Obituaries : Vera Nissen

Vera Nissen

VINTON: Vera Nissen, 90, died peacefully Jan. 22, 2013, at Midwest City Nursing Center in Midwest City, Okla. Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, with the Rev. Mark Leckband officiating. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Vinton. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time on Saturday.

Vera was born June 7, 1922, in Benton County, at the home of her parents, Edward and Bertha Urmy Krug. She attended Homer No. 3, graduated from Dysart High School, and married Elmer Nissen on Feb. 17, 1947. Vera was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

She was known for her baking — anyone who stopped by her home knew they could expect something special to eat. She took pride in decorating her home with handmade flower arrangements and decorations. Vera helped prepare and serve events at the Vinton Country Club for 14 years and was a housekeeper to many in Vinton, and commented often about the kindness the homeowners showed her over the years.

While in Oklahoma City for Christmas in 1996, Vera suffered a major stroke, which left her left arm and leg paralyzed. She spent many months afterward in therapy but was unable to recover and return to Iowa, though she never stopped talking of her desire to return to her home, her family, and her friends that she so loved back in Iowa.

Survivors include her children, Brenda (Larry) Friday of Oklahoma City, Susan (Michael) Heffron of Oklahoma City and Don (Karen) Nissen of Columbus, Ind.; grandchildren, Corey (Kim) O’Deen of Cedar Rapids and Graham Nissen of Columbus; great-grandchild, Maggie Rose O’Deen; brother, Ervin (Darlene) Krug; sister-in-law, Nadine Krug; many nieces and nephews; and former sons-in-law, Rocky O’Deen and Mike Davis.

She was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, Saul Nissen; and brothers, Gale, Marvin and Kenny Krug.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Vinton Public Library, 510 Second Ave., Vinton, IA 52349.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.