Geraldine Tenold, 86, West Liberty

Geraldine Tenold, 86, of West Liberty, died from a subdural hematoma on Friday, July 9, at University of Iowa Hospitals, following a fall and blow to the head from an unknown source in the home she lived in with her daughter, Lori, three days earlier. Lori was at work and Geraldine was able to call her daughter, Jill and summon help. She spoke briefly when Jill arrived, but was quickly unresponsive.

Geraldine was born on Dec. 9, 1923, in Carpenter, to Lincoln and Ina Priem. She was a 1941 graduate of Carpenter High School and a 1945 graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. She taught business courses briefly prior to marriage. She was united in marriage to Vern Tenold on April 17, 1949, and raised five children, born from 1949 to 1962.

She was a member of Lutheran faith during her childhood and young adulthood. She later became a member of the Worldwide Church of God from 1968 to 1995, and recently the First United Church in West Liberty.

Survivors include two sons, Bruce Tenold of Waterloo and Mark (Shanna) Tenold of Burns, Tenn.; two daughters, Jill Told and Lori Tenold, both of West Liberty; her brother’s only child, Connie (Philip) Meyers of Nisswa, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Grace Tenold of Kensett and Lois Tenold of Albert Lea, Minn.; three grandchildren, Joshua (Jennifer) Tenold of Alexander City, Ala., Matthew Tenold of Opelika, Ala. and Corey Tenold of St. Paul, Minn. and two great-grandchildren, Gavin Tenold and Hayden Tenold of Alexander City, Ala. She is also survived by many special cousins, nieces, nephews, classmates and former students.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Lincoln and Ina Priem; grandparents, Frederick and Barbara Priem and Charles and Rusina Culbertson; her brother, Eugene; husband, Vern Tenold; daughter, Gerine Tenold; many special cousins, along with an extra special cousin, Rhea Wind, that was like a sister to her and a beloved cat, Scout.

Geraldine lived for her children and would do anything for them. Her legacy includes compiling photo albums of both sides of her family and her husband’s family, including information dating back to the 1800s. She was a voracious letter writer and spent many a winter day writing long letters of love and family news to her relatives and friends. A letter from Geraldine was a wonderful gift of heart, sometimes taking an entire day to complete on her trusty manual typewriter.

Geraldine loved the backyard of the home she had shared with Lori for the past 13 years. She had a wide animal menagerie, including birds, squirrels and rabbits. She was an excellent cook and baker, and was known for her Norwegian delicacies. She was a true Proverbs woman, very compassionate and caring to family, friends and neighbors. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need, especially her children, and so very often the gift of time and motherly assistance in the households of her daughters.

She enjoyed walking to the local post office, feed store and various other downtown destinations for daily errands and exercise. She was an avid flower planter and on-her-knees weed puller and enjoyed many a garden during her lifetime. She was known in town for all this activity, which kept her young at heart and limber in her body.

Geraldine’s memory will live on in the hearts, actions, activities and projects of her children, until they can enjoy their true and complete family reunion.

Per Geraldine’s wishes, graveside services were held in St. Ansgar on July 12. Burial was in the Tenold/Priem family plot at First Lutheran Cemetery.

As Geraldine has been known to say in the far distant past, “The kitchen is closed.”