VAGTS, Dulcie (McKee) 1926-2010

VAGTS, SUTCLIFFE, MCKEE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/5/2011 at 07:05:46

Dulcie Vagts
(January 13, 1926 - June 5, 2010)
George, IA

Dulcie Vagts age 84 of George, IA died Saturday, June 5, 2010, at the Prairie View Home in Sanborn, IA.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2010, at Immanuel Lutheran Church at George, IA with Rev Tony Metz, officiating.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George, IA.

On January 13, 1926 Dulcie was born to Samuel and Margaret (Sutcliffe) McKee in Nanango, Queensland, Australia. Dulcie lived and was educated in Kingsthorp and Yarraman schools before finishing her education in Middle Ridge at Toowoomba Technical College in the nursing program. She began her nursing career at Toowoomba General Hospital.

During World War II Dulcie met an American soldier, Edward Vagts, who would become her husband on September 3, 1947 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in George, Iowa. Edward and Dulcie farmed southwest of George until 1988 when they moved into George. Edward passed away on March 20, 1993. Dulcie continued to live in George until she took residence in the Sheldon Christian Retirement Home for 2 years and then was admitted to George Good Samaritan in August, 2005. The past three months Dulcie was a resident of Sanborn Prairie View where she passed away on June 5, 2010.

When Dulcie left on the ship that had been sent from America to Australia for war brides, she vowed never to forget her homeland and her beloved family there. In fact, she took great joy in sharing stories and customs with her American family and friends. Caring was second nature to Dulcie as she nurtured her four children, her garden, and even her nursing home companions. She took great interest in holistic living and healing and regarded this life on earth as a privilege to give rather than receive.

Her grandchildren were delighted with her tasteful cooking and tea time which would be followed by her tea leaf reading talent. Her gift of humor and curiosity provided many delightful moments. Dulcie was a member of Immanuel Lutheran in George where she was involved in Sunday School, Bible School and women’s group activities. She enjoyed planning programs as the Mission in Growth chairperson at Immanuel. She served on the synod’s cluster board in that capacity and loved the people she met and felt her faith grow. She took pride in her work and disliked leaving anything unfinished. In 1990 Dulcie was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and for twenty years she would live with this disease and the dementia that went with it. She was determined to make the best of a bad situation and worked hard to keep her body healthy in every way she could. The courage and tenacity of the young woman who left her beloved homeland was again to be witnessed by her children and grandchildren as she lived with a disease that would get in the way but not stop her determination to live independently, to play tennis, pool, or table tennis, to dance, quilt, sew, knit or to fish anywhere she could drop a line.

Preceding Dulcie in death were her loving husband Edward, parents Samuel and Margaret Mckee, step-brother Frank, brother Doug, sister Gladys, sister-in-law Bonnie, brothers-in-law Edward, Herb, Jack and John, and son-in-law Ty Kruger. Left to cherish memories of Dulcie are her children Leland, Omaha; Lynette Kruger, George, Lyall (Lynnette), Cambridge, MN; Lorena (John) Reinert, Cherokee; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; her devoted sister-in-law and friend, Lorena Holstad of Faribault and Lorena’s three daughters and families.

In Australia she will be remembered by her siblings Mervyn, Claude, Joyce, Lester, and Cheryl along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Source: Jurrens funeral Homes obit.