Vinessa Ferris

The former Vinessa Inez Holleschau was born January 5, 1898, in Humboldt, Iowa, the daughter of August and Katrina Wiuff Holleschau.  She graduated from Humboldt schools and received her B.A. degree from Northern Iowa University in 1953.  She married Roy Charles Ferris in 1921, in Alden, Minnesota.  He died in 1926.

She was an elementary teacher in Iowa public schools for a total of 41 years, including Humboldt County schools for 23 years, Rutland for 3 years, Collins for 3 years, and Keokuk for 12 years, retiring in 1963.  She moved to Moline in 1966, and did substitute teaching in Moline public schools from 1966 until 1973. 

Vinessa was a member of Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline, Kappa Delta Pi Sorority, Purple Arrow Society at Northern Iowa University, Iowa State Education Association, of which she was a life member, and Moline Senior Citizens.  She taught volunteer classes at her church from Moline Senior Citizens and had played the organ at her church in Rutland, Iowa.  Her hobby was knitting and crocheting, and she was recognized several times in recent years by local newspapers for her many donations of mittens.

Services for Vinessa I. Ferns, 104, of Moline, are 2 p.m. Friday at Trimble Funeral Home, Moline.  The Rev Jan Griffith, Riverside United Methodist Church, Moline, will officiate.  Burial is 1 p.m. Saturday at Humboldt County Cemetery, Humboldt, Iowa.

Mrs. Ferris died Monday, May 27, 2002, at Heartland Health Care Center, Moline.

Vinessa is survived by two grandsons and their wives, Brian and Crystal Ferris, Apache Junction, Arizona, and Kent and Patricia Ferris, Moline, great granddaughter, Megan Ferris, Moline and sister Beulah Guenther, Fort Doge, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her only son Robert,  and his wife, Eileen Ferris and 11 brothers and sisters.

Vinessa and son, Robert