A private memorial service will be held Jan. 8 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Alene Bigley, 87, of Jefferson.
Words of comfort will be offered by Arlene’s son, the Rev David Bigley of the Church of the Nazarene. Honorary bearers will be Matthew Ernst, Alex Ernst, Tyler Ernst, Amanda Kramme, Katie Lloyd, Noah Bigley, Cameron Fleener and Shane Fleener.
Interment will be at the Jefferson Municipal Cemtery.
Mildred Arlene Keller was born Sept. 5, 1934, to parents Eldon G. Keller and Mildred Olena (Woods) Keller. She was born at home on a farm North of Elkhart in Polk County. She had one brother, Darwin Woods Keller, who was 2 years old when she was born. An infant brother, Marion Alexander Keller, had died in infancy.
Arlene had five younger sisters: Shirley Ann, Nancy Joan, Sharon Sue, Sandra Kay (deceased), and Linda Mae. Her two younger brothers are Wayne Lee and Gene Eldon.
Arlene lived in Elkhart and attended Elkhart Consolidated School through her high school graduation in 1952. She then moved to Ankeny and began work as a bookkeeper for a local doctor. She later moved to Leon and began employment for the Decatur County assessor. She worked there for over three years. This was about the time that she met her future husband, Tracy R. Bigley. Tracy had recently returned to Leon (his home town) after serving four years in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Tracy and Arlene were married Oct. 7, 1956. They moved to Chariton, where Tracy began employment with Montgomery Ward Company. During this time, their daughter Denise Arlene was born March 1, 1958, at nearby Corydon. They later returned to Leon, where Tracy began employment with the Graham’s Department Store Company. Their son Tracy R. Bigley III was born in Leon on Dec. 18, 1959.
The family moved several times with Tracy’s employment with the Graham’s Company. The first move was to Eagle Grove. The next move was to Sigourney. It was there that their son David Eldon was born Dec. 12, 1964. The family was then complete.
The family made their final move to Eldora, again to manage the Graham’s Department Store. Shortly after their move to Eldora, Tracy was offered the position of business manager for the Eldora Training School—a home away from home for delinquent boys. The family was happy to remain in Eldora, after all the previous years of moving to various locations. The children were able to complete their schooling in the Eldora Community School District.
Arlene was busy with the children during these years. Then later she began employment at the Eldora Pharmacy in 1971 as a bookkeeper. She was employed there for 22 years before retiring.
Tracy and Arlene moved from Eldora to Jefferson in 2001. They have been active in the United Methodist Church and the Greene County Medical Center Auxiliary, as well as in other various organizations.
During the time of raising their children, they saw each of them attend and graduate from college, and then to move on to marriage and to the raising of their own families. Denise married Eric E. Ernst. They have three sons, Matthew Erick (deceased), Alex Raymond, and Tyler Jeffrey.
Tracy married Angela K Zeimet, and they have two daughters, Amanda (Kramme) and Kathleen (Lloyd).
David was married for 18 years to Diane E. Pickett (deceased). He later married Tamara J. Fleener. They have three sons, Noah Choi David Bigley, Cameron Wade Fleener and Shane Edward Fleener.
Arlene and Tracy were very proud of each and every child, their spouses and each grandchild.
Arlene Bigley died Jan. 2, 2022 at her home in Jefferson. She was preceded in death by her husband Tracy on Jan. 4, 2021.
