Eleanor June (Rhoades) Fagen Alex, age 97, formerly of Grand Junction, passed away peacefully at Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson on October 21, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Eleanor was born on March 24, 1927, in her family home in Greene County near Rippey, to her parents Loyde and Blanche (McDowell) Rhoades.
Eleanor was born on March 24, 1927, in her family home in Greene County near Rippey, to her parents Loyde and Blanche (McDowell) Rhoades.
Eleanor graduated from Perry High School in 1944. She married Mahlon (Jap) Fagen on Sept. 24, 1944, at First Presbyterian Church in Perry. To this union, four children were born: Willis (Bud), Jacquelyn, Stephen, and Meladee. The family lived in Rippey and Perry until moving to Grand Junction in 1958. After Jap’s passing in 1965, Eleanor married William (Bill) Alex in 1972. Bill died in 1984.
Through the years, Eleanor was a member of Perry Does, Rippey Alice Blue Rebekah Lodge, and El Carim Club. She also was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction, where she served as a deacon, elder, and Session clerk.
Besides her most treasured job of being a homemaker, Eleanor had various stints of employment at Bournes, NC+ Seed Corn, Avon, waitressing, and at Rippey First National Bank.
Of all the things Eleanor did in her life, the one she was most proud of was being a mom and grandma. Her children and grandchildren kept her on the go with their participation in music, sports, school plays and other activities. She will long be remembered for her sweet smile and pleasant personality.
Eleanor is survived by her children Bud (Pat) Fagen and Meladee (Kevin) Graven of Grand Junction, Jacquie (Fred) Grow of Boone, and Steve (Sue) Fagen of Urbandale; grandchildren Kellie (Pat) Henderson, Todd Fagen, Annie (Jake) Smith, Jessica (Matt) Bannon, Brett (Cathy) Fagen, Stephen (Liz) Grow, Michelle (Rick) Roquet, Tracy (Dan) Jessen, James (Patricia) Miller, Alicia Fagen, Travis Graven, Kyle Graven, and Cory (Kimberly) Graven; 27 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and stepsons Dr. David Alex and Steven Alex.
Preceding her in death were her parents Loyde and Blanche Rhoades; husband Mahlon (Jap) Fagen; husband William (Bill) Alex; and sisters Doris Hagge and Joanne Kay Lingner.
Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, Iowa.
