Alice Marie (Whitcher) Powell

Alice Marie (Whitcher) Powell, 93, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester.  She was born on January 26, 1924, at home on the Goose Ranch Farm in rural West Union, the daughter of Ross Franklin and Sarah Susanna (Smale) Whitcher.  Alice was raised and educated in the West Union area and graduated from West Union High School in 1941. 

On February 10, 1946, Alice was united in marriage to Thomas Andrew Powell in Waukon.  Six children were born to this union.  Together they farmed north of Strawberry Point.  The couple retired from farming and moved to Strawberry Point in 1990. 

Alice was a longtime member of the Strawberry Point United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.  She was a 4-H Leader of the Woody Woodchucks and a fair judge.  Alice was recognized by the Pleasant Point Grange as a dedicated 50 year member.

Alice loved baking, especially pies.  She also enjoyed playing cards with her friends, crocheting doilies and afghans, square dancing, sewing, farming, gardening, mushroom hunting, walnut gathering, picking berries, and watching football.  As a final act of kindness, Alice gave the ultimate gift as a tissue donor. 

Survivors include her six children, Rodney Powell of Urbandale, Marcia (Marv) Evenson of Cedar Rapids, Charlene (Ken) Heiar of LaPorte City, Becky (Mike) Courtney of Dubuque, Larita (Jerry) Hamlett and Kevin (Marcia) Powell all of Strawberry Point; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 7 step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Gray of Waterloo; one aunt, Blanche Feller of Elkader; two sisters-in-law, Verona Canaday of Algona and Helen Miller of Fayette; and many nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas Powell, in 1999; five brothers, Ralph, Marion, Forrest, Howard, and Rosco Whitcher; and three sisters, Clara Light, Lillian Tragord, and Evelyn Schmeling.

 Service Information