Vineta M (Kifer) Preston 1915-2008

PRESTON, KIFER, WAGGONER, HARTMAN, LANGAS, LENHART, KEMERER

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 6/30/2008 at 14:44:57

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Monday, June 30, 2008

Vineta M. Preston

Vineta M. Preston, 92, of 10596 Preston Lane, and Stonehill Care Center, passed away and went to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, June 27, 2008, surrounded by her family.

A private family memorial service will be held at the Siegert-Casper Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave. Burial will be in the Rockdale Methodist Cemetery.

She was born on Sept. 6, 1915, in Zwingle, Iowa, daughter of George W. and Lena M. (Waggoner) Kifer. The Kifers were early 1850 settlers who came into Washington Township from Westmoreland County, Pa. She graduated from Zwingle High School, where she was on the basketball team.

After graduation and working on the family farm, she took employment with the Woodward family in Dubuque.

She married Donald G. Preston on Sept. 10, 1938, at Harmony United Church of Christ in Zwingle; he preceded her in death after 59 years of marriage on April 29, 1998. They farmed all their life near what is called the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. Their farm (circa 1835) is Iowa's second-oldest Sesquicentennial farm.

One of her greatest joys was in 1996, when she went to Des Moines to accept an award from the secretary of agriculture for her farm's heritage. After Donald passed away, she remained on the farm and later with her daughter, Gerda, and son-in-law, Walter, for nearly a year, she then entered Stonehill Care Center.

From a child on, her Christian faith was important to her. She and her sister, Faye, played and sang for weddings and funerals. Each day she made time for the Lord by reading the Bible and other religious material. She loved religious songs. She was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dubuque.

Vineta was a member of the Dubuque County Farm Bureau and the Dubuque County Conservation Society.

She was a special mom to her two children and lots of love and kindness spilled out to her grand and great-grandchildren. Living to an older age gave her family added years of wisdom and guidance. Her smile and pretty blue eyes will always be remembered by all who knew her.

Surviving are her daughter, Gerda Ann (Walter) Hartman and son, Donald R. (Barbara) Preston, both of Dubuque; four grandchildren, Heidi Lynn (Tom) Langas, Brian (Carrie Ann) Preston, Todd (Tara) Preston and Beth Preston; five great-grandchildren, Noah, Paige, Mia, Hunter and Taylor; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She also was preceded in death by her parents, George and Lena Kifer; brothers, Merlin, Claude and John Kifer; and sisters, Bertha (Arthur) Lenhart and Faye (Carl) Kemerer.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established a Vineta M. Preston Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be left for the family at info@egelhofsiegertcasper.com.

The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to all the workers who cared for Vineta while at Stonehill and to Dr. Viner and Dr. Meurer.