Bert Cornelison

December 16, 1944 - March 18, 2019

Bert Mae Cornelison was born December 16, 1944 in Washington State the daughter of John Wilbur Sams and Doris Mae (Overton) Sams. Bert was raised in southwest Iowa, primarily in the Afton, Iowa area. She graduated from East Union High School in Afton. Following graduation, Bert was united in marriage to Earl Lee Cornelison. To this union four children: Valerie, Rhonda, Rodney and Reuben were born. They lived in the Jewell, Iowa area before moving to Marion County in 1972. Bert and Earl later divorced. Bert spent most of her life in Marion County other than a brief time she lived in Mesa, Arizona. She worked various jobs, eventually retiring from C.O.C. in Pella. In her spare time, Bert enjoyed fishing, crocheting, oil painting and she was known as a pool shark. She also spent many hours playing computer games. Bert’s greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandkids, and she made a special blanket for every grandchild. Bert passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019 at the Knoxville Hospital & Clinics at the age of 74 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Doris Sams, brother, John Sams, Jr., sons-in-law: Rick Collins and Rick Crozier and brother-in-law, Greg Aalbers. Those left to mourn Bert’s passing include her children: Valerie Crozier, Rhonda (Brian) Collins, Rodney Cornelison and Reuben (April) Cornelison; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; siblings: Delores (John) Hardy of Des Moines, Linda (Joe) Noland of Des Moines, June Aalbers of Kirkville, Iowa and Roy (Darla) Sams of Des Moines; several nieces and nephews and many other family members and friends. A Celebration of Life Service for Bert Cornelison, age 74 of Knoxville, will be held on Monday, March 25, 2019 at Bybee & Davis Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the family to be designated at a later date.