Searls, Virginia L. 1928-2004

SEARLS, SAMPSON, HEESCH

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/28/2009 at 16:16:54

AKRON, Iowa -- Virginia L. "Gin" Searls, 76, of Akron passed away Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron, with the Rev. Gary Harris of Spirit of Life Lutheran Church in Sergeant Bluff, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home-Schroeder Chapel in Akron.

Virginia L. "Gin" Searls was born July 17, 1928, in Akron, the daughter of Kenneth and Ena (Heesch) Sampson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church. She attended school in Akron and graduated from Akron High School. She later attended Western Union College, later known as Westmar University in Le Mars, Iowa, after which she taught in a rural country school.

She was united in marriage to Daniel J. Searls on Sept. 11, 1949, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron. The couple farmed near Akron for many years. After moving into town, she went to work as a nurse's aide for the Akron Hospital and later for Akron Care Center, where she retired after 22 years of service. Following her retirement, she did seamstress work for many people, something she loved to do as a hobby.

She was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. She was a five gallon blood donor for the Siouxland Community Blood Bank. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking, reading, fishing, camping and watching women's basketball and tennis on television.

Survivors include her husband of more than 55 years, Dan of Akron; four children, Ken Searls and his fiancee, Sherry Loomis of Sioux City, Inez and her husband, Loren Jorgensen of Sergeant Bluff, Tom Searls of Sioux City and Bill Searls and his wife, Tess of Sioux City; eight grandchildren, Nathaniel Searls, Jonathan Searls, Nicholas Jorgensen and his fiancee, Mara Cook, Eric Jorgensen and his wife, Britnee, Karla Jorgensen, Kayla Jorgensen, Christopher Searls and Kelsey Searls; three sisters and their husbands, Marilyn and Norman Morehead of Merrill, Iowa, Joy and John Dirks of Akron and Joyce and Leland Burcham of Elk Point, S.D.; and several other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Pallbearers will be Nathaniel Searls, Jonathan Searls, Nicholas Jorgensen, Eric Jorgensen, Christopher Searls and Edward Searls. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Dec. 3, 2004
~Part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection