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Provorse, Arvis J.
Avis J. Provorse, 78, passed away March 20, 2011, at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Coralville. A memorial service will be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Belmond at noon April 2. Interment will follow at the adjoining cemetery.
Avis Jean Toftey was born April 1, 1932, in Kanawha, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Anna Toftey. She grew up on a nearby farm with her two older brothers and graduated from Kanawha High School. In 1953, Avis received her nursing degree from the University of Iowa. She married Bob Provorse in 1954 and they lived in Mount Vernon briefly before returning to work the family farm. During those years, Avis and Bob had three sons. They moved to Iowa City in 1964 so that Bob could complete graduate school.
In 1965, the family made their home in Sioux City, where Bob taught high school and coached several sports. They had a fourth son. Avis worked as a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital and at Marion Health in a drug rehabilitation program. Besides being a homemaker for four boys, Avis was an active community volunteer and belonged to book club and PEO. She was very involved at St. John Lutheran Church and also First Lutheran Church. For many years, she and Bob enjoyed spending their Christmas holidays in the Colorado Mountains with family. In 2003, her husband passed away. Avis moved to Iowa City in 2010 to be near her son, Jay, and his family.
A caring and unselfish person, Avis was a follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved sunshine, painting, flowers, good friends, and, most of all, her family. And they loved her.
Her family includes her sons, Bob (Jane) of Salida, Colo., Scott (Cindy) of Dillon, Colo., Bradd (Kasey) of Frisco, Colo., and Jay (Michelle) of Iowa City; and grandchildren, Joe, Katie (Pena), Ellen, Owen, Sam, Marlo, Lohman, Avery and Jameson Provorse.
Preceding her in death were her husband and her brothers, Abner and Bernard Toftey.
Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at
Arrangements are through Gay and Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City.
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