Ilene Pieters

Ilene Pieters, age 81, of Le Grand and formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Funeral services for Ilene will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026 beginning at 10:30 A.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the start of services. Memorials in Ilene’s name may be made to Iowa River Hospice or to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Ilene Darla Sanders was born on February 24, 1945. She was the middle of three children born to Claud and Helen (Gronwaldt) Sanders. She attended school in Marshalltown and in April of 1962, she met Larry Pieters. The two were introduced by a friend and they hit it off right away. Ilene Sanders and Larry Pieters were united in marriage on July 29, 1962.

Ilene called Marshalltown her home. She and Larry raised six children, Jayne, Lisa, Lori, Kris, John and Debra. She took pride in her family and always made sure that there was always a good meal and that they had everything that they could need. In her free time, Ilene was an adventurous reader. She was often found in a mystery, thriller or romance novel. She enjoyed spending time outside in the garden. She was the biggest cheerleader for her teams making sure to cheer as loud as she could for Iowa State Cyclones, LA Dodgers and the Dallas Cowboys. Her main focus was always her family, she was constantly family-oriented spending as much time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as possible. She and Larry were able to make memories, build a family and watch it grow over their 60-year marriage at the time of Larry’s passing in 2022.

Those left to remember and cherish her memory are her children, Jayne Farfan of Toledo, Lisa Pieters of Le Grand, Kris (Don) McClenathan of Toledo, John (Missy) Pieters of Laurel, Debra Pieters of Le Grand and Lori (Todd) Egleston of Le Grand; her 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, her brother Fred (Nancy) Sanders; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In eternal life, she is rejoined by her beloved husband Larry, granddaughter, Allison Yanes; parents, Claud and Helen Sanders; sister, Karen Shipley and many other cherished loved ones.