayle Martin wrote on Jun 27, 2018:

"Mrs Simpson was the best teacher I ever had. I?m so glad I was able to tell her that. God got a special angel."

Kevin Vinchattle wrote on Jun 19, 2018:

"Mrs. Simpson was my favorite teacher of all! What a wonderful year I had during 5th grade at Sunset Heights. I remember some of the older kids trying to scare me with stories of how tough she was and she had mirrors in her glasses so she could see what you were doing when she was at the chalk board. Oh what kids do! I know she got a great chuckle out of that when I shared such with her decades later :-) Mrs. Simpson was, to me, just the kindest most caring teacher I can remember. She made going to school great fun! When my folks owned the WC Greenhouse, we gave away a trip to my Uncle's lodge on Trout Lake in Canada. Mrs. Simpson and Bud won it. I was so happy for them! She and Bud took Chris Burnett and I to a Twinns game one summer. That's just one of the many examples of kindness. A bright light left this earth with her passing. But heaven is brighter now. To all family members please know this woman, your loved one, touched my heart in a way that has lasted all my life. And, it will continue to do so as long as I draw breath. Always in my heart Mrs. Simpson. I'll see you again some day and we can have a few laughs with those Sunset Heights stories :-)"

John Ostlund wrote on Jun 11, 2018:

"Mrs Simpson was the best teacher anyone could hope for. All of my siblings were fortunate enough to have Mrs Simpson as a teacher also. She made coming to class enjoyable, not only because of what she taught, but as an avid sports fan she would sometimes bring a radio into class and we could listen to some big sporting events. I saw her occasionally when I returned to WC and she always said hi and remembered my name--even after so many years. She is without question my favorite teacher, so much so that for all of my online accounts for which there are security questions that I create for my profile, if there is the question "Who is your favorite teacher?" the answer will always be Mrs Simpson. "

Jamie seiser wrote on Jun 9, 2018:

"Aunt Arlene was a special lady always made everyone smile. I will miss her brownies and I will especially miss her . The last few months I got to learn more about her then I ever knew. One thing I will take with me is to live my life with out regrets . RIP auntie you earned your wings. "