Elva Irene Bearden

Elva Irene Bearden

Elva Irene Bearden, 86, of Tama, passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018 at her home in Tama. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Warren Riley officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 1, 2019 from 4-6 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.Elva was born on March 29, 1932, in South Dakota, the daughter of Paul Ludwig and Leona Grace (Petersen) Wulff. She graduated from Tama High School in 1949.

On January 9, 1955, she was united in marriage to William Cecil Bearden at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama, Iowa. Elva had worked at the Toledo Chronicle as a book keeper and office manager. She was a very active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama. Elva served as a church pianist/organist for sixty plus years. She was also active in the choir, chimes choir, Elizabeth Circle, and was a former Sunday School pianist and financial secretary. Elva was an avid bowler for over forty years. She enjoyed the many Ambassador Club bus trips. Elva also liked watching sports on TV and at STC and attended several football, volleyball, and basketball games over the years. She was also a member of the Tama American Legion Auxiliary and the Tama-Toledo Eagles Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-three years Cecil “Bud” Bearden of Tama; three daughters, Barbara (James) Hazelton of Cedar Rapids; Brenda (Nick) Shafer of Plattsmouth, NE, and Sandra (Paul) Svacina of Toledo; seven grandchildren, Lance Shafer of Papillion, NE, Jeffrey Shafer of Omaha, NE, Courtney Svacina of Des Moines, Caitlin Svacina of Alesund, Norway; Michael Hazelton of Cedar Rapids; Chris Flott of Omaha, NE, and Jim Bob Shafer of Omaha, NE; fifteen great-grandchildren; and close family friend, Cynthia Roth of Tama.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Pearl Leone Wulff at age three; brother, Virgil Wulff; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Ohrt and Bettie Bearden; and one brother-in-law, Carl Bearden.

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama.