Obituaries : Lavanda H. Grantham

Lavanda H. Grantham

BELLE PLAINE:  Lavanda H. Grantham, 97 of Belle Plaine died Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

     Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, March 8, 2010 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Plaine with Rev. Brian “Pete” Hagglund officiating.  Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Belle Plaine.  Visitation will from 2 to 4 PM on Sunday at the church, where the family will receive friends.  A memorial fund has been established. 

     Lavanda H. Wiese was born July 30, 1912 to Louis and Anna (Mussman) Wiese at Keystone.  She graduated from school in Keystone and attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.  Lavanda taught country school in the Keystone area for nine years.  Later she worked as a bookkeeper for Burrows Publishing Company and Graham Services, retiring in 2002.  Lavanda was united in marriage to Fred L.S. Grantham on May 21, 1939 at the Congregational Church parsonage in Belle Plaine. He preceded her in death on February 24, 1995. 

     Lavanda was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, the O.E.S. and the American Legion Auxiliary in Belle Plaine.  In her leisure she enjoyed playing cards, especially Bridge.

     Lavanda is survived by her son, John (Fran) Grantham of Siren, WI; her daughter-in-law, Marva Grantham of Marion, IA; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one step grandchild; five step great-grandchildren and her sister, Audrey Olson of Vinton.

     In addition to her parents and husband, Lavanda was preceded in death by her son, Fred; her two brothers, Clarence and Harold Wiese and five sisters, Mabel Roth, Frances Burfield, Norma Wilde, Lois Sherwood and Ruby Engelking.

     Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.