A Rose for GG Win And Grandpa Cliff- Honoring the Legacy of Love in Iowa Falls

 

I don't remember being old enough to recall her - but I've been told that my Great Grandma Winola Prull, lovingly known as GG Win, held me when I was very little. Even though I don't have memories of our time together, I carry the deep knowing that I was once in her arms.  

She passed away in 2001, and though our time on this earth barley overlapped, I still feel like I know her. 

GG Win lives on in the strokes of a painting of hers that hangs in my hallway— a beautiful depiction of her barn out near the Ackley/Iowa Falls area where she lived, loved, and was laid to rest. My husband and I have visited her grave there, beside my Great Grandpa Cliff's, leaving behind some roses — a quiet token of remembrance, color, and legacy. That flower somehow feels like her: vibrant, elegant, and deeply rooted. 

She was an artist in every sense of the world. I've read her poems—soft, soul-stirring verses that carry the scent of country wind and the strength of a faith-filled life. She sang, played the ukulele, piano, and many other instruments as she painted and poured beauty into everything she touched. 

I often imagine what it might've been like to sit beside her on the porch, watching her strum a tune or mix colors on a canvas while the Iowa sun set over the fields. 

Great Grandpa Cliff and her were both deeply rooted in their faith. Church and community mattered, and I see the evidence of that legacy in the family that followed — especially through their daughter, my Grandma Sharon, whom I was incredibly close with before she passed. 

GG Win was always dressed to a T, with her makeup, jewelry, and perfume perfectly in place. There was a quiet elegance about her. Grandpa Cliff, from what I know, was a strong and steady worker —humble and devoted. While I don't remember as much about him, or maybe not remembering all the details, I know there's always more to uncover about the lives that shaped mine. 

I love the Iowa Falls area for more than just its scenic beauty; it holds part of my history, as well as my husbands. Standing beside their resting place with a flower in hand feels like standing in a quiet conversation with the past — honoring lives well lived and love that still lingers in the soil, in the sky, in me. 

To GG Win an Grandpa Cliff: thank you for the legacy of creativity, strength, and unwavering faith. Your fingerprints are all over this life I get to live.