Rittenhouse, Verna E. (Parks) 1882-1966

RITTENHOUSE, PARKS, ROSECRANS, GIROT, NEKVINDA, TURNER, KAMMERER, WIRKLER, HUINKER, PETERS, DRAHN, MONTGOMERY

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 10/14/2010 at 13:02:50

source: newspaper clipping Monona Leader, hand-dated 1966.
note: contributor is not related!

RITTENHOUSE,Verna E.
Funeral services for Mrs. Verna E. Rittenhouse, 83, were held Thursday, August 18 at 1:00 in Pilgrim E.U.B. Church in Monona with Pastor J.W. Petersen officiating. The body lay in state at the church from 12 noon until time of services.

Mrs. Rittenhouse had been ailing for the past several months and passed away at the Postville Community Hospital at 6:30 p.m. August 15, at the age of 83 years, 9 months, and 14 days.

As Verna E., she was born the daughter of Joseph L. and Lucinda Parks, October 31, 1882, at Pleasant Grove, Minnesota. She came to Monona in 1907 and was united in marriage to Harley S. Rittenhouse in 1908 in Cedar Rapids. To this union were born five children.

Mrs. Rittenhouse finished her education at Coe College, Cedar Rapids and was a former principal in the Monona Public School. Later she was the first woman to serve on the Monona School Board. She was a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, and gave her devotion and interest to the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband. Surviving are two sons, Parks William Rittenhouse and Kelly Sprarue Rittenhouse of Monona and three daughters, Janet Elizabeth Rosecrans, and Grace Estelle Girot of St.Petersburg, Florida, and Virginia Evelyn Nekvinda of Cedar Rapids, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Music at the service was provided by a duet by Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Turner with Mrs. Justus Kammerer, organist. Order of Eastern Star acted as Honorary Escort with Donald Wirkler, Robert Wirkler, Donald Huinker, James Peters, Elmer Drahn and Donald Montgomery, Jr. as pallbearers. Burial was in the Monona City Cemetery.