Susan Elaine Henry

Susan Elaine Henry, 71, of Burlington, Iowa, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at her home. Born April 19, 1942 in Burlington, Iowa, she was the daughter of Charles Vollmer and Martha Patton Jaeger. In 1965 she married and later divorced John Baldwin. On July 27, 1979 she married John "Jack" William Henry in Burlington. They were married 25+ years. She was baptized in 1974 at Oak Street Baptist, attended Open Bible for many years, and moved her membership to West Avenue Baptist in 2006. At West Avenue Baptist she was very involved in church activities, including leadership training, tutoring club, women's Bible studies, small group Bible studies, missions board, etc. She was a graduate of Burlington High School in 1960. She received her AA degree at Burlington Junior College and her BA and MS degrees at the University of Iowa. Mrs. Henry taught for three years before coming to Burlington. She taught for thirty years in the Burlington Community School District: one year in 5th grade at Salter School, twenty-five years in 3rd grade at Perkins School, and finished her teaching career with four years in 2nd grade at Sunnyside School. Mrs. (Baldwin) Henry was well...[more]

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own for the science classes she taught. Each fall her classes would study the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly for two months. They would end their study with a program for the local nursing homes and go back to school for a Butterfly Celebration. She was amazed when her former students told her, "I still have my wings." She also had a Reading Grandma program that was highly successful in helping her students improve, not only their reading skills, but also develop a close relationship with the older generation. Her philosophy was "every child can learn if you spend quality time with them and help them believe in themselves." She retired from education in 2001 so that she could stay home to care for her husband, who had advanced Alzheimer 's disease. After his death, she became involved in volunteering for GRMC at the Klein Center doing one-on-one visits with the elders, leading activities in the Alzheimer's Unit, and later filling in wherever asked. She also volunteered with GRMC Hospice at Klein Center and Bickford Cottage and Hospice Vigil. Her hobbies included reading, creative sewing, playing hymns on her piano, visiting with small groups of lady friends, and her faithful dog, Fritz, a mini-schnauzer. Survivors include two daughters, Deb (Mark) Thompson of West Burlington, Iowa and Diana Reed of Henderson, Nevada; one son, David (Chiedzo) Henry of Ames, Iowa; six grandchildren: Brianna and Emily Reed, and Jacqueline, Joshua, Nathan and Nicholas Henry; and one brother, John (Patty) Jaeger of Burlington. Her husband, John "Jack" Henry and both parents preceded her in death. Friends may call from noon until 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28th, at Lunning Chapel where the family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. The funeral service for Mrs. Henry will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 29th, at West Ave. Baptist Church with the Revs. Kirk Bennett and Jim Ruberg officiating. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Henry has requested no plants or flowers. Memorials will be divided between Great River Hospice, Klein Center of GRMC and West Avenue Baptist Church.