Gwen (Krumm) Ward passed away peacefully in Ames, Iowa at Heartwood House of the Northcrest Community with her children at her side. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Northcrest who made her last months as enjoyable as possible. They all commented on her wonderful smile that helped brighten their days.

Gwen's parents were Rudolph and Irene (Woodrow) Krumm. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 11, 1932 but spent most of her youth on a farm outside Newburg, Iowa with her siblings: Eugene Krumm, Vivian (Krumm) Krough, and Donna Rae (Krumm) Norris who all preceded her in death.

Singing was one of Gwen's joys as a soloist and in groups both in high school and college. She also sang on WHO radio in Des Moines. Later she sang in the church choir at the Clemons United Church of Christ.

She attended Iowa State Teacher's College (now University of Northern Iowa) and received a two year teachers degree and then went on to teach at Melbourne, Iowa where she met her soon to be husband, who was a bus driver for the school. Later Gwen went back to the University of Northern Iowa and received her four year degree.

On August 16, 1953, she was united in marriage to Bill Ward of Albion, who preceded her in death. Left to cherish her memory are her children – Deb in Kansas City, Deanna in Ames and David in Seattle as well as her grandchildren – Will Wood in Chicago; Jacob Ward and Lana Ward in Seattle; Mei Lin Ward in Nashville. As well as her many friends in and around Nevada where she spent many of her last years; and Clemons & Saint Anthony near the family farm.

She was a farm wife, active in the Clemons United Church of Christ, and elementary teacher for 25 years in Melbourne and later West Marshall (State Center, Iowa).

In her retirement years, she kept busy with the Nevada Golden Kiwanis Club, TTT camper program, taking tickets at the Iowa State Fair, volunteering at Harmony House in Nevada and volunteering as a teacher's aid for Ames elementary schools.

Favorite activities included traveling especially her trip to Australia and New Zealand; attending shows in Branson, Missouri; baking cookies; attending and following the Iowa State Women's Volleyball and Women's Basketball games; watching birds at her bird feeders; looking for wildflowers in the spring at Robison Wildlife Area south of Nevada, attending Pella Tulip Time, and visiting with cousins at the Krumm reunion.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Jasper Community Foundation - Environmental Education Center Project, Gwen K. Ward Scholarship at West Marshall High School, or Iowa BI of TTT camper fund. Details can be found at www.rasmussonfh.com.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Pkwy) in Nevada.  Family will greet friends beginning at 1 p.m. until the time of the service.  Burial will be at a later date at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marshalltown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Jasper Community Foundation

c/o Environmental Education Center Project

PO Box 1332

Newton, IA 50208

(641)-792-9780

conservation@jasperia.org

Gwen K. Ward Scholarship

c/o Patti Edler

West Marshall Community School District

601 3rd St NW

State Center, IA 50247

(641)-751-4739

pedler@wmcsd.org

Iowa BI of TTT

Camper Fund

c/o Rayanne Burrack

4020 Brighton Circle

Ames, IA 50010

rburrack@gmail.com

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.