Mildred Marie (Loats) VESTWEBER

VESTWEBER, LOATS, AHRENHOLTZ, HANSON, NAHNSEN, CAYLOR, MERRILL, BOHNING, SMITH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/23/2014 at 18:35:14

July 30, 1909 --- June 18, 2014

BELMOND, IA -- Mildred M. (Loats) Vestweber, age 104, most recently a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, died, Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, with her family at her bedside. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2014, at the St. John's Lutheran Church, Belmond, Iowa. Pastor Shawn Hill will be officiating.Burial will be in the Alexander Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5-7 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond.

Mildred Marie Loats, the daughter of Fred and Lena (Ahrenholtz) Loats, was born July 30, 1909, on her parents' farm three miles east of Belmond, she was one of six children born to Fred and Lena, including: Jessie, Arlene, Willamine, Ben, and Andrew. Mildred attended country school near "Palsville" in Wright County, Iowa, graduating from the 8th grade. She then helped her brothers on the family farm and did domestic work in the area until she was united in marriage to Clarence Gust Vestweber, on October 4, 1937, in Estherville, Iowa. Follow the wedding they drove to California on their honeymoon and stayed there until Clarence was honorably discharged from the Navy. They then returned to their roots in Iowa where they farmed and raised their family near Alexander. Their union was blessed with three children, Diane, Dennis and Kenneth.

Mildred was a lifelong homemaker and dedicated partner in the farm operations, a loving wife, nurturing mom, and proud grandma. She was a wonderful cook and baker and is remembered by her family and other's for her famous homemade "Best Grandma's Brownies in North Iowa" and her delicious rhubarb jams. Mildred always made sure there was plenty to eat, be it a meal in their home or a farm lunch she would bring to the field. She was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Belmond, where she had been active in various roles such as the Ladies' Aide, helping with meals at gatherings and various other church functions.

She had been a resident of the Belmond Community Apartments, Bell Haven Assisted Living Complex, and most recently at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond since she moved into town from the farm following her husband Clarence's death on July 3, 1998. Her memory will continue in the hearts and minds of her children; Dennis Vestweber, Alexander, Iowa, and Diane (Roy) Hanson, Fort Dodge, Iowa; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Denise (Gary) Nahnsen, and their children, Alex and Anna, of Urbandale, Iowa, Nancy Merrill Caylor of Des Moines, Iowa, and her son Nick Merrill, of Omaha, Neb.; and Jason (Heather) Vestweber, and their children, Maddie and Cooper, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Lena Loats, son, Kenneth Vestweber, husband, Clarence, and siblings; Jessie Loats, Arlene Bohning, Willamine Smith, Ben Loats, and Andrew Loats. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa.

June 21, 2014
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa