Arlene Mae (Smith) Haldeman, 91, died August 13, 2009 at the Indianola Good Samaritan Nursing Home. Arlene was born March 25th, 1918 in Ackworth, Iowa to Delno and Laura (Hiatt) Smith. They moved to Indianola in 1921 to an acreage on North E Street, now the site of Wesley Village. She was the last surviving child of four children. Her parents and brothers, Krell, Laurel, and Wyman preceded her in death. She was a 1935 graduate of Indianola High School. On May 7, 1937, she married Robert E. Haldeman in Indianola and they recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary.

Arlene was a wonderful homemaker, pianist, organist, and seamstress. For many years she did income tax returns for the Watson, Elgin and Hoyman Law Firm and always enjoyed "keeping her books". A life long member of the Indianola First Methodist Church she was also a past member of Chapter BP-PEO. Her good friends and companions were part of her bridge group that entertained and played cards together for over 60 years.

A devoted and much loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother she is survived by her husband Bob and two children: Sue Ann (Robert) Ahlstrand of Denver, CO and Stephen Haldeman (Ann) of St. Louis, MO. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Kelly Ahlstrand (Meghan) of Highlands Ranch, CO, Erik Ahlstrand (Melissa) of Denver CO, Amy (Rich) Young of Charlotte, NC and Jeremy Haldeman of Washington DC. Her great-grandchildren include, Abigail, Hannah, and Madeleine of CO and McKenna of NC.

A memorial service will be held at the Overton Funeral Home in Indianola at 10:30 am Monday, August 17, 2009. Visitation with family will be one hour before the service with private burial of cremains to follow in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Overton Funeral Home in Indianola will handle the arrangements. Memorials made be made to the Indianola First Methodist Church or the Indianola Public Library.