Ilo Mae (Rowell) Rhines – Edgewood

Ilo Mae (Rowell) Rhines, 91, of Edgewood, Iowa, went to be with her Lord and her Buzzy on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood.

She was born on May 9, 1932, on the Bear Creek farm, the youngest of seven children born to Lyle and Jennie ((Musfelt) Rowell. Ilo graduated from Edgewood High School in 1949.

Ilo had a great childhood and always had many stories to tell about it. She married Donald E. Rhines, Jr. on May 17, 1950, at the Edgewood Congregational Church. Ilo and Buzzy started housekeeping on Bear Creek, moving to the Rhines farm the following March and remained there until 1988 when they moved to Edgewood. They were the parents of six children.

She was a wife, mother, and rural mail carrier for many years. Ilo was also involved in Pythian Sister, United Methodist Women, Trinity United Methodist Church, Easter Star, Clayton County Genealogy Society, the Greeley Meal Site and Cemetery Association. She has written a weekly article for area newspapers for many years which are famous for history lessons, recipes, and Ole jokes. Ilo was a township trustee and a longtime election official.

Survivors include her six children and their spouses, Christe and Ron Harwood of Arlington, Cindy and Jim Freiburger of Delhi, Reed and Kathy Rhines of Manchester, Tina and Dennis Nieland of Elkader, Timothy and Marge Rhines of Edgewood, and Joe and Tabatha Rhines of Edgewood; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren plus step great and great-great grandchildren. Ilo also had many nieces and nephews who will miss her also.

Ilo was preceded by her husband of sixty-nine years, “Buzzy”; her parents; in-laws, her siblings, three in-laws and their spouses; one son-in-law; and one grand son-in-law.

Not only will Ilo’s family miss her but the whole town of Edgewood and newspaper readers will too. Keep on Dancin’.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com. ‘

Memorial Service: 10:00 a.m., on Monday, December 18, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Edgewood, Iowa, with Pastor Mike Jackson, officiating.