Marian Jo (Veltman) Agnew (2013)

AGNEW, VELTMAN, JONGEWAARD, RITTER, MANKINS, KAUFMAN, PARKINS, SLADE, CLARKE

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 9/26/2013 at 07:49:52

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
September 26, 2013

MARIAN JO AGNEW, Des Moines, Iowa

Marian Jo (Veltman)Agnew, 77, of Des Moines, passed away unexpectedly at home on September 23, 2013, with her husband at her side. The youngest of four children, Marian was born in Winterset, Iowa, on October 10, 1935, to Dr. John F. and Esther (Jongewaard) Veltman. It was in Winterset where she met and later married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Jim Agnew.

Always proud of her Dutch heritage, she attended college at Hope College in Michigan and Central College in Pella, Iowa. She spent several years teaching elementary school in Perry and Nevada before she and Jim started their family. As a devoted wife and mother, she took an active role in her family's activities as well as her own. She worked for 23 years at the P.E.O. Center and was president of her own chapter, Chapter JZ.

She loved to cook and entertain her bridge clubs, P.E.O. chapter, church choir, Sunday school, circle and always welcomed and planned big family gatherings at the farm in Madison County. After buying their first travel trailer over 40 years ago, each month in the spring, summer and fall was marked with a camping trip with the trailer club, except for a month spent in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Another highlight of every summer was when Marian and her sisters would get together in Leon for a special weekend of nonstop talking, laughing and singing.

An avid sports fan, Marian was an unapologetic supporter of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls. She loved music, whether sacred, classical or show tunes, and enjoyed sharing her love of musicals with her grandchildren. A voracious reader, Marian was never without a book in her hand and another one set to go.

As members of First United Methodist Church for over 50 years, much of Marian's life was spent in service by supporting the missions and activities of her church. Her skills of organization and planning were greatly appreciated in the leadership roles she undertook both at church and in the community.

Preceding her in death were her parents; Jim's parents, Brown and Louise Agnew; and sister-in-law Nancy Clarke.

Marian is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jim Agnew of Des Moines; three daughters, Jeanine (John) Ritter of Suwanee, GA; Lynn (Paul) Mankins of Des Moines; and Lisa (Rob) Kaufman of Seattle, WA; six grandchildren, Chelsea and Emily Ritter, Adam and Abby Mankins, and Elijah and Jonah Kaufman; brother Dean (Mary) Veltman of Penney Farms, FL; two sisters, Kathy Parkins of Loveland, CO and Lois (Jim) Slade of Leon, IA; and brother-in-law Norm Clarke of Waukee, IA.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or the Des Moines Public Library.

A memorial service celebrating Marian's life will be held Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.