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Widow receives quilts made from late husband’s military clothing

The first quilt presented will be given to Nisely-Moore’s daughter Sarah, and was presented by her step-granddaughters Lydia and Micah Blevins.

Over the last four years, the Marshalltown-based Central Iowa Quilt Sew-ciety has made over 150 quilts for local veterans. But its latest project was unlike any other.

Tuesday morning at the Marshalltown Christian School, Geri Nisely-Moore, the widow of Sgt. 1st Class Scott Nisely, received two quilts crafted from her late husband’s uniform and t-shirts.

Sgt. 1st Class Scott Nisely, 48, was an Iowa National Guard soldier killed in Iraq on Sept. 30, 2006 in a firefight with Iraqi insurgents near Al Asad. He had also spent 22 years with the Marine Corps on active duty and as a reservist. He had been employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Ames, Des Moines and Marshalltown as a supervisor, clerk and letter carrier. The Marshalltown Post Office is named in his honor.

Carrie Glessner, a member of the CIQS, pieced the tops of the quilts and Marilyn Kidd worked on the layers.

“It isn’t the traditional Quilt of Valor we normally do. It looks different, but it fits the qualifications,” Glessner, also a volunteer at the school, said.

Tuesday morning at the Marshalltown Christian School, Geri Nisely-Moore, the widow of Sgt. 1st Class Scott Nisely, received two quilts crafted from her late husband’s uniform and t-shirts. Here, one of the quilts is draped over her shoulders.

Nisely-Moore was presented the quilts by her step-granddaughters, Micah and Lydia Blevins, who both attend the school. Nisely-Moore works in the school’s cafeteria.

The student body witnessed the ceremony, which included a prayer by Pastor Curtis Jarrell, songs and a presentation of flags by Russell Rosenberger and Rob Shepherd.

Nisely-Moore said she had approached the CIQS about making two quilts, one to give to each of her children. She was happily surprised when she learned the keepsakes would instead be gifted to her family.

The first quilt — a Quilt of Honor — will be given to her daughter Sarah Swinton, while the second quilt — A Quilt of Valor — will be presented to her son Justin Nisely at a later date, who is serving in the U.S. Army.

“I was stressed about (Justin’s) life choice for his career, but I had to learn to leave him in God’s hands, just as I did Scott when he served our country for 25 years,” Nisely-Moore said.

“It has finally given me peace. It was very hard for me when I learned my son was going to do stuff that was very dangerous, but I know God is the one in charge of our lives and everything is O.K.”

The quilting projects are made possible through donations. For more information on the CIQS visit centraliaquiltsew-ciety.webs.com. The CIQS presents quilts to service members throughout the year, privately and at public ceremonies held each spring and autumn.

To learn more about Quilts of Valor visit: www.qovf.org.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com

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