Iva I. Unruh, passed away on Sept. 11, 2010, at St. Luke Hospital, Marion. Her Christian values were shared in a long lifetime of teaching and volunteering.

Iva was born June 2, 1912, near Marion, the daughter of John and Rena (Conyers) Hett. Her father was a farmer and her mother a homemaker. She grew up with seven brothers and one sister. As the eldest child, her responsibilities included baking, milking, gardening, canning, and baby-sitting.

After graduating as valedictorian of Marion High School, “Miss Iva” taught for eight years in one-room country schools. From then on, she enjoyed continued connections with former pupils.

In 1938, Iva married Herman Unruh. They settled in Wichita where they raised three children. Life centered around Calvary Methodist Church where Iva served as a Sunday school teacher, Boy Scouts den mother, weekday church schoolteacher, and a United Methodist Women officer.

Iva and Herman retired to Marion in 1978. Iva continued her active volunteer work at the senior center and at Aulne United Methodist Church.

She recorded life events ranging from photograph albums of early farm life to diaries from the age of 16 and volumes of newspaper clippings about family and friends. Thrifty to the extreme, she created jigsaw puzzles from prints, quilts from scraps, and rugs from rags.

Iva was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; infant sister, Edith; and brothers, Ron, Russ, Tom, Ern, and Walt.

She is survived by her sister, Ellen Darrow; brothers, Jim Hett and John D. Hett of Marion; son, Dale and wife Phyllis of Peoria, Ill.; daughter, Donna and husband Clint Hoberecht of Woodinville, Wash.; son, Keith and wife Betty of Wichita; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Aulne United Methodist Church with committal to follow at Marion Cemetery.

There will be a visitation from 1 p.m. until time of service at the church Saturday.

Zeiner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.