Virginia Huisman

Iola “Virginia” Huisman, 93, of Wellsburg, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be held from 2 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2019, at the Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Doyen Chapel in Wellsburg. A private family funeral service will be held, with private burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts will be sent to Virginia’s charities, including hearing aids for underprivileged children.

Virginia was born on December 24, 1925, in Maynard, Iowa; the daughter of William and Edna (Foss) Pace. She attended school in Maynard until moving to Marshalltown during High School. Iola graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1943. On April 14, 1951, Virginia was united in marriage to Ralph Huisman in Marshalltown. After their marriage, they made their home in Wellsburg. Virginia worked in retail sales prior to becoming a full-time homemaker.

Virginia had many hobbies that kept her busy; she was an excellent seamstress who made most of her daughter’s clothes and she mended the Wellsburg High School football uniforms. She loved traveling with the Grundy National Bank and was proud to say she had been to all 50 states and 18 foreign countries. She was adventurous, and always tried the local food. She enjoyed seeing new places, but was always glad to get back home.

She loved to walk, do word puzzles, and play cards. Virginia looked for ways to serve others; driving friends to church and delivering mail to those who could not get out to pick it up on their own. She was active at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church and enjoyed participating with her friends there. Her blue van could be seen “burning up the pavement” as she was always on the go. She loved her family more than anything and was fiercely protective of them and so proud of their accomplishments.

She is survived by Toby (Rhonda) Huisman, of Wellsburg, Ginny (Nick) Oddo of Littleton, CO, and Larry (Cheryl) Ward of Plano, IL; grandsons Tyler (Chelsea) Huisman of Bondurant, Scott (Brianna) Ward of Riverview, FL, Marc (Lisa) Oddo of Timnath, CO, and Tim (Michelle) Oddo of Highlands Ranch, CO; granddaughter Jennifer Osman of Davidson, NC. She was blessed with 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, parents, and four brothers James, Walter, Paul, and Marcus Pace.