FITZGERALD, Viola Opal (Watke) 1913-2009

FITZGERALD, NAGEL, WATKE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/25/2009 at 21:32:00

Viola Fitzgerald, age 96 of Rock Rapids, IA, died Monday, May 4, 2009 at Lyon Manor Nursing Home in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Funeral service was Friday, May 8th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, with burial at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.

Viola Dorothy Opal Watke was born March 15, 1913, on a farm near Alvord, Iowa, the third child of Carl and Mathilda (Nagel) Watke. She grew up in that same farming area along with her brother, Al, and sister, Linda. Her first eight years of school were completed in country school followed by Alvord High School where she graduated in 1931. After graduation, Vi continued to live at home perfecting her talents in sewing and knitting. She was an excellent seamstress creating unique attire for herself and her sister. She would often knit a dress, wear it for awhile then unravel the yarn and create something else.

On February 15, 1936, Vi was united in marriage to E.C. “Babe” Fitzgerald in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where she lived the rest of her life. In the early years of their marriage, they enjoyed dancing to the newly formed Lawrence Welk dance band that played regularly in Lester. On any of Babe’s thirty minute lunch breaks during pheasant season, they would drive out to the nearby fields to hunt, usually getting his limit, before going back to work. For many years she worked as the local and society news home correspondent for the Lyon County Reporter. After her children were grown, Vi turned her sewing talents to creating beautiful handmade quilts for her children and grandchildren. Also, her cooking talents were much appreciated by her family as well as her children’s friends. She was the epitome of good health her whole life as she worked hard at home with a large flower and vegetable garden, cooking and baking, and maintaining the home for her family. Because she didn’t ever drive, walking downtown and back home again only added to her good physical health. Vi enjoyed attending all of her children’s school events and later was able to spend time with her grandchildren in their homes. The babies who came to Lyon Manor with their mothers were a special joy to Vi.

On May 4, 2009 Vi passed away at Lyon Manor at the age of 96.

Surviving are her two children, Carol (Howard) Leavitt of Las Vegas, Nevada and Charles (Diane) Fitzgerald of Puyallup, Washington. Also surviving are five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one sister, Linda Schlotfeldt of Rock Rapids, one niece, Shirley Watke of Omaha, Nebraska.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, “Babe” Fitzgerald, her parents, one brother, Al Watke, one brother-in-law, Erv Schlotfeldt, one sister-in-law, Ruth Watke, and one nephew, Merle Watke.

(Jurrens Funeral Home obituary)