Edith Naley

Edith Naley, 90, of Decorah died Friday, April 26, 2013, at Stoney Brook Village in West Union. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorenson and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, IA, and also after 9:00 a.m., at the church on Thursday morning. Edith Mae (Gjetley) Naley was born January 15, 1923, the daughter of Will and Stena (Vick) Gjetley in Decorah. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1942. Edith married Leland Myron Naley on December 31, 1950 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. They celebrated 60 years of marriage before Leland’s passing in September 2011. After high school, Edith trained to teach in rural elementary schools in Pleasant Township, Winneshiek County. After teaching, she spent many fond years traveling with her sister Lylas, throughout the U.S. working in various offices & businesses. After raising her family on a farm North of Decorah, she worked at the Luther College Post Office for seventeen years until her retirement. Edith was a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church, where she was active in ladies circle and helpful for many Nordic Fest meals. Edith was a wonderful cook and baker, and especially enjoyed family outings and traveling to see her children. Edith is survived by her six children, Linnea (Dr. Ahmad) Emami of Fresno, CA, Lois Wiskus of Decorah & special friend Albert Hageman of Ft. Atkinson, William Naley of Decorah, Steven (Eva) Naley of Copperas Cove, TX, Brenda Naley of West Union & special friend Mike Olson of Clermont, and Denise (Robert) DeHaan of Lansing, KS. Edith is also survived by her eleven grandsons: Troy (Casie) Fadness, Travis Fadness, Seth Naley, Matthew, Andrew, and Adam DeHaan, Reza and Kamron Emami, and Christopher, Michael, and Robert Naley; two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Maxwell Fadness; her brother Curtis Gjetley of Cresco, IA. Three sisters-in-law: Marcy Amundson, Jeanette Naley, and Charlotte Naley all of Decorah. Edith is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Edith was preceded in death by her husband Leland, her parents, two sisters Lylas (Vernon) Rasmussen, and Ruth Meise (George) Dohm, three sisters-in-law, Diane Gjetley, Jan (Kenneth) Baran, Ellen Naley; three brothers-in-law Merlin Naley, Elwood Naley, and Lester Amundson; a niece Joan Rasmussen Whalen; a nephew, Duane Naley; and special friends, Kenneth and Dorothy Groth.