Alvira Louise Marie (Gramkow) Janssen was born December 24, 1914, on a farm near Persia, Iowa to John and Emma (Mumm) Gramkow. She grew up in the Persia area and went to school at Valley View Country School. She entered Persia Public High School and graduated in 1934. She then attended Normal Training School to become a teacher, but there were no jobs available. Alvira married Robert Janssen on October 13, 1934. The couple farmed in the Persia and Portsmouth areas. They retired from farming in 1970 and moved to Woodbine in November of 1978. Robert died on May 19, 2004.
Alvira and Robert loved to travel. The couple traveled to 37 states and wintered in Texas for 17 years. Alvira was a great homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker; always having homemade goodies ready when the kids came home from school. She spent her free time crocheting and quilting. It is believed she probably crocheted so much that the string would reach around the world. She sewed many clothes for her kids and grandkids. The granddaughters delighted in going to Grandma's and learned to play cards and games.
Alvira died November 13, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 20 days.
Alvira was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 69 years; and brother, Charles Gramkow. She is survived by her two daughters, Beverly (Merle) Phillips of Atlantic, Iowa, LaVonne (Wayne) Miller of Persia, Iowa; one son, Gary (Dawn) Janssen of Indianola, Iowa; brother, Willis Gramkow of Logan, Iowa; sister, Lois Zacharias of Persia, Iowa; six granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; two stepgrand children; two step great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 10:30 am
St. John Lutheran Church
Persia, Iowa
Clergy
Pastor Duane Anunson
Musician
Marian Eckmann
Congregational Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"How Great Thou Art"
Pall Bearers
Teresa Phillips ~ Deb Ingwersen
Pamela Rairdin~ Marilyn Burke
Kristine Hraha ~ Kira Helvig
Lori Stewart ~ Jude Hopkins
Final Resting Place
Valley View
Persia, Iowa
Alvira and Robert loved to travel. The couple traveled to 37 states and wintered in Texas for 17 years. Alvira was a great homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker; always having homemade goodies ready when the kids came home from school. She spent her free time crocheting and quilting. It is believed she probably crocheted so much that the string would reach around the world. She sewed many clothes for her kids and grandkids. The granddaughters delighted in going to Grandma's and learned to play cards and games.
Alvira died November 13, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 20 days.
Alvira was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 69 years; and brother, Charles Gramkow. She is survived by her two daughters, Beverly (Merle) Phillips of Atlantic, Iowa, LaVonne (Wayne) Miller of Persia, Iowa; one son, Gary (Dawn) Janssen of Indianola, Iowa; brother, Willis Gramkow of Logan, Iowa; sister, Lois Zacharias of Persia, Iowa; six granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; two stepgrand children; two step great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 10:30 am
St. John Lutheran Church
Persia, Iowa
Clergy
Pastor Duane Anunson
Musician
Marian Eckmann
Congregational Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"How Great Thou Art"
Pall Bearers
Teresa Phillips ~ Deb Ingwersen
Pamela Rairdin~ Marilyn Burke
Kristine Hraha ~ Kira Helvig
Lori Stewart ~ Jude Hopkins
Final Resting Place
Valley View
Persia, Iowa
Alvira Louise Marie (Gramkow) Janssen was born December 24, 1914, on a farm near Persia, Iowa to John and Emma (Mumm) Gramkow. She grew up in the Persia area and went to school at Valley View Country School. She entered Persia Public High School and graduated in 1934. She then attended Normal Training School to become a teacher, but there were no jobs available. Alvira married Robert Janssen on October 13, 1934. The couple farmed in the Persia and Portsmouth areas. They retired from farming in 1970 and moved to Woodbine in November of 1978. Robert died on May 19, 2004.
Alvira and Robert loved to travel. The couple traveled to 37 states and wintered in Texas for 17 years. Alvira was a great homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker; always having homemade goodies ready when the kids came home from school. She spent her free time crocheting and quilting. It is believed she probably crocheted so much that the string would reach around the world. She sewed many clothes for her kids and grandkids. The granddaughters delighted in going to Grandma's and learned to play cards and games.
Alvira died November 13, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 20 days.
Alvira was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 69 years; and brother, Charles Gramkow. She is survived by her two daughters, Beverly (Merle) Phillips of Atlantic, Iowa, LaVonne (Wayne) Miller of Persia, Iowa; one son, Gary (Dawn) Janssen of Indianola, Iowa; brother, Willis Gramkow of Logan, Iowa; sister, Lois Zacharias of Persia, Iowa; six granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; two stepgrand children; two step great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 10:30 am
St. John Lutheran Church
Persia, Iowa
Clergy
Pastor Duane Anunson
Musician
Marian Eckmann
Congregational Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"How Great Thou Art"
Pall Bearers
Teresa Phillips ~ Deb Ingwersen
Pamela Rairdin~ Marilyn Burke
Kristine Hraha ~ Kira Helvig
Lori Stewart ~ Jude Hopkins
Final Resting Place
Valley View
Persia, Iowa
Alvira and Robert loved to travel. The couple traveled to 37 states and wintered in Texas for 17 years. Alvira was a great homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker; always having homemade goodies ready when the kids came home from school. She spent her free time crocheting and quilting. It is believed she probably crocheted so much that the string would reach around the world. She sewed many clothes for her kids and grandkids. The granddaughters delighted in going to Grandma's and learned to play cards and games.
Alvira died November 13, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 20 days.
Alvira was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 69 years; and brother, Charles Gramkow. She is survived by her two daughters, Beverly (Merle) Phillips of Atlantic, Iowa, LaVonne (Wayne) Miller of Persia, Iowa; one son, Gary (Dawn) Janssen of Indianola, Iowa; brother, Willis Gramkow of Logan, Iowa; sister, Lois Zacharias of Persia, Iowa; six granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; two stepgrand children; two step great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 10:30 am
St. John Lutheran Church
Persia, Iowa
Clergy
Pastor Duane Anunson
Musician
Marian Eckmann
Congregational Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"How Great Thou Art"
Pall Bearers
Teresa Phillips ~ Deb Ingwersen
Pamela Rairdin~ Marilyn Burke
Kristine Hraha ~ Kira Helvig
Lori Stewart ~ Jude Hopkins
Final Resting Place
Valley View
Persia, Iowa
Family Members
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