Wilma Haveman

WILMA HAVEMAN

Marion

Wilma Haveman, 103, of Marion, passed away at home on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Funeral service at Cedar Memorial Chapel of

Memories in Cedar Rapids, The Rev. Dr. Nancy J. Redman officiating, Saturday, Nov. 13, visitation will be at

1 p.m. before the service at 1:30 p.m. and private burial service at 2 p.m.

Wilma is survived by two daughters, Jackie Haveman

of Marion and Vicky (Terry) Curtis of Coralville; also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jake (2014); parents; and sister.

Wilma was born to Nelle and Nils Nihlen in Aberdeen, S.D., a on May 29, 1918. Her father worked for the railroad and they moved frequently so Wilma attended many different schools. She graduated from Sioux City Central High School, where she worked on the yearbook with the Freedman twins (Dear Abby and Ann Landers). She graduated from NBT Business College in Sioux City. She married Jake in 1941 in Sioux City.

Jake served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II and Wilma worked at Argonne National Lab in Chicago. They moved to Cedar Rapids in 1946. Both daughters were born there. From 1954 to 1961 the family lived in Philadelphia and then moved back to Marion for Jake's work.

As a family, they took annual summer trips around the country and went to Worlds Fairs and our Presidential Libraries. Jake and Wilma traveled to other countries as part of Jake's work. They enjoyed winters in Palm Springs, Calif., for most of their retirement years.

Wilma was active many years at church as a choir mother, youth fellowship leader with Jake and Sunday school teacher. While in Philadelphia she was a Girl Scout leader. In Marion she was president of the Marion Women's Club and active in the group for many years, learning crafts and doing community projects. She enjoyed volunteering for Linn-Mar Choir bus trips and PTA activities.

She enjoyed volunteering in Human Resources at Mercy Hospital for 23 years and made many friends there. She was also a member of the American Legion and Mercy Auxiliary.

Wilma enjoyed being a homemaker and a mother. She was known for her baking and canning skills and the craft projects she gave away to others. Jake grew prize winning tomatoes and Wilma enjoyed canning them. Wilma and Jake followed the Iowa Hawkeyes. They attended every football game in and out of town for many years.

Many neighbors and their dogs came to visit, Beth and Zoomba; Val, Roger and Mitchie; Tom and Callie; and Jerry and Buddy.

Also special thank-you to the Home Instead staff in particular Barb who helped Wilma for three years.

Memorials may be contributed to First Presbyterian Church in Marion, Iowa, or Granger House Museum in Marion, Iowa.

Online condolences may be left for the family at cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.