Gasparovich, Elizabeth 1922-2011

GASPAROVICH, FINCENZA, MATKOVICH, ADAMS, SEAMAN, RONIN, CHRISTENSEN, MEASE, AAVANG, BUTLER, RICKS, MEASE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/21/2020 at 10:39:24

Elizabeth Gasparovich
September 23, 1922 - May 6, 2011
Born in Melcher, Iowa
Resided in Johnston, IA

Elizabeth Gasparovich, 88, a resident of Martina Place, died Friday, May 6, 2010 at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at St. Augustin Catholic Church with burial following at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Elizabeth Gasparovich was born at home, in Melcher, Iowa, on September 23, 1922. She was the 6th daughter and 8th child of Anton (Tony) and Nancy (Vincenza Matkovich) Gasparovich. Her parents were immigrants from Croatia, who worked hard to make a life for themselves and their children, and Elizabeth never forgot where she came from and who she was. She graduated from Melcher High School in 1940, at a time when many girls did not finish school. She took the civil service exam and scored so high she was immediately offered a job with the War Department, at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C. She worked in Washington for several years before returning to Iowa, to Des Moines, to take up a long career with the Internal Revenue Service. She worked downtown in the old Federal Building for many years. In the 1960s, IRS planned and opened the Bannister Road Service Center in Kansas City, and Elizabeth moved to Kansas City to help open and operate the Service Center. Elizabeth worked at the Service Center until her retirement in 1977, when she moved back to Des Moines, Iowa.

Elizabeth never married. But on her nieces and nephews, who knew her as "Aunt Baba" or just "Baba," she lavished attention and affection that knew no bounds. We share some memory of something special, that Baba somehow magically knew was important to us, that magically happened. She was our loving fairy godmother.

Baba was a faithful Catholic all her life. She lived her last several years at Martina Place, where she was able to participate in her faith fully. She made friends wherever she went. She was loved, and will be missed, by many.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Helen Gasparovich, Mary Gasparovich (for whom she had a special affection), Anna Adams and Louise Seaman; her brothers Anton, Frank and Victor Gasparovich; her niece Nancy Gasparovich Ronin; and her nephew Gerald Anthony Gasparovich. She is survived by her sisters Vera Gasparovich and Christina Christensen; nieces Nancy Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Betsy Christensen Mease, Theresa Seaman Aavang and Helen Adams; nephews Anthony Christensen, Tim Christensen, Gregory Seaman, Joseph Seaman, and Frank Adams; grandnieces and nephews Jessica Christensen Butler, Erica Christensen Ricks, Marshall Mease, Larissa Christensen, Eric Christensen, Kaitlyn Christensen and Trei Christensen; great-grandnephews Davin Butler and Grayson Mease; and two great-grands waiting in the wings.

Elizabeth was appreciative of the care she received from Dr. Jay Rosenberger and Jennifer, who knew her and honored her life, and the staff of Martina Place. She loved her apartment, she appreciated the spiritual connections, and she reveled in the staff who could make sense of her Hrvat and wanted to become Americans.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 9 at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel, with a rosary service at 7 p.m. ~ The Iles Funeral Homes - Westover Chapel 06 May 2011.