Imogene Tifft

Imogene “Ileen” (Burns) Tifft, 82, of Greene, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 at her home.  Memorial services were held on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Nora Springs, Iowa, with Pastor Roy Ott of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Osage, Iowa, officiating.   Inurnment was at the Park Cemetery in Nora Springs.   Memorials may be directed to the Ileen Tifft memorial fund in care of the family.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com

Ileen was born Aug. 25, 1931 in McIntire, Iowa, the daughter of Lewis Warren and Helen (Paul) Burns.  She attended country school through eighth grade.  Her family moved to Rockford, Iowa, when Ileen was 14. She then worked in the local grocery store with her dad, who was the manager.  

Ileen married Charles S. Tifft on April 9, 1950 in Rockford.  She was a CNA for many years before retirement.  Ileen loved spending time with her family and friends and traveling with her husband.  She enjoyed working in her yard tending to her flowers, camping, reading, shopping and volunteering through the local Area Education Agency.  Ileen was a member of Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Nora Springs and Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake where she was active in church circle.

Ileen is survived by five children, Bill Tifft, and wife, Mary, of Omaha, Neb., Linda McCoole, and husband, David, of Jacksonville, N.C., Donna Ponto and husband, Mark, of Greene, Iowa, Dennis Tifft, and husband, Steve, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Larry Tifft, and partner, John, of Minneapolis, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Shiloh, Shanna, Michael, Renee, Zeke, Shelley and Mandy; five great-grandchildren, Cooper, Megan, Chloe, Emma and Clara; and two sisters, Shirley Gruis of Redding, Calif., and Leita Wucher, of Newport News, Va.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2013; a son, Dean Tifft; and two brothers, Raymond Burns and Charles Burns.

Arrangements were made by Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, of Mason City.