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Novella Dorothy Bredbenner

1917 - 2007

Novella Bredbenner, 89, of Klemme and most recently a resident of the Concord Care Center in Garner, passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at the Concord Care Center.

Memorial services were held on Thursday, February 1, at the Klemme United Methodist Church in Klemme. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme.

Memorials are suggested to the Klemme United Methodist Church, Kappa Phi Club, Hancock County Historical Society, Izaak Walton League, or charity of the donor's choice.

Novella Dorothy Bredbenner, the only daughter of Clark and Martha (Lau) Bredbenner, was born on September 8, 1917 in Klemme, in the home originally owned by H.J. Klemme, for whom the town was named. In the Klemme Public School, she participated in declamatory contests, school plays and band and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1934.

The church has always been an important part of Novella's life. She was confirmed in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1928 and was active in the Standard Bearers and Epworth League. She taught Sunday School and Bible School and served as director of Bible School and associate director of Camp Quest. In the Klemme United Methodist Church, she was active in the United Methodist Women, the Administrative Council, and the Iowa Annual Conference in many ways. She attended World Methodist Conferences in places as diverse as Singapore, England and Kenya. While in college, Novella joined the Kappa Phi Club, a religious organization for university women, and held many offices locally and nationally. Starting in 1939 she attended many of the National Kappa Phi Councils, often as council photographer. In 1988 she was selected national "Kappa Phi Sweetheart" of the year.

For many years Novella alternated teaching and attending college. In 1935 she started her college education at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI). At age 18 she began her teaching career at Riverside School, two miles south of Klemme, with a salary of $50 a month. In the terrible winter of 1936, she tramped two miles daily through the deep snow to and from school. The road down the big hill to the school was closed to traffic most of the winter, but Novella plowed through it on foot, even at thirty degrees below zero! Those were the days when the teacher not only taught school, but also built the fire, swept the floor, washed the blackboard, etc. But being young had its advantages. Even as the teacher, she enjoyed playing ball with her students, skating on the river ice, sliding downhill on a toboggan in a snowstorm, or chasing butterflies in the spring. In addition to Riverside School, she later taught at Allison, and then at Brooks, Greenwood and Maple Grove Schools in Des Moines.

Novella received her two-year elementary degree in 1939, and was back at Cedar Falls in 1944 for her junior year of college. She completed her B.A. in elementary education and graduated with honors from ISTC in 1948. In 1954 Novella was awarded a "Ding" Darling Fellowship from the National Wildlife Federation and completed her Masters Degree at Cedar Falls. Her thesis was even printed for distribution by the Iowa Conservation Commission. After returning to Des Moines, she taught elementary science and social studies for 27 years at the Hubbell School. "Miss Bredbenner" saw many different educational trends come and go, but she always enjoyed working with students.

Butterfly collecting, genealogy, photography and traveling were among her hobbies. Novella and her mother, Martha enjoyed many trips together. She traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands. She shared slide shows and artifacts from her travels with her students, with church mission study and women's groups, and with many other organizations.

In Des Moines, Novella was active in many school, church and community organizations including the Des Moines Science Teachers Club, the Iowa Association of Science Teachers, the National Education Association, the National Science Teachers Association, First United Methodist Church of Des Moines, the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the "Ding" Darling Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and the Des Moines Area Church Women United.

When Novella retired after 42 years of teaching, then Governor Robert Ray attended the celebration as his daughters had been her students. When Novella retired to her house in Klemme, she wasn't content to take it easy. She spent many hours assisting with the book on Klemme history for the Klemme Centennial in 1989. She participated in the Hancock County Genealogical Society, Hancock County Historical Society, Federated Women's Club, Federated Garden Club, and the Klemme United Methodist Church.

Although she was an only child, Novella embraced her extended family and her aunts, uncles and close or distant cousins were always very important to her. She enjoyed gathering with family for the holidays, at Lau reunions in eastern Iowa, or for simple Sunday dinners with the cousins. Her many close friends became "family" as well.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by numerous loving friends and extended family members. She will long be remembered for her positive disposition, her kindness to all, her generosity to others and her unfailing service to her church and community.

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