Ida J. Yaremko

Ida Jane was born July 16, 1931 on the family farm near Corning, Saskatchewan Canada, the second of five children, to Allan Courtice and Gracie Jane (Taylor) Wood. She attended country school in the Graytown District. On December 1, 1951 Ida was united in marriage to Mike Yaremko. Following their marriage, Mike and Ida became involved in several business endeavors, one of them being operators of the Monarch Grocery Store in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. She was also employed in the accounting division of a local retail department store. After visiting with an uncle and aunt (Leonard and Nellie Collins) from LeMars, Mike and Ida decided to expand their business opportunities by moving to Iowa in 1963. This move eventually led to the purchase of the Hillside Motel and Café located 1 ½ miles west of Correctionville. At the time of purchase, the Hillside Motel was newly constructed and the café was under construction. Through hard work and determination, Ida and Mike built their dream into a reality that served the public for nearly 50 years. The fact that the Hillside Motel and Café were located on US Highway 20 had become quite a topic of discussion during her lifetime. Ida was featured in a photo exhibit entitled “Highway 20: Encounters with Genuine Life” in July 2008. The exhibit located at the Betty Strong Encounter Center featured 66 photographs of life along NW Iowa and Nebraska Highway 20. Ida shared several amusing stories and anecdotes about her customers with the photographer. Ida enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved putting together puzzles, baking at Christmas time, growing flowers especially roses, and in her early years she loved to listen to Elvis. Her favorite color was red and the time of year that renewed her spirit was spring. She will always be remembered for her love of a good cup of coffee and for her cherry cheesecake. Ida was preceded in death by her parents; a sister Georgina Pearl Doucette; three brothers-in-law Arnold Doucette, Harold Doucette and Tom Owen; two nieces, Brenda Wood and Michelle Wood and several aunts and uncles. Ida is survived by her husband of 62 years, Mike; her two children, Karen (Chris) Weinreich and Gerald (Penny) Yaremko all of Correctionville; a sister, Florence Owen, British Columbia, Canada; and two brothers and their wives, Harry (Kay) Wood of Kipling, Sask. Canada and Allan (Sharon) Wood of Moosomin, Sask. Canada. Ida also leaves four grandchildren, David Weinreich, Whitney (Yaremko)Buettner, Bradley Yaremko and Virginia Weinreich; and eight great-grandchildren, Kaylyn, Morgan and Jacob Buettner, Faith and Ashton Malcom, Michael and Daniel Weinreich, and Easton Yaremko to cherish her memory.