Van Nevel, Frances Jeanne

Frances Jeanne Van Nevel, 78, of Victor, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, at Brooklyn Community Estates in Brooklyn. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor, with the Rev. Brian Shepley officiating. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor. A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. and a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m. The family will be present from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Victor.

Memorials may be directed to the Jeanne Van Nevel Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.

Jeanne was born on Sept. 28, 1934, to John and Mildred (Keefe) Wentland in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm near Hartwick. She graduated with the class of 1953 from Hartwick High School. Jeanne was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridget Catholic Church. Following graduation, she was employed as a telephone operator in Cedar Rapids. On May 21, 1955, Jeanne was united in marriage to Donald J. Van Nevel at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor.

She was a joyful, active housewife who devoted herself to raising her five children.

Jeanne was devoted to St. Bridget Catholic Church and active with St. Bridget's Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a participating member in the Victor American Legion Auxiliary and the Red Hats.

Jeanne is survived by her husband of 58 years, Donald; five children, Peggy (Dan) Weisskopf of Victor, Steven (Vicki) Van Nevel of Brooklyn, Patricia (Damon) Carter of The Villages, Fla., Pamela (Todd) Emerson of Belle Plaine and Scott (Lanette) Van Nevel of Terrebonne, Ore.; sisters, Kay (Wayland) Herzberg and Marcella Van Nevel; brother, Mike (Dixie) Wentland; grandchildren, Matthew (Stacia) Weisskopf, Brett (Danielle) Weisskopf, Chad Weisskopf and fiancee Vanessa Houser, Elizabeth (Dennis) Clark, Dustan (Cecelie) Van Nevel, Grace (Colton) Opperman, Tara (Josiah) Mullins, Jamie (Nick) Wille, Kyle (Megan) Bazyn, Nolan Van Nevel, Julia Van Nevel and Renee Van Nevel; and 16 great-grandchildren, Drew, Derek, Dylan, Devon, Cale, Belle, Laynie, Katie, Shyla, Alayna, Raelyn, Hunter, Alivia, Siena, Sophia and Sydney.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Jason Weisskopf; sister, JoAnn Miller; and brother, John Wentland Jr.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 21, 2013.