Roma Ree McLaren, 82, a long-time resident of Iowa falls (60 years with a 1 1/2 year hiatus) passed away on August 17, 2024. Funeral services for Roma Ree McLaren will be 10:00 Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Blairsburg Missionary Alliance Church, 501 3rd Street, Blairsburg, Iowa 50034. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2024 at Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Avenue, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Massena  Cemetery, Massena, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family of ℅ Roma McLaren Memorial: Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Avenue, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. According to Roma’s wishes memorials will be directed to The Lighthouse, Missions supported by Blairsburg Missionary Alliance Church, and Voice of Martyrs. Roma Ree McLaren was born July 11,1942, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of James and Lola Eileen (Bissell) McLaren. She attended a one room country school (Greendell) south of Cumberland, Iowa, through the eighth grade. She then attended Cumberland and later Cumberland and Massena High School, graduating in 1960. From 1960 to 1964, she attended Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, majoring in elementary education. She taught 35 1/2 years (1964-2001) in Iowa Falls, Iowa, elementary school system (5th, 4th and 1st grades) with a short 1 1/2 year hiatus obtaining her master’s degree (UNI, Cedar Falls, Iowa). She excelled in teaching reading and phonics skills to her students. She thoroughly loved her students (praying for each new group of students yearly) and enjoyed her job, especially working with many talented co-workers. She always felt blessed to have fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Teaching was the only “job” she ever wanted. Roma’s church and family were an important part of her life. Her real passion in life was her love for her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Roma’s teaching skills overflowed into schooling of her nieces and nephews especially in the areas of phonics and putting on children’s classic plays. She also enjoyed caring for her mother after retirement. Evangelism Explosion, children’s AWANA and Missions were some of Roma’s many church activities. Many of her loyal friends and prayer partners came from her church family (Missionary Alliance Church, Blairsburg, Iowa). Roma’s special prayer warrior partners included Aileen Llewellyn, Candi Twedt and Carol Harms. So many of her church friends sent her encouragement through cards and letters, especially in the later years when Roma was no longer able to attend church. She thoroughly enjoyed these correspondences. Her Biblical life verses were Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” and II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Roma’s hobbies included gardening, reading, and traveling. She enjoyed experimental gardening, trying many new techniques. Travels besides the United States included Canada, Mexico, Panama City, Europe, England/Scotland and India (twice). Later in life one day bus trips were favorites of hers. She is survived by sister-in-law, Marla McLaren of Atlantic, Iowa, Brother Jan (Cheri) McLaren of Missoula Montana, Sister Roxy McLaren of Spencer, Iowa and sister-in-law, Delilah McLaren of Alamosa, Colorado, and many nieces, nephews, cousins as well as great nieces and nephews. Roma is preceded in death by her parents: James (Jimmie) and Lola McLaren; two brothers James C. McLaren of Cumberland, Iowa, and Brian H. McLaren of Alamosa, Colorado, and four nieces and nephews (Dana McLaren, James C. McLaren, Jesse McLaren and Sonya McLaren).

Roma lived at Scenic Living Communities in her beloved town of Iowa Falls (8 years and 5 months at Ashbrook and slightly over 4 1/2 years at Scenic Manor Nursing Home). The staff at these facilities took amazing care of Roma and became like family members to her over the years. The family extends their sincerest gratitude to the Scenic Living Communities’ Staff for their incredibly loving care of Roma! Her family also wishes to extend many thanks to the medical staff at Iowa Falls Clinic/Hansen Hospital as well as Care Initiatives Hospice for their kind compassionate care.