Vivian (Rutz) HUISMAN

RUTZ, HUISMAN, ZOBRIST, THOMAS, MASCHHOFF

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/14/2016 at 19:11:16

October 29, 1924 ---- September 10, 2016

Vivian Huisman, 91, of Centerville passed away on September 10, 2016 at Unity Point Hospital in Fort Dodge surrounded by her family. Vivian was born on October 29, 1924 to Richard and Edna (Zobrist) Rutz in Highland, Illinois. She was raised with her five siblings. In 1945 she married Alvin Huisman in Collinsville, Illinois. They had two sons and raised them in Goldfield, Iowa. She worked at the school as a secretary.

Vivian's love of travel led her to her CNA certification and worked toward earning money to travel to Australia to visit her son, Rodrick and his family. Vivian enjoyed caring for patients so much she continued to work at the hospital for over 10 years. Another trip she talked of fondly was her trip to Israel. Vivian loved and lived for her family. She spent countless hours at sporting events, graduations, weddings, and ceremonies honoring achievements of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Vivian spent over 60 years attending baseball games. This tradition began with her husband's playing on local town teams and continued on to cheer both her sons from little league to college to farm teams, grandchildren from little league to college ball and her great grandchildren from little league to high school baseball and softball. Vivian was at as many Big Red baseball games that she could possibly make it to, cheering on her son, Bill and the teams he coached for 38 years.

Vivian loved to sing in the choir at the church, most recently at First Methodist Church in Centerville and Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. She sang in choirs for over 40 years and often told the story of how her mother would never let her join the choir as a young lady. Vivian's compassion led her to crochet prayer shawls and visit shut-ins often. She volunteered for the state of Iowa recording audio books for the blind and received an award from the governor for her countless hours of volunteer time.

Vivian is survived by her sons; William (Roberta) Huisman of Centerville and Rodrick (Barbara) Huisman of Fort Dodge, four grandchildren; Robert (Staci) Huisman of Ankeny, Alan Huisman of Centerville, Erin (Billy) Thomas of Centerville and Adam Huisman of Des Moines, six great grandchildren; Tyler, Madison and Delaney Huisman, Cohen and Bordan Huisman and Emily Thomas and one sister Patricia Maschhoff of Glen Carbon, Illinois. She was preceded by her parents, husband, Alvin, brother, Richard and sisters; Violet, June, Geraldine and infant Glenda.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 16, 2016 at Thomas Funeral Home – 501 N. 18th St. – Centerville, Iowa 52544 with Rev. Shurmaine McAlpine officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Thomas Funeral Home. Interment will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield, Iowa. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church in Centerville.

http://www.thomasfh.com/obituaries/Vivian-Huisman/#!/Obituary