DOW, Elma Jeanette (Biggs) 1914-2010
DOW, OROURKE, BIGGS
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/6/2010 at 12:22:01
NORA SPRINGS, IOWA - Elma Jeanette Dow, 95, Nora Springs, died Thursday (Feb. 4, 2010) at the Nora Springs Care Center. Elma was 95 years, 9 months and 1 day, when she was wrapped in love and prayers by her family and friends and sent to meet her heavenly father.
A funeral service for Elma will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at the United Methodist Church, 202 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, with Pastor Wendy Johannesen officiating. Burial will be in the Park Cemetery, Nora Springs. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Monday at the church.
The family of Elma's would like to suggest that if friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Nora Springs or to Hospice of North Iowa in her memory.
Elma Jeanette Dow was born on May 3, 1914, in rural Rockford, the daughter of Guy and Ida (O'Rourke) Biggs. She was the oldest of 10 children. She attended Rockford School receiving her eighth-grade diploma in 1929. Elma then went to work as a hired girl for area farm families doing washing, ironing, cleaning, cooking and baking to help supplement her Ma and Pa's income. She became a wonderful cook, baker and homemaker helping mother's when their newborn babies would arrive.
She was united in marriage to Paul Dow on Aug. 12, 1933, in Waterloo, and they later divorced in 1983. She lived in Rockford and on a farm near Grafton farm before moving to Nora springs in 1945. After their marriage and to this union two daughters were born, Nancy, and Colleen. Elma was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for four years. She was a member of the Senior Citizens at Rudd. Elma worked as a cook for 25 years in the Nora Springs school lunchroom.
Elma loved to sit by her picture window at her home on North Gaylord Avenue in Nora Springs. There she would do her crocheting and other handiwork, which included beautiful doilies, afghans, baby blankets and her plastic canvas projects. She enjoyed greeting the passersby with a wave; and she loved sharing a gift of her handiwork with all her visitors.
Elma was an excellent seamstress; she could look at the clothes in the J.C. Penney or Montgomery Ward catalogs and cut a pattern out of old newspaper to sew beautiful matching dresses for her daughters.
She enjoyed all kinds of music; anything that could make you tap your toe. She loved to square dance and was a member of the River City Squares. Elma loved a good game of cards and spending time with friends and neighbors. She was known for her angel food cakes and cinnamon rolls. Elma enjoyed all children and was known to many as "Grandma Dow." She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Those left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Nancy (Bill) Witt of Mason City and Colleen (Mike) Brallier of Nora Springs; four grandchildren, Paul (Heather) Witt of Midland, Mich., Christie Witt of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Lisa (Dave) Whipple of Mason City, and Angie (Jason) Pippert of Mason City; five great-grandchildren, Colin and Nathan Witt, Julia Whipple, and Ella and Abby Pippert; two sisters, Sylvia Pahl, of Mason City, and Evelyn (Don) Hogan of Dougherty; two brothers, Glenn Biggs of Rockford and Jim (Bonnie) Biggs of Charles City; and also her extended family at Summit Heights Assisted Living in Nora Springs, especially Mary Grauerholz. Also left to cherish her memory are other extended family members and many friends.
Elma was preceded in death by a grandson, John Michael Brallier; her father and mother; three brothers, Henry, Robert and Earl Biggs; and two sisters, Irene Biggs and Gladys Waters; and two brothers-in-law, Melvin Pahl and Clayton Waters; and one sister-in-law, Donna Biggs.
Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 641-749-2210. www.colonialchapels.com
Published in Globe Gazette on February 6, 2010
Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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