Lola Relph

Lola Relph, 87, of Marshalltown and formerly of Chariton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on the morning of August 15, 2023 surrounded by her loving family at Glenwood Place in Marshalltown under the care of Iowa River Hospice.

Services for Lola will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023 beginning at 2:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 12:00 to service time. A family-Led Internment at the Russell Cemetery will be Saturday, September 16th 2023 at 11:00 A.M. Memorials in Lola’s name may be directed to her 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.

Lola June Jessip was born December 7, 1935 on the family farm in rural Chariton, Iowa. She was the youngest of six children born to Oscar and Carrie (Wills) Jessip. Lola attended school in Chariton where she graduated in their class of 1954.

On September 4, 1954, Lola was united in marriage to Richard D. Relph at the Baptist church in Russell, Iowa. They resided in Ottumwa, Iowa where they began a family of their own together having three children. Lola cared for her family and took care of their home as a labor of love. They moved to Marshalltown, Iowa in 1968 and planted as a permanent home.

Lola remained active within her community serving on various boards and clubs such as the YWCA Board, Ladies Elk’s, and the Little League Board. Additionally, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church (now First Methodist Church) of Marshalltown and spent many years volunteering time at the Marshalltown Hospital in their gift shop. She had a kind and compassionate heart as she served and assisted with a group of students with special needs and gave care to her uncle for many years before his end-of-life care. In free time, Lola absolutely looked forward to traveling. She was a worldwide traveler far and wide to all areas of the globe. She enjoyed to take trips to the casino and had card clubs at Glenwood Place where she enjoyed playing Bridge and 500. She had her pet Gin Gin whom she adored and had a knack for cake decorating and mint making for her friends and family. She was always the one in the family to keep everyone on the right track and enjoyed going to her children and grandchildren’s activities.

She is survived by her children, Steven (Natalie) Relph of Camanche, Iowa, Lois (Victor) Jenness of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Rik Relph of Marshalltown, Iowa; her grandchildren, Lana (Chris) Gulsvig of Lakeville, Minnesota, Creighton (Alexandria) Jenness of Humboldt, Iowa, and Emily Relph of Des Moines, Iowa; her great-grandsons, Bennett Gulsvig, Callen Gulsvig, and Kai Jenness; including numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard “Shorty”; four brothers, one sister; her step-father; and her parents.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the staff at Glenwood Place for all of the excellent care that Lola received for over the last 12 years. She was fortunate and said that Glenwood was "the next best thing" to home. Lola’s adventuresome personality will be missed by all!