Agnes Spear Theesfeld 1918-2007

THEESFELD, SPEAR, WACHT, BYKOWSKI, RAMUNNO

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/31/2011 at 16:51:36

Agnes Spear, the daughter of H. I. and Kathryn (Wacht) Spear, was born in Estherville, Iowa, on January 25, 1918. She departed this life on Saturday, December 8, 2007, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 89 years old.

Her home growing up was on the south end of Ingham Lake which still stands, though it is run down and over grown. She grew up with two brothers: Nick & Bill and three sisters: Dorothy, Thelma, & Lois. These four sisters developed a special closeness which remained throughout Agnes' life. While growing up, Agnes enjoyed being involved in the activities afforded by farm living near a lake. There was fishing, swimming, ice skating, riding horses, exploring, pets, and of course doing some chores to help out.

Agnes graduated from the Estherville High School in 1936 and subsequently graduated from Beauty School. She became licensed in Iowa, Texas, and Washington.

On August 21, 1943 she married Anthony (Tony) Theesfeld (two of her sisters had already married two of Tony's brothers). Following their wedding, the couple moved to Tacoma, Washington where Tony was stationed in the Army. It was during this same year that Agnes pursued and received her license to practice hair-dressing in the state of Washington.

After her husband, Tony, was released from the military they set up their home in Tacoma. However, Agnes' father, Horace, had other plans for them and encouraged them to move back to Iowa and establish a business in the Estherville area. This is exactly what Tony and Agnes decided to do and Estherville became the home for Agnes and her family. Agnes gave up her work as a beautician and took on the task of raising six children: Judy, Ed, Mary, Paul, Doug, and Jane. Along with being busy raising her family and taking care of the many household tasks, Agnes found time to deepen her faith and pursue many hobbies. She loved to cross stitch, needle point, crochet, knit, sew, various other crafts, and read. One of the unique crafts she did was to make Rosaries from long tapered strips of colored paper. This craft became one which involved the entire family. There was paper that needed to be cut, beads to be rolled, beads that needed to be shellacked, and then connected into the finished Rosary. She also loved to play various table games, play cards, and golf with her family.

After their retirement in 1973, Agnes and Tony traveled to various places in the continental states. They traveled to visit their children in Minnesota, Colorado, California, and Utah. Not to mention the trips made for their own personal vacations and times spent in Texas to avoid the winter cold in Iowa. During these excursions, Agnes would pick up shot glasses as small tokens to remember their trips.

She is survived and her memory cherished by her children Judy Bykowski of Crystal Mn, Ed of Susanville, Ca, Mary Brown of Denver, Co, Paul of Estherville, Doug of Pueblo, Co, and Jane Ramunno of Big Lake, Mn, 15 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, another great grandchild on the way and many other relatives and friends.

Agnes was preceded in death by her parents, brother Nick, & Sister Thelma.
Services December 13, 2007 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Estherville, IA. Interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Estherville, IA. (Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel website)