Bertha Lavon Shannon, 75, of Independence passed away on Friday October 21, 2016.  Visitation will be from 11AM to 1PM on Monday October 24, 2016 at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein.  Services will then follow at 1PM.  Inurnment will be in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens at Hazleton.

Bertha was born in Oelwein on July 7, 1941 to parents Bert and Lavon (Patterson) Necker.  She graduated from Oelwein High School with the class of 1959.  In October of 1968 she was united in marriage with Leroy Shannon at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.  Bertha had been employed with Rockwell-Collins, she worked the family farm, and was employed 19 years as a dietary aide at Grandview Health Care Center in Oelwein.

Bertha enjoyed helping others, time with her family, grandchildren and great-granddaughter.  She liked country music and Elvis Presley.  She was talented with sewing and seamstress work and was an excellent cook.

Left to celebrate Bertha’s life is her husband Leroy; her children: Andy (Dawn) Shannon of Oelwein and Angie Shannon of Independence; her grandchildren: Brittney (Matt) Baerg and Zach Shannon of Oelwein; her great-granddaughter Emma Baerg; her cousin whom she grew up with: Dale Necker of Archer, FL; many nieces, nephews and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.