Greta (Korver) Carver, the only child of Garrett and Estella (Carpenter) Korver, was born on June 14, 1914, in East Peru, Iowa. Greta's father, Garrett, was the son of Dutch immigrants, (Simon Korver and Gertrude Vander Myde), who came to Pella, Iowa, around 1850, and her mother Estella's parents land family (George and Minerva Carpenter) had lived in the Pella area and had been active in farming since the early 1800s. Greta grew up spending time in Pella and had many fond memories of Pella, then and in more recent years. Greta's parents were motivated by religious convictions and always acted with kindness and generosity to others. They loved Greta very much and had high aspirations for her life.
When it was time to start school, Greta's parents felt that the best opportunity would be in Des Moines, Iowa. So, the family moved there, and Greta attended grade school and graduated from North High School as a member of the National Honor Society in 1931. Greta's family felt that education was an important tool, and so with the goal of becoming a teacher Greta obtained a bachelor of science degree in education from Drake University in 1934 (Kappa Delta Pi honorary society) and a master of science degree in education from Drake University in 1940. She also pursued additional graduate study over the years at Columbia University, University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University. Greta majored in English and Latin and later in business education. She taught in Hamilton, Panora, and Davenport, Iowa, and in Moline and later in Highland Park, Ill.
While attending Drake University, Greta met her future husband, Roy Edgar Mount, in an English class. After a lengthy friendship and courtship, Greta and Roy married on July 25, 1944, in Prescott, Ariz., where he was serving as a staff sergeant with the United States Army Air Corps and later with the Iowa National Guard. After Roy completed his active service to his country in 1945, Greta and Roy moved to the Davenport and Moline area, where Roy was an advertising account executive for John Deere and Greta was dean of girls at John Deere Junior High School. When their family started with the birth of Margaret Adelle, they moved to Des Plaines, Ill., so that Roy could pursue his career in advertising in Chicago, Ill., where he was very successful and retired as vice president and creative director in 1976. Meanwhile, when Roy Edgar Mount Jr. was born, the family moved to Highland Park, Ill., so that the best possible school opportunities for their children would be available.
Greta went back to teaching in 1956 at Highland Park High School. This time she taught business education subjects. Greta was a master teacher who loved to teach and took special interest in her students. She was very determined to be the best she could be as a teacher and mentor for her students, gave tirelessly of her time and support for them, and helped them to turn her high expectations for them into their own. From 1971 to 1973 she served as secretary and vice president of the Chicago Area Business Education Association. She retired from teaching in 1976 after 33 years of dedicated service.
Greta and Roy moved to the Pella Manor in Pella in 1978. They maintained this Pella residence, as well as other homes in Vail, Colo., and Mesa, Ariz., and enjoyed their retirement and the splendor of the the seasons by spending time in each of these places throughout the year. On Nov. 20, 2000, Greta and Roy moved into the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center. Greta was a loving wife and shared a mutually committed marriage with Roy for 56 years until his death on Dec. 9, 2000.
Greta continued to live in the Long Term Care Unit on Team 4 for nine years, during which time she took a genuine interest in and felt great affection for the staff. In return for the kind care they gave to her, it was important to her to give encouragement and goodwill back to them. Although she grew weak over the last few months, she still managed a smile and a kind word until she passed away to be with her Lord on Dec. 3, 2009, at the advanced age of 95 years.
Left to honor and be inspired by Greta's memory are her daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Jerrell K. Davis, and their daughter, Jera Alexandra, of Taos, N.M., and her son, Roy Edgar (Ed) Mount, and his wife, Janet (Mauk), of Newton, Iowa, and their three daughters, Lindsay Kay, Melissa Estelle and Elizabeth Ann. Greta was preceded in death by her father, Garrett, who passed away in 1943, and her mother, Estella, who passed away in 1971; by her husband, Roy, who passed away in 2000; her father-in-law, Edgar Alexander Mount, in 1951; and her mother-in-law, Ada Levinia (Wright) Mount, in 1978.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at the Second Reformed Church in Pella with the Rev. Sophie Mathonnet-Vander Well officiating and Dr. Davis Folkerts as organist. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. For those desiring, memorials may be given for Hospice of Pella, 505 Union Street, Pella, IA 50219.