Lona Fleming was born November 8, 1930, the daughter of Lewis and Bessie (Shine) Layer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and passed away Monday, July 30, 2012, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center in Atlantic, Iowa. Her home the last 9 months.

Lona grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa, and attended school there. She received her GED later on at the age of 29.

Lona and H. Dale Fleming of Montezuma, Iowa, were married January 23, 1948. They and their growing family made their home in Montezuma for about 10 years.

The family, that now included their three oldest children, Dennis, Rebecca and Connie, moved to Atlantic, Iowa, in 1958. Dale started his new job with Walnut Grove that same year. Their youngest child, John, was born in 1959.

Lona then began her long career in the health care field. She started out as a nurse’s aide at the Atlantic Hospital, later working in the Physical Therapy Department. She became a Certified Respiratory Therapist, the only one in the department to achieve that status. One of her many proud achievements. In 1977, Lona received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Iowa Western Community College. She ranked in the top five of her class. She began her nursing career at the Atlantic Care Center. Lona then was an LPN at the Heritage House in Atlantic for ten gratifying years.

She sold Avon products for a number of years after her retirement from nursing. Lona enjoyed traveling throughout her lifetime. She got to see much of her own country, some of Canada and even made a memorable trip to England in 1996.

Lona’s hobbies included sewing, knitting and crocheting. She also enjoyed tending flowers, especially her prized impatiens.

Lona was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Fleming; her parents, Lewis and Bessie Layer; two distant half brothers; and grandson, Hamson. Also, her cherished lifelong best friend, Birdie Coburn, from Brooklyn. They got to see each other one last time in 2006.

She is survived by her children, Dennis (Marie) Fleming of Williamsburg, Virginia; Rebecca Fleming of Boston, Massachusetts; Connie (Eric) Coleman of Lake View, Arkansas; and John Fleming of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren, Maia Singer, Heather King, Jason Fleming, Katie Fleming, Daniel Fogleman, Mike Fogleman and Siri Bird; nine great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

A special thank you from Lona’s family for her very fine care at the Atlantic Nursing and Rebab Center.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 4, 2012, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

A graveside service will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery following the memorial service.

Per Lona’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there is no scheduled visitation.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.