Viola Jane Harms peacefully passed away on January 6, 2011 at Panora Nursing and Rehabilitation in Panora, Iowa.
Vi, as she was known to friends and family, was born October 19, 1927, in the former town of Athelstan, Iowa in Taylor County. Vi attended country school for eight years and later attended Mary Dunning School for Girls in Bedford. Vi's folks sold the farm and she graduated from Shenandoah High School. Viola married her high school sweetheart, Lester Donald Harms, on February 23, 1946 in Clarinda, Iowa, following his discharge from the Army. She worked as a secretary for KMA and sang with her sister Margene on KFNF. Following 14 years of marriage, Vi decided to go back to college to become an LPN, first attending Iowa Western Community College and graduating from Jennie Edmundson in Council Bluffs. Viola and Lester chose two children, Karen Lynn and Michael Lloyd, to be part of their family while making their home in Shenandoah. Vi was an LPN at Hand Community Hospital and later retired after 35 years from Elm Heights Care Center in Shenandoah. After retirement she continued to work part-time for Our House Preschool.
A life-long caregiver, Vi was known for her compassion, commitment to the family, her faith and sense of humor. She especially loved decorating for the holidays which made their family house a home for all who entered. After Lester, her husband, passed away on
September 1, 2004, Vi moved to Fair Oaks in Shenandoah until she had a stroke. She spent the following years living at Panora Nursing and Rehab where she believed she was at home. She deeply cared for her family and even though her memory failed her in the final years, she always remembered the love of her life, Lester.
Preceding Vi in death were her husband, Lester; parents, Raymond and Ruby (Rusco) Treese; brother, George Treese; sisters, Gertrude DeMay and Margene Nicholas; niece, Amy (Nicholas) Rengstorf. Those left to cherish her memories are daughter, Karen Norton and her husband Greg of Ankeny, IA; son, Mike Harms and wife Dani of Shenandoah, IA; cherished grandchildren, Jeremy Norton of West Des Moines, IA, Jessica Norton of Waukee, IA, Matt Norton of Ames, IA, Sid Harms of Tarkio, MO, Sam Larson, Austin Larson and Zach Harms of Shenandoah, IA; step grandchildren, Jessica and Damian Mutchler; brother, Raymond Treese and wife Vera of Berea, KY; sister-in-law, Gloria Treese of Lincoln, NE; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and family friends.