Velma M. (Johnson) Wesenberg

Velma Marie Wesenberg, age 93, of Dows, passed away Tuesday June 3, 2014, at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton of congestive heart failure.

Velma was the fourth child born to Henrietta "Ada" Meineke and Theodore Lawrence "TL" Johnson at the farm home near Coulter, Iowa, in Franklin County, on January 12, 1921. She was baptized August 28 at home. Velma attended country school in both Wright and Franklin Counties. It was at Morgan Methodist Church that she became acquainted with Richard (Dick) Wesenberg. Their first date was a movie, one of Shirley Temple’s early films. It was at the Past Time Hall in Dows that Dick asked Velma if she would teach him to dance, and the dance went on for 26 years.

Velma and Dick were married in the Morgan Methodist Church on January 22, 1939. They worked hard together farming and in the early years did it with horses and picking corn by hand. When the work was done they treated themselves with travels. Church and music were constants throughout their marriage. Over the years, she was a member of Popejoy and Morgan Methodist Churches. She taught Sunday School and was active in church functions. They were blessed with two children: Dennis Dee and Marsha Lea. Dick died from the effects of diabetes in 1965 leaving Velma a widow at the age of 45.

Velma was always neatly dressed and her great sense of humor was part of most of her conversations. She always had coffee and sweet treats to share with anyone stopping by. Family gatherings were festive with tables beautifully set. She was especially known for her sugar cookies and Spanish rice. She married Marion Peddle in 1981 and they had ten years together, living in Iowa Falls for part of this time. Velma returned to the family farm where she would reside until she was almost 93. All through those years, after Dick died when someone would comment, “I don’t see how you can live alone on the farm,” her answer was always the same. “I don't live alone on the farm.” Her Christian faith always had God present with her. In her later years, Velma placed importance on visiting members of Morgan Methodist when hospitalized or in nursing home care. Velma moved to the Franklin Prairie Apartments in Hampton at Thanksgiving time in 2013.

Velma is survived by her two children: Dennis (Phyllis) Wesenberg of Dows, IA, and Marsha (Jim) Gronewold of Glenwood, MN. Grandchildren: Mina (Joel) Fantz of Emmetsburg, IA; Dayce (Tim) McAndrews of Onalaska, WI; Sheree (Xenofon) Koutsoukos of Franklin, TN; Dane (Hillary) Wesenberg of St. Paul, MN; Derrick (Michelle) Gronewold of Wichita, KS; Darin (Melissa) Gronewold of Seattle, WA. Great-Grandchildren: Caroline, Helena, Weston Fantz; Kenneth and Emma McAndrews; Demetrios and Denise Koutsoukos; Julia and Christopher Gronewold; Jasper and Greta Gronewold.

Velma was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents and siblings: Lawrence M. Johnson, Lorene Stover, and Elvin (Bud) H. Johnson.