Ernest Latham

Ernest Delmar Latham, 92, of Le Grand, Iowa, passed away comfortably at Iowa River Hospice, on April 16th, 2015. Funeral services will be held at Le Grand Friends Church on Monday, April 20th, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will held on Sunday, April 19th, 2015, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Iowa River Hospice and the Le Grand Friends Church Cemetery Committee. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Ernest and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. Ernest Delmar Latham, was born on March 20th, 1923, at the Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm south of Le Grand, Iowa. He attended school at the Dunbar Consolidated School and graduated with the class of 1940. On December 17th, 1943, he was united in marriage to Jennie Martha McAteer at the First Friends Church in Marshalltown, Iowa, eventually settling in Le Grand, Iowa. Ernest worked several jobs over the years. Not out of necessity, but because he couldnt sit still. He was employed as a draftsman at Lennox Research & Drafting Laboratory in Marshalltown, Iowa, for 34 years until his retirement in June of 1979. Ernest also sold American Family Insurance for 15 years out of his home. He was an employee at the Drive-In theatre in Marshalltown, Iowa, Miracle Recreation in Grinnell, Iowa and Richie Industries in Conrad, Iowa, before fully retiring in October of 1986. Ernest was a member of the Le Grand Friends Church. He taught 7th grade boys Sunday school and was on the Cemetery Board of Trustees for many years as well as the Friends Development Fund board. He was also active in Iowa Yearly Meeting, serving on the board of trustees, and was the project coordinator in the construction of the Mesquakie Friends Center, located south of Tama, Iowa. Ernest was also a thirty-year member of the Le Grand Lions Club. He served as its president, secretary/treasurer also serving a term as District Governor. Ernest will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing golf, woodworking and building the family homestead, and general home maintenance. He loved to take his grandchildren camping at Redrock, in Marion County, Iowa. Left to cherish his memory are his children; Judy (Don) Roberts of Urbandale, Iowa, Jacque (Tim) Sanderson of Keystone, Iowa, and Dennis Latham of Watagua, Texas. Grandchildren; Sharee Rubio, James (Brenda) Milstead, Nikki (Jason) Steffen, Ryan (Julie) Sanderson, Colby and Hunter (Jessica) Latham. Great-grandchildren; Grace and Vincent Rubio, Lily Steffen, and Caleb and Chloe Sanderson. Ernest is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Jennie, their infant son, his parents Delmar and Helen, a step-mother Minne, his sister Kathlen (Rob) Peirson and his brothers Arnold (Kathryn) and Harlan (Eleanor) Latham.