Grace E. Ford, age 88, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2025, at the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Pastor Nikki Ahart will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Grant Township Cemetery of rural Rodney, Iowa.
A Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Mapleton, Iowa.
The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Grace Ellen Ford was born on March 19, 1937, in Steelville, Missouri, the youngest of twelve children of Georgan and Rosa (Waugh) Gilmore. Sadly, she lost her mother when she was just two years old and her father when she was eight. Grace was lovingly raised by her siblings and went on to attend Cocoa High School, where she graduated with the Class of 1954.
In 1954, Grace met the love of her life, Jack Ford, who was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Cocoa, Florida. The couple were married on July 31, 1954. Grace lived with Jack’s parents in Rodney, Iowa, until his honorable discharge from the service in 1955. The couple called Mapleton, Iowa, their forever home where they raised their six children: Steve, Terri, Vicki, Cathy, Sandy, and Diane.
In her younger days, Grace enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. She was active in church activities, ceramics, bowling league, and served as a Boy Scout leader. The family enjoyed taking summer vacations to Missouri and Florida to visit Grace’s siblings. Grace and Jack enjoyed square dancing and motorcycle rides with their Thursday night bike club. When the children had all grown, Grace worked at Van’s and Ben Franklin and was fondly known as the local Avon lady.
In December 2021, the couple moved into Maple Heights Nursing Home together. They shared 70 wonderful years of marriage until Jack’s passing in August 2024. Grace was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who cherished her family above all else. She found joy in the time spent with her loved ones and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Left to cherish her memory include daughters Terri (Louis C.) Reed of Castana, IA, Vicki (Don) Dorn of Sioux City, IA, Sandy Gripp of Sioux City, IA and Diane (Dean) Lansink of Danbury, IA; daughter-in-law Joan Ford (Daryl Ingram) of Mapleton, IA; son-in-law Les Rodenburg of Mapleton, IA; 13 grandchildren: Nikki Ford, Kyle Ford, Louis P. (Mindi) Reed, Renae (Adam) Nichols, Clint Dorn, Lexy (Ken) Deemer, Nathan Rodenburg, Clayton Gripp, Darren Gripp, Austin Gripp, Mikayla (Tanner) DeVries, Brenna Lansink, and Collin Lansink; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-laws Gwen Gilmore and Verna Gilmore; extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Georgan and Rosa Gilmore; husband Jack Ford; son Steve Ford; daughter Cathy Rodenburg; in-laws Lee and Wanda Ford; seven brothers and four sisters; and many other extended family.
Previous Events
Visitation
12
Sep
212 S 7th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
One-Hour Prior to the Service
Funeral Service
12
Sep
212 S 7th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Cemetery Details
Location
Rural Rodney, IA
