Virginia Powelka

VIRGINIA L. POWELKA

Maquoketa

Virginia Lee (Busch) Powelka, 89, of Maquoketa, left this earthly journey for her eternal home with God on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion. She will be missed by all of her family and friends for her quick wit and humor.

Virginia was born Jan. 30, 1927, the daughter of William and Daisy (Wilcox) Busch in Maquoketa. She grew up there and attended Maquoketa High School, graduating in 1945. Following high school, she entered the Cadet Nurses Corps at St. Luke's Hospital in Davenport and was a member of the last class supported by the Army. She did residencies at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Bliss Psychiatric Hospital in St. Louis.

Virginia took pride in a career as a registered nurse for over 30 years. After retiring from nursing, Virginia and her husband, Leroy, owned and operated Maquoketa Nursery Sales in Maquoketa for 15 years. During that time, Virginia became the first female certified nurseryman in Iowa, passing on her first attempt!

Virginia was united in marriage with Leroy Powelka on June 22, 1948. Together, they established a family of five children: Joseph (Diane) Powelka, John (Sheila) Powelka, Mike (Joan) Powelka, Cindy (Ed) Storm and Alice (Mel) Hanson. Those five children provided their parents with 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. They raised their children in Lakewood, Colo., Madison, Minn., and Maquoketa. They also lived for a while in, appropriately, Virginia, with their son, John, and his family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Agnes Paulsen; and her firstborn (premature) granddaughter, Ashlee Marie Powelka, daughter of John and Sheila.

Besides being survived by her husband, children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she has one surviving sister, Adabelle Myatt, of Maquoketa and Bettendorf.

Per her request, cremation rights have been accorded and a short prayer service will be held at noon Jan. 28 at Lisbon United Methodist Church, 200 E. Market St., Lisbon, followed by lunch and a celebration of Virginia's life.

In lieu of flowers, Virginia has asked that any memorials be directed to your choice of children's hospitals.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.