Virginia Charlotte (Johnson) FANSELOW

FANSELOW, JOHNSON, HANSEN, AGEMNA, PEGG, COLDIRON, FITZ, GROVE, LOPEZ, MANJARREZ, LOPEZ-MANJARREZ

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/1/2012 at 14:53:43

February 2, 1923 ----- June 20, 2012

Virginia C. Fanselow of Dows passed away peacefully at the Wright County Medical Center on June 20, 2012. She was 89 years young. Funeral services for Virginia C. Fanselow will be held Friday, June 22, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. at the United Church of Rowan with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery near Rowan. Visitation for Virginia C. Fanselow will be held Friday, June 22, 2012 from 12:00 Noom until service time at the church in Rowan. Funeral arrangements are being conducted by the Dugger Funeral Home, 100 North Lee Street in Dows.

Virginia Charlotte Johnson was born on February 2, 1923 at her family’s home just south of Plymouth, Iowa, where her father farmed. She was the youngest of eight children born to Nels Maurice and Julia Christina Hansen Johnson. When “Ginny,” as she was called by her brothers and sisters, was 5 years old, the family moved to a farm near Rudd. Virginia’s mother passed away when she was 15 and she moved with her father to Rowan in the spring of 1939, where he operated a grocery store, but died only a year after her mother. Virginia continued to live with her older brother, Lee until she graduated from Rowan High School in 1940, where she lettered in basketball and was named class Valedictorian. In the spring of 1941 she took a job cooking and keeping house for Ben Fanselow, who was recently widowed, and his adult son, Robert (“Bob”) Fanselow, who both lived on a farm 2 ½ miles south of Rowan. After a few months, Virginia and Bob started dating; he courted her with freshly-picked lilacs and rides on his motorcycle. Virginia and Robert were married in Eagle Grove, Iowa on December 5, 1941 and made their home on the family farm with “Grandpa Ben,” where they raised four children: Aren Fanselow of Dows, Duane (and Rella) Fanselow of Dows, Jean (and Maynard) Agena of Dows, and Connie Fanselow of Des Moines, Bob and Virginia lived together on the family farm until Bob passed away in 1986.

Virginia spent over 25 years raising her family, managing the household, helping with farm work and chores, gardening, raising chickens, and selling eggs. In later years when her children were grown, she worked briefly as a cook and baker, operated a printing press for Cookbooks Ltd. near Iowa Falls for about 15 years, and worked in laundry services at the Dows Care Center for nearly 10 years, “retiring” at age 78, when the Care Center closed. Virginia was a member of the United Church of Rowan for over 60 years, was active in Ladies Aid and the Monday afternoon quilting circle, and belonged to the Blaine Township Friendship Club for over 65 years. She enjoyed baking, sewing, quilting, reading, and word puzzles, and she cherished her seven granddaughters: Sue Ellen (and Mark) Pegg of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jennifer Agena of Merriam, Kansas, Stephanie Fanselow of Clarion, Iowa, Deborah (and Scott) Coldiron of Dows, Iowa, Jolee (and Mark) Fitz of Nevada, Iowa, Julie (and Michael) Grove of Ellsworth, Iowa, and Kate (and Juan Lopez-Manjarrez) Agena of Mexico City, Mexico. Virginia also adored and delighted in her six great-grandchildren: Savannah and Madison Fitz of Nevada, Quinton and Landon Grove of Ellsworth, and Owen and Ruby Coldiron of Dows.

Virginia was affectionately called “Little Grandma” and “Great Gram” by her family. Among them, she was famous for her Santa Claus Cookies, handmade quilts, Raggedy Ann and Andy and other dolls, and she made delicious fried chicken, cinnamon rolls, and pie crust that no one else has ever been quite able to duplicate. She knew how to be happy and find joy and contentment in whatever life brought her way. She never raised her voice, always had a smile, and taught by example, living every day of her life with kindness, generosity, and quiet strength.

DUGGER FUNERAL HOMES
http://www.duggerfunerals.com/current-services.html