Viola Kouba

VIOLA KOUBA

Anamosa

Viola Kouba, 96, of Anamosa and formerly of Wyoming, died on May 27, 2018, at Pinicon Place, Anamosa. Visitation will be at Wyoming United Methodist Church from 1 to 3 p.m. on June 4. Services will follow at 3 p.m. at Wyoming United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mayflower Cemetery, Oxford Junction. Arrangements are in care of Lahey & Dawson Funeral Service, Wyoming.

Viola Violet Koranda was born Nov. 28, 1921, in Oxford Junction, the daughter of John and Alvena Pavlista Koranda. She started school in first grade at 4 years old, continuing academic excellence through high school graduation in 1938. She played the violin in the school orchestra, had the leading role in class plays and had many friends.

Viola married Harold Hodgden at the Little Brown Church on Sept. 8, 1938. They farmed near Oxford Junction, Massillon and Wheatland, and lived in Clarence for a brief time. They enjoyed their family of three children and rural Iowa activities: hunting, fishing, gardening, 4-H, dances, card parties, family reunions and hard work. The family moved to Wyoming in late 1956. Viola married Joe H. Kouba of Wyoming in 1985 and especially enjoyed their winters in Texas. She was proud of her Czech heritage.

Survivors include two daughters, Judith Nelson of New Port Richey, Fla., and Jeanne Kula and husband, Tom Merritt, of Redondo Beach, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Karenlynn Hurt of Springville, Kenneth Hodgden Jr., William Hodgden, Tom Hodgden and Lyle Hodgden, all of Minnesota, John Jones of Columbus, Ind., and David Jones of Land O' Lakes, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Carol Hodgden of Minnesota; and great- and great-great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold, in 1977; her husband, Joe, in 1999; her son, Kenneth Hodgden Sr.; grandson, James Hodgden; and brother, Lumir Koranda.

She was smart and funny, and will be missed.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.