Obituary of Twila Louise Rankin

The concluding chapter of a story spanning over nine decades came to a close on February 15,
2026, as Twila Louise Rankin completed her earthly journey of an outstanding life lived.
Twila Louise Little was born on January 5, 1930, at her first childhood home in Carlisle, Iowa, to
Charlotte Maxine Little (Jones) and Thomas Jefferson "Doc" Little. A coal miner's daughter,
Twila's family would soon move to Pershing, Iowa, where Twila and her younger brother,
Thomas, spent the majority of their childhood. They briefly moved to Burlington, Iowa, where
their father worked in an ammunition plant, while the mines in Pershing were closed during
WWII.
As a child, Twila enjoyed reading books and being outside – riding her bicycle, climbing trees,
and playing games with neighborhood friends, mentioning often in her adult years the privilege
of growing up in a coal mining community among so many different nationalities. Twila's
devoted and consistent love for helping others started at an early age, as she was always willing
and did not hesitate to assist neighbors with cleaning, cooking, and childcare. She attended
Pershing Elementary School, New London Community School, and Attica High School,
graduating in 1947.
Twila's greatest joy was meeting and marrying the love of her life, Lawrence "Boyd" Rankin, to
whom she would be married for 42 years, until Boyd's death in 1990. Among Twila's most
proud moments of achievement in her life were being a mother, grandmother, great-
grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She and Boyd were gifted three children: Beverly
Jo, Gregory Boyd, and Merry Lynn, and through them, the joy of eight grandchildren, twenty-
one great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great-grandchildren.
Twila and Boyd made their home first on his family's farm near Pershing, Iowa, and then on
their own farm near Attica, Iowa, in 1953. Twila quickly made an impressive and perseverant
transition from town living to being a farm wife. She steadfastly took on every duty and need
related to life on the farm – from gardening and canning to moving livestock and random farm
maintenance projects, to ensuring every neighborhood kid helping put up hay did not leave
hungry. 
Upon Boyd's death, Twila moved to Knoxville, Iowa, where she would reside until moving to
Northcrest Community in Ames, Iowa, in 2022. Upon moving to Knoxville, Twila immediately
immersed herself in helping her community through volunteer opportunities at Stepping Stones
Early Learning Center, the Chamber of Commerce, Homestead of Knoxville Assisted Living, and
the Iowa Departments of Health and Human Services and Natural Resources. A woman of deep
and abiding faith, Twila was also very involved in her church, serving in a variety of roles and
through involvement with the United Methodist Women's groups at Zion, Attica, Bussey, and
Knoxville. 
As Alzheimer's took more pieces of Twila from her family and friends, her love, compassion, and
beautiful smile and soul continued to shine brightly – inside and out. Just as she lived the
entirety of her life through grace and with grace, so did she finish it.
Twila is preceded in finishing her journey by her husband Boyd, son Gregg, son-in-law Daryl,
parents Charlotte and Doc, brother Tom, in-laws Flossie and Lester, sisters and brothers-in-law
Pauline, Maxine (Earl), Genny (Owen), Joy (Bill), and Jack, nephews Tim and Luke, niece Nancy,
aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends. Here to continue the journey she has inspired
are daughters Bev Clipperton and Merry Rankin (Tom Anderson), sisters-in-law Ruth Little and
Joby Herman, grandchildren Jennifer (Rodney) Rothfus, Patrick Clipperton, Jeanna (Todd)
Wilson, Steve (Bonnie) Rankin, Dan (Krystal) Rankin, Stacie (Andy) Dunkin, Brad (Kory)
Anderson, and Taylor (Bradley) Spain, great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews,
cousins, an abundance of friends, and so many she met and adored.
Twila's family extends deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Northcrest
Community and Heartwood House, and Suncrest Hospice for their grace-filled, conscientious,
and attentive consideration, care, and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, Twila's life can be honored through a donation to a favorite organization that
supports causes especially near and dear to her heart, related to children, families, literacy,
faith, veterans, or animals, or through memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, Marion County
Humane Society, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, or Iowa PBS.