Wade, Carmen Parkhurst, Gustafson

WADE, PARKHURST, GUSTAFSON, VAN HORN, LAW, HENN, NICHOLS, ELLIS

Posted By: Ken Baker (email)
Date: 5/27/2019 at 14:31:58

Des Moines Register, October 2015

Carmen Wade
1956 - 2015
Carmen Wade Obituary

West Des Moines

Carmen (Parkhurt) (Gustafson) Wade passed away on October 17, 2015 with style and grace. She was a Master Gardener, a member of the Historical Society, and the librarian at Valley Southwoods for seventeen years. She has two beautiful children Jen (Gustafson) Van Horn and Martin Gustafson. She also has a granddaughter Willow and Grandson Wyatt who were the apple of her eye.

Carmen Was born April 28, 1956. She attended elementary school in Grand River Iowa, and graduated from Grand Valley High School in Kellerton Iowa in 1974. She worked at O'Brian Brothers in Leon for three years, Banker's Life (now principal) for three years, Bavarian Haus in Des Moines for five years, was a housewife for several years before returning to work. She worked for the West Des Moines Community School District in nutrition for four years, and then was the librarian at Valley Southwoods for seventeen years.

Her passion was flowers. She had several plant sales through the years and loved helping others learn more about them. in 2011 she became a Master Gardener for Polk County. Carmen volunteered at Jordan House doing the flowerbeds for over twenty years. While she was at Valley Southwoods she helped with their flowerbeds as well.

In her retirement Carmen remained active in flowers and loved to travel.

She is survived by her parents; Lauren and Myra Parkhurst, sisters; Melody Henn, Pam Nichols, Becky Ellis, Carolyn Law and Rhonda Parkhurst, children; Jen (Gustafson) Van Horn and Martin Gustafson, grandchildren; Willow and Wyatt Van Horn and countless friends and family.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that friends consider donations to the West Des Moines Historical Society, Iowa Public Television, or the Mater Gardeners through the Polk County Extension office.