Viola Mae (Gentz) SAMUELSON

SAMUELSON, GENTZ, THOMPSON, SUTTON, BURRIER, BALDWIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/17/2015 at 14:14:33

April 20, 1939 --- February 14, 2015

Viola Samuelson, age 75, of Nevada, Iowa died Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, 2015, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating. Burial will be in Nevada Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 4-7 p.m.

Born April 20, 1939, in Northwood, Iowa, Viola Mae (Gentz) Samuelson was the daughter of Roy and Olga Caroline (Thompson) Gentz, and was baptized at First Shell Rock Lutheran Church in Northwood on May 14, 1939. She grew up and received her education in Northwood, graduating from high school in 1956.

Vi worked at Ben Franklin stores, first in Northwood and later in Belmond, Iowa, where she met and worked with her future husband, Fred Samuelson. The couple was united in marriage on April 9, 1967, in Northwood. They continued their employment with Ben Franklin in Cherokee from 1968 until 1970, then purchased the Ben Franklin store in Nevada. Vi and Fred continued working together for the next 44 years, truly a labor of love.

Vi possessed a strong work ethic. She loved working and was beloved by employees and customers alike. An avid collector, Vi enjoyed her various collections, including Precious Moments and Swarovski Crystal. She had a passion for playing the piano and also enjoyed traveling. Vi was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church where in earlier years she taught Sunday school, and also served as den mother for the Cub Scouts.

Survivors include her husband, Fred; two sons, James Samuelson of Newport Beach, CA, and Michael Samuelson of St. Louis, MO; special family friend Angelia Sutton of St. Louis, MO; a brother, Roger Gentz of Northwood; two sisters, Junette (Richard) Burrier of Mason City, and her twin, Violet (Roger) Baldwin of Albert Lea, MN. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members; as well as her “granddog,” Barkley. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law, Eloise Gentz. Memorials in Vi’s name may be directed to Memorial Lutheran Church. Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Vi and her family.

http://ryanfunerals.com/obituary.php?view=71