Lila Marguerite (Lenz) Bailey, 96, passed peacefully at Cedar Manor in Tipton, Iowa on December 4th, 2023, surrounded by family she loved dearly.
Lila was born March 6th, 1927, in Iowa City, to Clara G. and Harry P. Lenz of Lone Tree. She was raised on the Lenz family farm north of Lone Tree. After graduating from Lone Tree High School, Lila attended nursing school until she married and administrative rules forced her to quit.
After marriage to Miles H. Bailey in 1947, and the birth of her three girls, Margaret, Barbara and Pamela, the family moved from Iowa City to Hills. She studied accounting in the evenings when not waiting tables at the Jefferson Hotel in Iowa City. Unlike many women of her generation, she raised her 3 girls while working fulltime in accounting and business management. She worked until well after retirement age.
She was a loving and supportive Mother, raising her girls gently with acceptance and appreciation of their unique personalities. She was curious and open-minded, a good listener, advisor, and advocate for her daughters and other youth. After her daughters were grown, she became a foster parent for a time and provided a nurturing home for several girls.
Lila was a public steward and prolific volunteer for causes she believed in. In the early 1960's she was instrumental in bringing the current Elementary School to Hills and into the Iowa City School District. She volunteered her business management and accounting skills to fledgling non-profit organizations, setting up their bookkeeping systems and training staff to maintain them. She was a co-founder of New Pioneer Food Co-op and later, was co-founder and President of the former New Pioneer Co-op Credit Union. In 1982, she received a Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Dedication award from New Pioneer Cooperative Society in recognition of her service on their behalf. Lila was active in the small town of Hills; she was a member of the Board of Directors of Atrium Village and was on the Hills City Council. In 1988, Lila organized the very first city-wide curbside recycling program in Johnson County and served as the City of Hills' (volunteer) waste management coordinator for the program.
Lila was active in local politics and the Johnson County Democrats. She worked on political campaigns, as a poll worker, and was a supporter of Democratic causes.
Lila was a Master Gardener and could often be found tending her prolific flower and vegetable gardens in the warm months. She would generously share the bounty with others. Her warmth, wit, and kindness served her well in all that she did and won her friends among many.
Lila was preceded in death by her daughter Pam, husband Miles, brothers Leo and Clyde Lenz, her parents, many beloved friends and colleagues, and numerous cherished feline and canine companions. Survivors include her daughters Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch, Barbara Bailey (Del Holland) of Iowa City, son-in-law Jim Plaugher of Lansing; grandchildren Jody Bailey, Zoe Plaugher, Sam Miller, Nathan Miller, Lucy Plaugher, Clara Kienitz, and Silas Hugill; and 3 great-grandchildren Miles, Sawyer, and Sydney.
As a final service to her community, Lila chose to donate her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program in hopes that someday, other people won't have to suffer from degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson's Disease, as she did.
There will be an informal Celebration of Life event for Lila on December 23rd, 2:00 PM, at Prairie Hill Cohousing Ecovillage, 140 Prairie Hill Ln, Iowa City, Iowa. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward Cedar Manor Nursing Home (1200 Mulberry St., Tipton, IA 52772) or CommUnity Crisis Services (1121 S Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240).
Lila was born March 6th, 1927, in Iowa City, to Clara G. and Harry P. Lenz of Lone Tree. She was raised on the Lenz family farm north of Lone Tree. After graduating from Lone Tree High School, Lila attended nursing school until she married and administrative rules forced her to quit.
After marriage to Miles H. Bailey in 1947, and the birth of her three girls, Margaret, Barbara and Pamela, the family moved from Iowa City to Hills. She studied accounting in the evenings when not waiting tables at the Jefferson Hotel in Iowa City. Unlike many women of her generation, she raised her 3 girls while working fulltime in accounting and business management. She worked until well after retirement age.
She was a loving and supportive Mother, raising her girls gently with acceptance and appreciation of their unique personalities. She was curious and open-minded, a good listener, advisor, and advocate for her daughters and other youth. After her daughters were grown, she became a foster parent for a time and provided a nurturing home for several girls.
