Obituary of Iva Byrd Mitchell

Iva Byrd S. Mitchell, 99, passed away Friday evening, April 22, 2011, at her home at Park Centre in Newton. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at Newton Union Cemetery. Pence~Reese Funeral Home in Newton, have been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the services, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials in Iva's name may be left or being designated to Jasper County Hospice. Iva, the daughter of Bert L. and Harriett E. (Morrison) Schultz, was born January 9, 1912, in rural Kellogg, Jasper County. She was a Newton High School graduate, Class of 1929. On April 11, 1963, Iva was united in marriage with John W. "Jay" Mitchell in Colfax, Iowa. They farmed for several years and raised Registered Belgian Draft horses. Iva was employed as a secretary with Newton Manufacturing and later for Maytag, retiring in 1972. She devoted her life to her husband and family, and enjoyed sharing her life with Jay and their horses. She was a member of the Iowa Draft Horse & Mule Breeder Association, Newton Saddle Club, Iowa State Fair Draft Horse Association, and McCord Homemakers Club. Iva was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jay on July 19, 2005; her brother Jack Schultz; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. Those left to honor Iva's memory include her sister-in-law Lou Mitchell of Arizona; her niece Margaret (Roger) Sharp of Mesa, AZ; several great nieces & nephews, including: Jerry & Pam Ingraham, Terry Ingraham, Chardell & Chuck Stiffler, Mardell & Jim Tomlonovic, Doug & Marilyn Sharp, Cheryl & Dick Heggestad and Bob & Penny Fales; her great-great nieces & nephews; several great-great-great nieces & nephews; and her many friends.