McLain, Virginia Kathleen (Harms) 1922 - 2014

MCLAIN, HARMS, JOHNSON, HENDERSON, KRUSE, BURR, HOLTHAUS, FORD, MOLITOR, JUDAS, STROMSETH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/18/2014 at 12:31:51

Virginia McLain, age 92, of Decorah, IA, died on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 17, 2014, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the Russell Cemetery, Decorah, IA.

Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 9:30 a.m., at the church on Friday morning. There will be a Catholic Daughters of America Rosary at 4:00 p.m., on Thursday at the funeral home.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to Russell Cemetery, St. Benedicts Catholic Church, Aase Haugen Nursing Home, and Thunder Rode c/o Michele Kruse, in Virginia's name.

Virginia Kathleen (Harms) McLain was born on August 6, 1922, the daughter of George William and Mildred Marie (Johnson) Harms in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Victory Church in Fergus Falls, MN, where she spent all of her summers with her maternal grandparents. She graduated from St. Aloysius Catholic School in Calmar and Decorah High School in 1940. She also attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. On August 17, 1942, she married Fred R. McLain of Canoe Township at the St. Benedict Catholic parsonage in Decorah, by the Rev. M.E. Nolan. Virginia farmed with Fred for many years on the McLain family farm in Canoe Township, until she moved into Decorah in 2000 and then into the Aase Hauge Nursing Home in 2007. Virginia was a 4-H leader for the Charming Canoer’s, and served as secretary of the Winneshiek County Extension Council. She also served as the secretary-treasurer of the Russell Cemetery Association. Virginia was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, Church Choir, St. Marie’s Circle. She was a Charter Member, Past Regent and member of the Court Regina Mundi #1737 of the Catholic Daughters of America. She also was a member of the Farm Bureau Women’s Chorus, VFW Auxiliary, Aase Haugen Homes Board, the Historical Society, and the Winneshiek County Cancer Society.

Virginia was a kind, caring person who spent many hours comforting those in nursing homes and was proud to say that her occupation, in addition to farm housewife, was charity work. She enjoyed traveling and then sharing her experiences with school children. She travelled several times to visit her daughter in Australia and also to New Zealand, England, Ireland, Scotland and around the USA. Besides the love of her life, her husband Fred, her life centered on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved nature, living on the farm, and always cherished living in Northeast Iowa.

Virginia is survived by her four children: William “Bill” McLain, Decorah, IA; James “Jim” (Cathy) McLain, Decorah, IA; Barbara “Barb” (Don) Henderson, Brisbane, Australia; and Michael “Mike” (Carolyn) McLain, Sierra Vista, AZ. Six grandchildren: Michelle (Aaron) Kruse, James (Mindy) McLain II, Vanessa (Shawn) Burr, Alison (Chris) Holthaus, Katie (Jon) Ford, and Nic (Amie Allen) Henderson. Nine great grandchildren: April & William Kruse, Jameson & Kaelyn McLain, Ashton, Wyatt & Brystol Burr, Stephen Alexander Ford, and Cooper James Allen Henderson. Nieces and nephew: Sonja Stromseth Molitor, Waukon, IA; Mae Stromseth Judas, Oelwein, IA; and Donald (Sally) Stromseth, Decorah, IA, along with five great nieces and nephews and six great great nieces and nephews.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents: George and Mildred (Johnson) Harms; her husband: Fred McLain on Nov. 12, 1982 and a McLain baby in the late 1950’s; Her father and mother-in-law: Theodore & May McLain; sister and brothers-in-law: Edna & Emmett Stromseth, Walter McLain and Roger McLain.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Russell Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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