Lila M. Koonce

Lila Koonce, 80, of Conrad, died Friday, December 11th, at the Grandview Heights while in their loving care. Her death came peacefully at 1:20 p.m. with her family at her side. Mrs. Koonce was the longtime owner and operator of Grandview Heights. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 15th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest in the Conrad Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8:00 p.m. on Monday with the family being present from 6-8:00 p.m. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. A memorial fund is being established. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Lila and her family. Ph 641-844-1234. She was born on March 23rd, 1929, in New Hampton, Iowa, and received her education in New Hampton and Reinbeck, graduating from the Reinbeck High School. She later attended nursing school in Chicago and obtained her LPN degree. On September 6th, 1953, she was united in marriage to Chuck Koonce at the Little Brown Church. They made their home in Reinbeck where she worked for Dr. Koehler, at the pharmacy and later owned and operated C and L Drive-Inn in Reinbeck. This is where she began her entrepreneurial spirit that lasted a lifetime. In 1964, they moved to Conrad where she was the administrator of Oakview Nursing Home and later ran in conjunction four nursing homes in Iowa Falls, New Hampton, Milford and Marshalltown (Grandview Heights). In 1991, she and her business partner co-owned the nursing home in Milford and Grandview Heights upon the death of the original owner. In 2000, she became sole owner of Grandview Heights. Mrs. Koonce was one of the very first individuals licensed in the State of Iowa as a Nursing Home Administrator, attending classes in Iowa City to achieve that recognition. Lila was active until her death in the everyday operations and care at the nursing home. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Reinbeck and Calvary Baptist in Union; the Iowa Healthcare Association, and Conrad American Legion Auxiliary and attended Fellowship Baptists Church. She treasured her family, loved horses and the Iowa Hawkeyes as well as having a good meal with family and friends. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Katherine Kathy (Tom) Schultz of Beaman, Craig (Tammy) Koonce of Conrad, four grandchildren: Lydia (Chad) Skinner of Conrad, Staci (Steve) Klaas of Beaman, Kayla and Karlie Koonce of Conrad, four great-grandchildren: Samantha, Colby, Britlynn and Gavin, her brothers: Merlyn (Roseanne) Underwood of Hudson and Eugene (Bonnie) Underwood of Jesup, several nieces, nephews and cousins as well as 134 members of her Grandview Heights Family- her devoted employees as well as the many others who worked along side of her in the years past. In death she was rejoined with Chuck, her loving husband who died in 1984 and her parents.