Agatha (Pantenburg) Varnum (1919-2014)

VARNUM, PANTENBURG, WESSMAN, KRAUSMAN, LIDD, MCWILLIAMS, IVES, KALKHOFF, RICKE, ADAMS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 6/15/2014 at 20:00:17

From Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Agatha Varnum, 94, died peacefully on May 31, 2014, at Bickford Cottage in Ames, Iowa.

A Mass of Celebration of her life will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery near Colo. Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care will be assisting the family. Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with the rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Agatha was born December 10, 1919, in Ames, Iowa, to Peter and Harriett Pantenburg. Following graduation from Ames High School in 1937, she was employed by local Ames banks and The Fair Store.

She married Fred Varnum on June 12, 1946, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames. She and Fred resided on the family farm near Colo more than 47 years where they raised their seven daughters. As the girls grew older, she was employed at Fisher Governor and R.H. Donnelley. She was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Colo. In 2001, she and Fred moved to Ames and were members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Over the years, Agatha enjoyed gardening, camping, sewing/quilting and most of all took great pride in her seven daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She set a great example for her family of living Christian values.

She is survived by seven daughters, Kay (Steve) Wessman, Agnes (Terry) Krausman, both of Ames; Beverly (Bob) Lidd, Lafayette, IN; Virginia (Bernie) McWilliams, Pittsburgh, PA; Dorothy (Steve) Ives, Durand, MI; Annette (Tom) Kalkhoff, Spirit Lake, IA; and Darlene (Keith) Ricke of Vadnais Heights, MN; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Edna Adams, Ames; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She joins her husband, Fred; her parents; one brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Mary Pantenburg; brother-in-law, Henry Adams; one grandson, Mark Wessman; and other beloved family members who have gone before her.

The family appreciates the dedicated caregivers at Bickford Assisted Living. Online condolences may be sent to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com. Memorials may be directed to St. Cecilia or St. Mary's Catholic Church.

http://www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com/
 

Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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