Constance Ellen Saunders – formerly of Manchester

Constance Ellen Saunders, 84, formerly of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at St.
Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was born on December 26, 1939, in Earlville, the daughter of F. Leslie
and Nina L. (Foster) Gibbs. Constance graduated from Manchester High School with the class of 1959. She later
received her B.A. from Mt. Mercy College and then her M.A. from Clark College.
On November 15, 1959, Constance was united in marriage to Richard Saunders at the United Methodist Church in
Manchester. Three children were born to this union. The couple celebrated their 55 th wedding anniversary 13 days
before Richard’s death.

Constance and Richard enjoyed traveling and had visited all the United States, except Hawaii, and many trips
seeing most of Canada. They loved to ride their recumbent tricycles together after retiring.
Survivors include her son, Rodney (Thresa) Saunders of Cascade; two daughters, Candy (Michael) Flynn of
Middleton, Wisconsin, and Penny (Jerry) Zaruba of Cedar Rapids; two grandchildren, Andrew Saunders of Salt Lake
City, Utah, and Elizabeth Saunders of Houston, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Thresa Paige Saunders and Scarlett
Orchid Saunders; one sister, Patsy (Ken) Dearburg; and sister-in-law, Kathy Gibbs.
Constance was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Nina Gibbs; her husband, Richard Saunders; her
brother, Michael Gibbs; and her parents-in-law, Clifford and Darlene Saunders.
Memorials may go to preserve and maintain wildlife areas.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com .
Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Oakland Cemetery in Manchester, Iowa.
Visitation: 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in
Manchester, Iowa.
Interment: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Iowa