Elizabeth J. Emery

EMERY VANSAUN GLASS WILLMORE HUENEMANN DERNEDERLANDEN BRASHEAR

Posted By: diane beier (email)
Date: 2/19/2022 at 15:48:46

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Emery, 97, of Oelwein, Iowa died Thursday morning, February 10, 2022 at Accura HealthCare in Cresco, Iowa.

Per Betty’s request, she donated her body for medical research to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Deeded Body Program in Iowa City, Iowa.

There will be no services at this time.

Inurnment will be at a later date in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa.

The Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein is assisting the family.

Elizabeth Jane VanSaun was born April 19, 1924, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Arthur Carlos and Millie Arminta (Glass) VanSaun. She received her education at an all-girls school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On March 19, 1944, she was united in marriage to Richard Bly Emery at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition to her life as a wife, mother and homemaker, Betty continued her education over the years at Upper Iowa University in Fayette where she studied criminology, the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she studied education, and at the College in Warrensburg, Missouri where she also studied education. Betty taught in the GED program for many years. She was a member of Christ United Presbyterian Church in Oelwein.

Betty was known as the butterfly lady because of her vast collection of butterfly items. While studying in Missouri at the college, Betty completed her certification as a master knitter. She could sew anything from scratch if she was given a photo or a description. Betty was involved with Girl Scouts for over 60 years. At one point, she had earned the most Girl Scout badges of anyone in the state of Pennsylvania. While Eleanor Roosevelt was interviewing Betty on the radio about her Girl Scout accomplishments, the radio announcer broke into the interview to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Betty’s children remember how their parents would supply food and overnight accommodations to missionaries and transients that appeared on the doorsteps of the homes they lived at in various communities.

Betty is survived by her 2 daughters: Elizabeth “Bettje” (James, III) Willmore of Ingham Lake and Debra Emery (Joel Huenemann) of Superior, Wisconsin; 2 sons: Richard (Becci) Emery of Otsego, Minnesota and John (Ruth) Emery of Waucoma; 8 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren & Nieces & Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Rev. Richard Emery on October 18, 2007; infant daughter: Judith Emery; sisters: Naomi DerNederlanden and Ruth Brashear; and brother: Dr. William Arthur VanSaun.