Velda Irene Boss, 28 Feb 1931 - 22 Oct 2016

BOSS, HAMBLIN, HANKINS, BERNHARDT, HERMINATH, LENDER, PILLARD, HARBAUGH, DEMARINO, HASKILL, SCHLICHT, SYLVESTER, ANDERSON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 11/8/2016 at 10:16:00

Velda Irene Boss
BORN: February 28, 1931
DIED: October 22, 2016
LOCATION: Grinnell and formerly of Hudson, Iowa

Velda Irene Boss, 85, of Grinnell and formerly of Hudson, Iowa died October 22, 2016, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A celebration of Velda's life will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell or to Grinnell United Methodist Community Meals.

Velda was born February 28, 1931, in Coffins Grove, Iowa, the daughter of Warren and Ethel Hankins Hamblin. She was raised in Coggon, Iowa, where she attended Nugents Grove Country School near her home. She was a 1948 graduate of Coggon High School.

On September 1, 1949, she was united in marriage with Dorrence "Bill" Boss, at the Zion Presbyterian Church in Coggon. The couple lived in Maquoketa, Iowa for several years prior to moving to Wyoming, Iowa. While in Wyoming, she owned and operated Velda's Fine Foods. They later moved to Hudson, Iowa and she was employed with the Hudson House restaurant and also made custom draperies for J.C. Penney. Her most important job was being a homemaker and raising her family. In 2007, the couple moved to Seeland Park in Grinnell and most recently, she was a resident of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

Velda was a Sunday school teacher and 4-H leader while in Wyoming and a member of the Community Church in Hudson for 30 years, where she was active with the church bazaar. After moving to Grinnell, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, Keepsake Quilters, and the Embroiders Guild.

Velda took great pride in raising her family and her love and devotion for them was very evident and very strong. She was the "best mother!" She was a professional seamstress and held a passion for arts and crafts. This included quilting, tatting, knitting, making wedding dresses, and baking wedding cakes.

Survivors include four children: Virgil (Laurie) Boss of Driggs, Idaho, Glenda (Keith) Bernhardt of North Fork, Idaho, Paula (Paul) Herminath of New London, Wisconsin, and Lynette (Robert) Lender of Brooklyn, Iowa; one sister, Winnifred Pillard of Troy Mills, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Garnet Harbaugh of Manchester, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Laura Boss and (Deanna DeMarino) Aaron (Jocelyn) Boss, Allison (Dan) Haskill, Ian (Randi) Bernhardt, Jared Schlicht, Matt Herminath, Kyle Herminath, Eric (Allison) Sylvester, Rob (Crystal) Lender, Danielle (Ken) Anderson and Jamie Lender; 15 great-grandchildren; and her special caregiver, Phil Lender. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2012, two brother-in-law's, Malvin Pillard and Warren Harbaugh, and three sisters in infancy, Nadine, Bernadine, and Janet.

Smith Funeral Home
Warrior Tribune, 02 Nov 2016