Callie Mae (Bumgardner) MANDSAGER

MANDSAGER, BUMGARDNER, WIEDER, PETERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/1/2009 at 09:51:05

August 1, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

Callie Mandsager, 92, formerly of Goldfield, died Friday, July 31, 2009, at Careage in Clarion. Services will be 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 3, at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in North Lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time on Monday at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Callie Mae Bumgardner, the daughter of Ada (Wieder) and Harry Bumgardner, was born on April 20, 1917 in Oasis, Iowa. She was an only child and grew up in West Branch, Iowa. In 1930, Callie was crowned Tomato Queen and sent homegrown tomatoes to President Herbert Hoover at the White House. She graduated from West Branch High School in May, 1934, and then attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, graduating in June, 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During those years, she enjoyed traveling by train across the country with her Aunt Callie. She began teaching high school English in Thor, Iowa and later in Iowa Falls and Fort Dodge. On July 1, 1944, Callie was united in marriage to Herman Mandsager. They made their home on a farm in rural Thor until 1955 when they moved to Goldfield. Callie taught high school English and directed plays at Goldfield Community School, before retiring in 1975. Herman preceded her in death on June 14, 1985. Callie moved to the Careage Care Center in Clarion in the spring of 2003. Callie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and was very active in the church women's clubs. She also was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and Oakridge Country Club. She enjoyed baking, playing bridge, and gardening.

Callie is survived by her son, Neil Mandsager and wife Suzie of Donahue, Iowa, her daughter, Carol Peterson and husband Ken of Bettendorf, Iowa, and four grandsons, Jeff and Erika Mandsager, Indianapolis, IN, Brett and Shannon Mandsager, Davenport, IA, Kirk Peterson, Chicago, IL and Kelly Peterson, Boulder, CO; and one great-granddaughter Hayden Mandsager. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Memorial contributions may be made to Wright County Hospice or to the United Presbyterian Church, Goldfield, IA.