Lela Ann Sheffler

Lela Ann Sheffler, 82, of Waterloo, died Tuesday, April 22, 2025, while a patient at MercyOne Waterloo. She was born on June 8, 1942, in Nashua, IA, the daughter of Earl and Ramonda Bean. Lela graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1960 and studied accounting at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo. She married Rubben Barker, and they later divorced. Lela then married Kenneth "Red" Sheffler at the Little Brown Church in Nashua on April 10, 1992, and Red died on April 22, 2008, exactly 17 years before Lela. Lela worked as a bookkeeper for the Salvation Army in Waterloo.

Lela was a fun, simple woman who loved her family deeply. For Lela, how you got to her family didn't matter, she claimed you. She was a hardworking woman who did what it took to support her family. Lela loved frogs and Elvis. She was devoted to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and was a soldier in the Salvation Army. Lela enjoyed working puzzles, playing games on her computer and buying Powerball tickets, always playing the same numbers. She especially loved visiting various casinos and took great pride in talking about the time she won a big jackpot.

Lela is survived by her children, Rusty (Dee Gardner) Barker, of Bloomfield, Robbie (Pat) Barker of Waterloo and Lori Morris of Waterloo; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-grandchildren; siblings Mary Lou Jamieson of Waterloo, Christie (Diane) Bean of Waterloo, and Earl (Carol) Bean of Waterloo; many nieces and nephews; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Red, daughters Lisa Roszell and Kimberly Gustafson, sister Sylvia Gray, and brothers Ernie Bean and LeRoy Bean Sr.

A family directed memorial service for Lela will be Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM, at the Salvation Army of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, 89 Franklin Street, Waterloo. Memorial contributions should be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.