Work, Verna C. (Mrs. Charlie), 1863-1936

WORK, THAYER, WEBB, WAGNER, POWERS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Sioux County Capital June 11, 1936:

Mrs. Work Funeral

The funeral of Mrs. Verna Work was conducted by the Rev Mr. Leach of Rock Rapids in the Presbyterian church on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Mrs. Work succumbed to a heart attack last Monday, evening at ten o'clock at the Sheldon Hospital where she was confined to her bed with a broken hip. Mrs. Work, who was 73 years old, was one of Boyden's older residents having come here from Michigan as a bride and residing in or near Boyden since.

She is survived by two daughters Ruby, Mrs. Floyd Wagner and Madge, Mrs. Victor Powers of Sanborn. There are also four grandchildren namely Robert Wagner and Donna Powers Blok of Sanborn and Isea and Lavonne Wiley of Illinois.

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From the Alton Democrat, June 5, 1936, Boyden news:

Mrs. Verna Work had the misfortune to fall and break her hip while shopping in the basement of a store in Sheldon Tuesday last. She is in a cast and will be confined to the hospital for several weeks, but is doing well.

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From the Boyden Reporter, June 4, 1936:

MRS. VERNA WORK

Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock for Mrs. Verna Work, another of Boyden’s pioneer women. Mrs. Work passed away at the Sheldon Hospital, Monday evening at 10 o’clock; death was due to heart attack.

Mrs. Work came to Boyden a bride and has long been interested in enterprises for community betterment. She was a past-president of the local Women’s Club and a member of the U. P. Church and Aid Society. Complete obituary will be published in next week’s Reporter.

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From the Boyden Reporter, June 11, 1936:

Obituary—Verna Cora Work

Verna Cora Thayer was born at Coldwater, Mich., August 10, 1863, where her parents John C. and Martha Webb Thayer were engaged in farming. Here she attended school and grew to womanhood.

In 1883 she came to Iowa to visit her brothers; while there she met Charlie E. Work to whom she was united in marriage, July 3, 1883, at her home in Batavia County, Michigan. They returned to their farm south of Boyden where they lived for two years. At that time they moved to Boyden where Mr. Work operated a meat market, and lived there with the exception of three years spent in Matlock, until Mr. Work’s death on June 12, 1915.

Mrs. Work is survived by two daughters, Ruby Wagner and Madge Powers of Sanborn; four grandchildren, Robert Wagner, Donna Powers Blok of Sanborn; Isca and Lavonne Wiley of Mendota, Illinois.

Mrs. Work joined the United Presbyterian Church April 6, 1902. She was a charter member of Ladies Aid of her church and was a charter member of the Boyden Women’s Club.

Mrs. Work was preceded in death by her husband Charlie Work, a son Perl Work and a daughter Geneva Wiley. She passed away at the hospital in Sheldon, June 1, 1936, at the age of 72 years, 9 months, 21 days.

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Her death certificate adds her parents' birthplaces, John Thayer born in New York, Martha Webb born in Ohio; died in the Myers Hospital, Sheldon, at 9:40 p.m. June 1, 1936; principal cause, fracture of hip, occurred May 26, 1936, fell off a step; confirmed via X-ray.

Her FindaGrave.com page shows her born in Batavia, Branch County, Michigan; buried in Sheridan Township Cemetery, Boyden. Parents John Caleb Thayer (1818-1894) and Martha J. Webb Thayer (1824-1907). Three siblings listed: Wilton E. Thayer (1850-1926), Adelbert Thayer (1853-1900), and Edward S. Thayer (1858-1922). Spouse: Charles Edward Work (1855-1915) (his obit calls him Charlie, as does his entry in the Sioux County Cemetery Index). Children: Perl Henry Work (1885-1908), Ruby Blanche Work Wagner (1887-1955), Geneva Martha Donna Work Wiley (1889-1920), and Zora Madge Work Powers (1892-1979). There is a photo of her headstone, and portraits of Verna and Charlie.