Theodore A. Ide

Ted Ide, 90, of Creston, died Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Crest Haven Care Centre in Creston. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be held in June at Crest Baptist Church in Creston. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Creston.

Memorials may be given to the Mayflower Heritage Christian School or to the Union County Fair. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Theodore A. Ide was born Feb. 24, 1934, to John W. and Helen Donelson Ide on the family farm south of Creston, in Grant Township, Union County. Dr. Rambo, the family doctor in Creston, was brought by bobsled from High and Dry Road, a mile and three quarters, to the farm to do the delivery as the roads were drifted shut with snow.

Ted attended Grant #3 rural school through the eighth grade and then attended Creston High School, graduating in 1952 as a member of the National Honor Society. He was a long-time member of the Douglas Boosters 4-H Club and enjoyed showing steers at the Union County Fair in Lorimor. He, along with several other Union County 4-H members, had feeder lamb projects shown in Des Moines.

He continued his education at Creston Junior College and Iowa State University, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. In January 1956, Ted was drafted into the Army for two years. He served 13 months in Iceland before returning to the U.S. and was separated from active duty. He then served two years of active reserves and two years of inactive reserves, receiving an honorable discharge from the Army.

Upon returning home, he started farming with his father, growing crops, feeding cattle, hogs and sheep. On Feb. 11, 1966, Ted was united in marriage to Dawn Carlson. They moved to the family farm, where they raised and educated their four children. In spring 1974, Ted and Dawn purchased the family farm from his parents, becoming the fourth generation of Ides to own the farm.

Ted was a longtime member of Union County Farm Bureau and served as president for three years. He was a member of the Union County Fair Board for over 20 years, where he and Dawn worked in and managed the old Cook Shack. He served on the Crestland Co-op Board of Directors for 12 years. He also served as a 4-H leader, and was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2023. Ted was a longtime member of Crest Baptist Church in Creston, sang with the Creston Men’s Chorus and was a Grant Township trustee and clerk for 25 years.

Ted is survived by his four children: Todd (Diane) Ide, Laura (Jerry) Hartman, John Edward (Lauren) Ide and Michael (Tracie) Ide; 11 grandchildren: Ian Ide, Theo (Grace) Hartman , Savannah (Harrison) Suhre, Olivia (Grayson) Cutler, Eli Hartman, Megan, Ben, Connor and Emma Ide, Truman and Sadie Ide and one great-granddaughter, Adelaide. He is also survived by his younger brother, William Joseph (Bill) Ide, many nieces, nephews, cousins, lots of good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn, in 2014, her parents, his parents and his older brother, Jerry.