Obituaries : Iola M Light

Iola, daughter of Albert C. and Matilda (Kahle) Schulte, was born on April 22, 1930 and grew up on her family's farm in Norway, Iowa with her 5 siblings: Emily, Genevieve, Marilyn, Albert J, and James. She met the love of her life, Dennis James Light, while in elementary school, was voted Norway's Sweet Corn Queen in the summer of 1947, and graduated from Norway High School in 1948.

On December 29, 1952, Iola married Dennis James Light at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Norway, Iowa. The couple moved to Aurora, Colorado in 1953, where they had two children, Bradley Perry Light and Denise Ann Light. They eventually settled in Longmont, Colorado in 1964. In 1983 they moved to Enumclaw, Washington, returning to Colorado in 1998 to enjoy their retirement years in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Iola worked at Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1948-1952, where she assembled radio components and served as a parts inspector. After moving to Longmont, Colorado, Iola worked as an Avon Lady selling door-to-door Avon products. In the early 1970s, she began working for Longmont Newcomer Welcome Service, providing local information and coupons to people who moved into the area. Her proudest professional achievement was creating her own business called Evergreen Welcome Service, the first of its type in Enumclaw, Washington, where she welcomed new residents to the area until 1998. Iola loved to socialize and make everyone she met feel welcomed as reflected in her career.

Iola's true passions were baking, cooking, and entertaining her neighbors and friends. She hosted many memorable dinners, parties, and get-togethers over the years. She loved music, dancing, and seeing everyone having fun. Keeping in touch with her many relatives and friends was very important to her. She maintained these long-term relationships by calling them until her final months. Faith was also a cornerstone of her life. She was a devout Catholic and active member in the local Catholic churches where she lived.

Iola was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be remembered as a kind, energetic, and life-loving person. Iola brought love and light into the lives of everyone she met. She will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Iola is survived by her son Brad (Mollie Wright) Light, daughter Denise (Ken) Sumikawa; grandchildren Kris (Jessica) Sumikawa and Nik (Justine Manalastas) Sumikawa; and great-grandchildren Ava Sumikawa and Max Sumikawa; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Iola was preceded in death by her husband Dennis Light; her parents Albert and Matilda Schulte; and siblings Emily Zenisek, Genevieve Pieper, Marilyn Wodstrchill, Albert J. Schulte, and James Schulte.

A Recitation of the Rosary will be held on March 17, 2024 4:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Fort Collins. A Memorial Mass and Reception will be held on March 18, 2024 10:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Final burial will take place at St. Michael Cemetery in Norway, Iowa.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Pathways Hospice for their loving care of Iola.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.goesfuneralcare.com. Goes Funeral Care in Fort Collins is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.