Herrington, Connie Jean (1953 - 2018)

HERRINGTON, RUST, LESCH, LANGE, DENTON, FREEZE, BOWEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 5/20/2018 at 13:59:00

Name of deceased: Connie Jean Herrington

Aged: 64 yrs, 8 mo, 12 days

Residence: Avoca Nursing Home and Rehab Center; Avoca, Pottawattamie County, IA

Born: Sep. 1, 1953; Mt. Ayr, Ringgold County, IA

Died: May 13, 2018; Avoca, Pottawattamie County, IA (due to complications from spinal cerebellar ataxia and pneumonia)

Funeral services: Thursday, May 17, 2018; Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Benton Cemetery, Benton, Ringgold County, IA

Survived by: Sister, Pam Rust (spouse, Roger); nieces, Sarah Lesch (spouse, Josh), and Tatum Lange (spouse, Mac); nephews, Ryan Denton (spouse, Breanne), Todd Denton (spouse, Ashley), and Travis Rust (spouse, Ruth); 11 great-nieces and –nephews; stepmother, Rosemary Herrington; stepbrothers, Jim Freeze (spouse, Ann) and Tim Freeze (spouse, Shana); other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, James Edwin and Norma "Jean" (nee Bowen) Herrington

Education: Connie attended kindergarten in Clearfield, IA until she was unable to see. The following year, she attended the Iowa Braille and and Sight Saving School in Vinton, IA, but after several years as a student there it was determined Connie would need to have further training elsewhere, as the IBSSS School was only for the blind and not for the deaf. She could not attend the School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, IA because of her inability to see. After discussion from many entities, Connie's further education came before the Iowa State Executive Council which approved the expenditure of funds to allow Connie to attend training at the Washington State School for the Blind and Deaf in Vancouver, WA. When she returned home during the first Christmas break, Connie taught fingerspelling to her parents and sister, and for the first time in years, they were able to have Connie understand what was being said to her. It opened up a whole new world of learning for Connie. She continued her instruction in Vancouver for a total of 4 years and then returned to Vinton, IA, along with 2 of her instructors; they helped to open a deaf-blind school there. Connie was with the graduating class of 1973 at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: n/a

Marriage: no information provided

Employment: After graduating from IBSSS, Connie went to work at Options of Linn County (IA) doing a variety of jobs; she later worked at Concerned, Inc. in Harlan, IA, and worked for a total of 43 years

Hobbies/Interests: no information provided

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com