Vava Elizabeth "Betty" (Barker) Trexel

TREXEL, BARKER, KROLL, VERKADE, MCGEHEE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 11/16/2013 at 13:17:37

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Vava Elizabeth "Betty" (Barker) Trexel, 96, of Oregon, Wisconsin peacefully passed away November 7, 2013. Visitation is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday November 11 at Adams Funeral Home Ames, Iowa. Private burial will be in the Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson, Iowa.

Betty was born October 6, 1917 to Dean M. and Vava Barker of Jefferson, Iowa where she graduated high school Valedictorian. She attended Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa for a year during the depression where she met Milton Trexel from Dennison, Iowa between music lessons.

She completed secretarial school in Des Moines, Iowa where she re-acquainted with and later married M. Trexel, an instrumental music teacher.

WWII ensued and both worked at the Glenn L. Martin bomber plant in Omaha. After the attack on Pearl, Harbor Milton enlisted to serve in the South Pacific during which time their son was born. Their daughter was born after Milton returned. Milton pursued a distinguished career in music education, retiring in Ames, Iowa. Betty played a major support role as a band director's wife, mother, typist, and library assistant. She helped raise her sister's family when her sister became disabled with polio. Betty relocated to Fitchburg, Wisconsin when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2001.

Betty is survived by her son Richard D. and daughter-in-law Deborah F. (Audier) Trexel of Fitchburg, Wisconsin; three grandchildren: Dean Trexel of Michigan, Dale Trexel and Dawn Trexel-Kroll of Minnesota; two great-grandchildren Mason and Milo Kroll of Virginia, MN. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 40 years, daughter Susan E. (Trexel) Verkade of Ames, Iowa, and sister Juliann (Barker) McGehee of Memphis, TN.

Memorial gifts may be made in Betty’s name to your local Alzheimer's Disease support group or AD organization. A mind is a terrible thing to lose. Betty and her family would like to thank her friends, loved ones, and caregivers for enriching her life of 96 years.

Online condolences and photo's may be left on Betty's memorial page.

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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