Lila was a public steward and prolific volunteer for causes she believed in. In the early 1960's she was instrumental in bringing the current Elementary School to Hills and into the Iowa City School District. She volunteered her business management and accounting skills to fledgling non-profit organizations, setting up their bookkeeping systems and training staff to maintain them. She was a co-founder of New Pioneer Food Co-op and later, was co-founder and President of the former New Pioneer Co-op Credit Union. In 1982, she received a Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Dedication award from New Pioneer Cooperative Society in recognition of her service on their behalf. Lila was active in the small town of Hills; she was a member of the Board of Directors of Atrium Village and was on the Hills City Council. In 1988, Lila organized the very first city-wide curbside recycling program in Johnson County and served as the City of Hills' (volunteer) waste management coordinator for the program.
Lila was active in local politics and the Johnson County Democrats. She worked on political campaigns, as a poll worker, and was a supporter of Democratic causes.
Lila was a Master Gardener and could often be found tending her prolific flower and vegetable gardens in the warm months. She would generously share the bounty with others. Her warmth, wit, and kindness served her well in all that she did and won her friends among many.
Lila was preceded in death by her daughter Pam, husband Miles, brothers Leo and Clyde Lenz, her parents, many beloved friends and colleagues, and numerous cherished feline and canine companions. Survivors include her daughters Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch, Barbara Bailey (Del Holland) of Iowa City, son-in-law Jim Plaugher of Lansing; grandchildren Jody Bailey, Zoe Plaugher, Sam Miller, Nathan Miller, Lucy Plaugher, Clara Kienitz, and Silas Hugill; and 3 great-grandchildren Miles, Sawyer, and Sydney.
As a final service to her community, Lila chose to donate her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program in hopes that someday, other people won't have to suffer from degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson's Disease, as she did.
There will be an informal Celebration of Life event for Lila on December 23rd, 2:00 PM, at Prairie Hill Cohousing Ecovillage, 140 Prairie Hill Ln, Iowa City, Iowa. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward Cedar Manor Nursing Home (1200 Mulberry St., Tipton, IA 52772) or CommUnity Crisis Services (1121 S Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240).
Lila Marguerite (Lenz) Bailey, 96, passed peacefully at Cedar Manor in Tipton, Iowa on December 4th, 2023, surrounded by family she loved dearly.
Lila was born March 6th, 1927, in Iowa City, to Clara G. and Harry P. Lenz of Lone Tree. She was raised on the Lenz family farm north of Lone Tree. After graduating from Lone Tree High School, Lila attended nursing school until she married and administrative rules forced her to quit.
After marriage to Miles H. Bailey in 1947, and the birth of her three girls, Margaret, Barbara and Pamela, the family moved from Iowa City to Hills. She studied accounting in the evenings when not waiting tables at the Jefferson Hotel in Iowa City. Unlike many women of her generation, she raised her 3 girls while working fulltime in accounting and business management. She worked until well after retirement age.
She was a loving and supportive Mother, raising her girls gently with acceptance and appreciation of their unique personalities. She was curious and open-minded, a good listener, advisor, and advocate for her daughters and other youth. After her daughters were grown, she became a foster parent for a time and provided a nurturing home for several girls.
Lila was a public steward and prolific volunteer for causes she believed in. In the early 1960's she was instrumental in bringing the current Elementary School to Hills and into the Iowa City School District. She volunteered her business management and accounting skills to fledgling non-profit organizations, setting up their bookkeeping systems and training staff to maintain them. She was a co-founder of New Pioneer Food Co-op and later, was co-founder and President of the former New Pioneer Co-op Credit Union. In 1982, she received a Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Dedication award from New Pioneer Cooperative Society in recognition of her service on their behalf. Lila was active in the small town of Hills; she was a member of the Board of Directors of Atrium Village and was on the Hills City Council. In 1988, Lila organized the very first city-wide curbside recycling program in Johnson County and served as the City of Hills' (volunteer) waste management coordinator for the program.
Lila was active in local politics and the Johnson County Democrats. She worked on political campaigns, as a poll worker, and was a supporter of Democratic causes.
Lila was a Master Gardener and could often be found tending her prolific flower and vegetable gardens in the warm months. She would generously share the bounty with others. Her warmth, wit, and kindness served her well in all that she did and won her friends among many.
