Vannorsdel, Dana E. 1929-2008

VANNORSDEL, RAE, JONES

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/27/2008 at 21:43:19

KINGSLEY, Iowa -- Dana E. Vannorsdel, 78, of Kingsley passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, at Correctionville Nursing and Rehab Center in Correctionville, Iowa.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at United Congregational Church of Christ in Kingsley, with the Rev. Robert Blair officiating. Private family graveside services will be at a later date. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 5:30 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Rohde-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

Dana Eugene Vannorsdel was born Sept. 8, 1929, in Kingsley, the son of Roscoe and Ella (Rae) Vannorsdel. He attended a country school located in the section of his family farm. He would later graduate from Pierson (Iowa) High School in 1946. Following his education, he began farming with his family near Kingsley.

On Dec. 22, 1951, he and Shirley Jones were united in marriage at the Church of the Brethren in Kingsley by the Rev. Vernon Powell. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952. He served his country during the Korean War until earning his honorable discharge in 1954. After the war, the couple began farming. In 1960, they retired from farming and he joined the Meisner Insurance Agency in Pierson, Iowa. Don Law later joined the firm and a second office opened in Kingsley. Jim Harvey later joined the firm with Dana.

He was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Kingsley. He enjoyed golfing and was a member of and golfed at many area country clubs. For the past 16 winters the couple have spent winters in Arizona.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley; a brother, Vernon Gross; and a sister, Thelma Bainbridge, all of Kingsley; and several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Paul, Donald and Max Vannorsdel and Claude Gross; and sisters, Charlotte Furch, Helen Page and Elda Shever.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Jan. 18, 2008