Virginia Nekvinda, 20 Apr 1924 - 18 Apr 2008

NEKVINDA, RITTENHOUSE, PARKS

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 4/20/2008 at 11:33:26

Virginia (Jinny) Evelyn Nekvinda, 84, passed from this life on Friday, April 18th, 2008 of a heart attack at St. Luke’s Hospital. Her home was at West Ridge Care Facility in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Monday evening from 4:00-8:00 pm at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids. A Celebration of Life service will be 12:00 p.m. at Shueyville United Methodist Church on Tuesday, April 22nd, officiated by Pastor Sheryll Untiedt. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Castek Cemetery in rural Swisher, Iowa.

Virginia was born Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924 in Monona, Iowa to Harley and Verna Parks Rittenhouse. She was raised in Monona, graduating from Monona High School in 1942. She then went to Iowa State Teacher’s College. (now UNI), and then on to Cornell College. She was proud to have been Valedictorian of both her High School and College classes. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she taught school in Cedar Rapids for 42 years, impacting the lives of over 2,000 five and six year olds with love and patience. She retired from teaching in 1986.

Virginia was married to Vincent F. Nekvinda on August 24, 1950. She had three sons, Bill(Terri), Mike and Joe(Lynn), and two daughters, Peggy Lowe and Nancy Zahn (Rocky). She had 9 grandchildren, Kevin, Kyle and Kelly Nekvinda, Matthew and Chandra Lowe, Andrew and Gabriel Zahn, and Chelsy and Carly Nekvinda. She also had six great grandchildren, Aubrey and Isabella Nekvinda, Jacob and Vincent Nekvinda, Gabriella Doolin, Olivia Zahn, and was anticipating the birth of a new great granddaughter, Rebecca Clare Zahn in July. Her family was the focus and joy of her life.

Vince and Jinny lived as newlyweds in Fairfax for a short time before moving to S.W. Cedar Rapids. They lived in that home for 25 years before buying an acreage and farmhouse in rural Amana. They lived there together for twenty years, and Jinny stayed there until her stroke in 2004. She then moved to West Ridge Care Facility, and received gentle and loving care there for over three years. She received spiritual care from her Stephen Minister, Sherrie Ilg from Shueyville United Methodist Church.

After Vince’s death, Jinny made a new life for herself, going to the Johnson County Senior Center two times a week to make friends, eat lunch and play bridge. Johnson County SEATS delivered her back and forth to the senior center. In addition to bridge, Jinny loved to play word games, cribbage and Jeopardy. She was an avid bird watcher and a member of the National Audubon Society, Retired Teachers Association, and Red Hat Society. She was also a lifetime cat lover, and an ardent reader. She was a lifelong learner with a wealth of information on a wide variety of subjects.

Jinny generously supported the Best Friends Animal Society, the St. Labre Indian School, and the Mouth and Foot Artists Association. Memorials may be directed to Johnson County Senior Center or the Johnson County SEATS.
Jinny was preceded in death by her husband Vince, her parents, Harley and Verna, her four siblings, Jane Rosecrans, Grace Girot, and Kelley and Parks Rittenhouse, and her son, Michael. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her family and friends.

Brosh Funeral Chapel, Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Gazette 20 Apr 08, 5b