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June Janelda Eshelman, 91, of Fontanelle, was born June 22, 1930, the daughter of Fred and Erma (Walker) Jergens in Guthrie County, Iowa. She passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022, at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Iowa.
June was educated in the Exira, Adair and Fontanelle schools and graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1948. She taught school at Eureka Township country school for four years, waitressed at Al and Mary Lou’s café in Fontanelle and then worked as a CNA at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle for several years. During her employment at the Good Samaritan Center, in 1980, she and coworkers went on strike to fight for fair treatment and a living wage, despite having no organized union. Their efforts gained statewide attention. She was working as a home health aide for Adair County Public Health when she retired in 1995.
June enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, crocheting, puzzles and reading. She truly didn’t know a stranger. She is remembered fondly by many for her hidden sass, ornery smile and laugh. She was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eugene in 1987; daughter, Janie in 2020; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Eshelman and special friend, Homer Tanner.
She is survived by her four children, Rick Huff of Fontanelle; Carmen Homan (David) of Fontanelle, Ellis Eshelman (Sandra) of Fountain Inn, South Carolina and Sandi Sickels (Thad) of Creston; six grandchildren, Fred (Carrie) Huff, Michael (Holly) Homan, Michelle (Jeremiah) Johnson, Christi Adams (Ryan Scrivner), Hunter (Tayler) Sickels, Gavin Sickels; six great grandchildren, Markayia Meyer, Rickey Huff, Odin Huff, Hayden Homan, Joclyn Tracy and Jordyn Sickels; sister, Pam Hoepner (Rick) of Orlando, Florida; other relatives and friends.
Celebration of Life services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Iowa, with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. A luncheon will beheld at the church following the burial. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.
Open visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.
The family will greet friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Emmanuel LutheranChurch in Fontanelle.
Memorials may be directed to the June Eshelman Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.