Eleanor "Elly" D. Fiala

Eleanor (Elly) D. Fiala, of Mason City, IA, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at the Good Shepherd Health Center at the age of 80. Per her wishes, she was cremated. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 30, 2017, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion, IA with Rev. Bill Kem of the United Presbyterian Church officiating. Memorials may be directed to Good Shepherd, Inc., 302 2nd Street NE, Mason City, Iowa 50401, or Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd Street SE, Mason City, Iowa, 50401.

Eleanor was born October 4, 1937 in Panora, Iowa, the daughter of John and Hazel (Whisler) French. She graduated from Clarion, Iowa High School in 1955, having participated in activities as a wrestling and football cheerleader, and sang in the choir and a vocal sextet. She graduated from the Mason City Hamilton Business School in 1956.

She married Gary Fisher in 1956 at Clarion, Iowa. They had three children, Eugene Wayne, Michael John, and Suzanne Darlene.

Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1977, Eleanor worked for Coe College until April 1978, and then joined the Social Security Administration in Ottumwa, Iowa as a claims representative. Transferred to Mason City in 1981, she remained in the Social Security Administration until her retirement in April of 2001. She enjoyed her work and received numerous cash and achievement awards and was involved with many activities relating to the Social Security Administration.

Eleanor married Wesley R. Fiala on July 1, 1983 at their acreage near Mason City, Iowa. They took a honeymoon trip on their Honda Goldwing to Canada, and after that traveled each summer on the Goldwing throughout the United States and Canada. Their longest trip was for 9000 miles and five weeks to Alaska. Many international trips were taken over the years, including Russia, Singapore, Hawaii, the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and France.

Following her retirement in 2001 from the Social Security Administration, Eleanor volunteered at Hoover Elementary School in Mason City and worked with elementary students helping them increase their math and reading skills until 2014. She very much enjoyed working with the Hoover students and staff. In 2016 Elly served as an RSVP Reading Program volunteer at the West Fork Elementary School in Rockwell, Iowa.

Eleanor was a member of the board of directors of the Government Employees Credit Union for 16 years, chaired the audit committee for nine years, and then served for four years as board chairman. She played a prominent role in the organization and development of the CENT Credit Union.

A sports enthusiast, she was a faithful fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Minnesota Vikings, the Minnesota Twins, and later the Iowa State Cyclones. A jazz music fan, she enthusiastically supported her nephew Keith Fiala in his professional career as a jazz trumpet musician.

Eleanor is survived by her husband Wes Fiala of Mason City; son Eugene (Crystal) Fisher, Atkins, Iowa; son Michael (Jean) Fisher, Walford, Iowa; daughter Suzanne (Michael) Shepherd, Wayland, Iowa; Her grandchildren Ryan (Kim) Fisher, Danielle Fisher, and Timothy Fisher, Emily (Shawn) Nuetzman, Colin (Jenny) Shepherd, Spencer (Hannah) Shepherd; her great grandchildren Brayden, Aidan, Brooks and Dierks Fisher, Harper and Hadley Nuetzman; her brothers Bill (Marilyn) French, Covington, LA, and Doug (Connie) French, Forest City, Iowa.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents and step-father.