Lila was preceded in death by her daughter Pam, husband Miles, brothers Leo and Clyde Lenz, her parents, many beloved friends and colleagues, and numerous cherished feline and canine companions. Survivors include her daughters Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch, Barbara Bailey (Del Holland) of Iowa City, son-in-law Jim Plaugher of Lansing; grandchildren Jody Bailey, Zoe Plaugher, Sam Miller, Nathan Miller, Lucy Plaugher, Clara Kienitz, and Silas Hugill; and 3 great-grandchildren Miles, Sawyer, and Sydney.
As a final service to her community, Lila chose to donate her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program in hopes that someday, other people won't have to suffer from degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson's Disease, as she did.
There will be an informal Celebration of Life event for Lila on December 23rd, 2:00 PM, at Prairie Hill Cohousing Ecovillage, 140 Prairie Hill Ln, Iowa City, Iowa. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward Cedar Manor Nursing Home (1200 Mulberry St., Tipton, IA 52772) or CommUnity Crisis Services (1121 S Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240).
Lila was born March 6th, 1927, in Iowa City, to Clara G. and Harry P. Lenz of Lone Tree. She was raised on the Lenz family farm north of Lone Tree. After graduating from Lone Tree High School, Lila attended nursing school until she married and administrative rules forced her to quit.
After marriage to Miles H. Bailey in 1947, and the birth of her three girls, Margaret, Barbara and Pamela, the family moved from Iowa City to Hills. She studied accounting in the evenings when not waiting tables at the Jefferson Hotel in Iowa City. Unlike many women of her generation, she raised her 3 girls while working fulltime in accounting and business management. She worked until well after retirement age.
She was a loving and supportive Mother, raising her girls gently with acceptance and appreciation of their unique personalities. She was curious and open-minded, a good listener, advisor, and advocate for her daughters and other youth. After her daughters were grown, she became a foster parent for a time and provided a nurturing home for several girls.
Lila was a public steward and prolific volunteer for causes she believed in. In the early 1960's she was instrumental in bringing the current Elementary School to Hills and into the Iowa City School District. She volunteered her business management and accounting skills to fledgling non-profit organizations, setting up their bookkeeping systems and training staff to maintain them. She was a co-founder of New Pioneer Food Co-op and later, was co-founder and President of the former New Pioneer Co-op Credit Union. In 1982, she received a Recognition of Outstanding Contribution and Dedication award from New Pioneer Cooperative Society in recognition of her service on their behalf. Lila was active in the small town of Hills; she was a member of the Board of Directors of Atrium Village and was on the Hills City Council. In 1988, Lila organized the very first city-wide curbside recycling program in Johnson County and served as the City of Hills' (volunteer) waste management coordinator for the program.
Lila was active in local politics and the Johnson County Democrats. She worked on political campaigns, as a poll worker, and was a supporter of Democratic causes.
Lila was a Master Gardener and could often be found tending her prolific flower and vegetable gardens in the warm months. She would generously share the bounty with others. Her warmth, wit, and kindness served her well in all that she did and won her friends among many.
Lila was preceded in death by her daughter Pam, husband Miles, brothers Leo and Clyde Lenz, her parents, many beloved friends and colleagues, and numerous cherished feline and canine companions. Survivors include her daughters Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch, Barbara Bailey (Del Holland) of Iowa City, son-in-law Jim Plaugher of Lansing; grandchildren Jody Bailey, Zoe Plaugher, Sam Miller, Nathan Miller, Lucy Plaugher, Clara Kienitz, and Silas Hugill; and 3 great-grandchildren Miles, Sawyer, and Sydney.
As a final service to her community, Lila chose to donate her body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program in hopes that someday, other people won't have to suffer from degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson's Disease, as she did.
There will be an informal Celebration of Life event for Lila on December 23rd, 2:00 PM, at Prairie Hill Cohousing Ecovillage, 140 Prairie Hill Ln, Iowa City, Iowa. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward Cedar Manor Nursing Home (1200 Mulberry St., Tipton, IA 52772) or CommUnity Crisis Services (1121 S Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240).
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