Rachel Noel, age 67 of Traer, Iowa and formerly of Grinnell, died on Monday, October 5, 2020 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. A memorial gathering will be held from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be held on Friday, October 9th at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Memorials may be designated to the Rachel Noel Memorial Fund and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Rachel's family online at www.smithfh.com. Rachel Christine Schwertfeger was born the daughter of Richard and Juanita (Ewing) Schwertfeger on December 20, 1952 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was raised by Victor and Juanita (Ewing) Vulysteke and the family resided in Grinnell, where she graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1971. Rachel was united in marriage to Mike Norton in 1973 in Killduff, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Sheri and Lisa. Their marriage later ended in divorce. She met David Noel in 1991 and they resided together in Belle Plaine, Iowa. The couple was married on September 8, 2006 in Davenport, Iowa. Rachel worked at Friendship Manor in Grinnell, the Mayflower Community in Grinnell, Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Mariposa Farms in Grinnell, Pilot near Brooklyn, Iowa, and Subway in Belle Plaine, Iowa. Rachel's family always came first and foremost. She loved the time spent with her grandchildren, daughters, and sisters. She held a special love for her dog, Mazie. Her enjoyments included gardening, crafts, traveling with her sisters, going shopping, watching Chicago Cubs baseball and the Iowa Hawkeyes football, and having spiritual talks with her family. She will be remembered for the strong love of her family, for being ornery, for her love of collecting and repurposing things, and for being funny and witty. Rachel is survived by her daughters, Sheri Shepherd of Laurie, Missouri and Lisa Fick of Traer, Iowa; 4 grandchildren, Chrissy Shepherd, CJ Shepherd, Makaela Fick, and Caden Shepherd; and sisters, Sandra Moranville of Malcom, Iowa, Vickie (Nhoeuy) Ches of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Cindy Murphy of Ottumwa, Iowa; half-siblings, Jacki Schwertfeger of Anamosa, Iowa, Sandy (Charlie) Munson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Richard Schwertfeger of Fairfax, Iowa; her beloved dog, Mazie; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, David Noel in 2011; grandchild, Chelsea Fick; sister, Trudy Schwertfeger; and brother-in-law, Dennis Murphy.