Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial for Marjorie Ann VenHorst, 85, a resident of Bettendorf, will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 4, 2012, at Our Lady of the River Catholic Church, 28200 – 226th Street Place, LeClaire, Iowa. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. The family will greet friends Sunday, June 3rd, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Halligan – McCabe – DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, downtown, Davenport. There will be additional visitation at the church Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services.
Marjorie passed Wednesday May 30, 2012, a year after losing the love of her life, Ralph. He preceded her in death on May 15, 2011. She was the nurturing spirit of their family of twelve children. As her health declined, her quick wit and sense of humor never left her. She maintained her smile and words of wisdom that her children, their spouses, and grandkids will always cherish.
Marjorie was born in August 5, 1926 to John Henry and Edna Christine (Brehmer) Schnoor on the family farm in northeast Davenport. She attended Fairview No. 3 one room school house before advancing to Sudlow and Davenport High School, from which she graduated in 1944. She worked as a bookkeeper for Iowana Farms Dairy in Bettendorf until 1948. Marge and Ralph married in June of 1948 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bettendorf. She met Ralph at a 4-H dance; and in her words, this really cute guy with a light in his eyes tapped her on her shoulder…. and they danced and they danced.
Marge was rightfully proud of the clothes she made for herself and her children from prom dresses to play clothes and the meals she cooked with homemade breads and desserts. She enjoyed working election polls, being a 4-H leader, playing cards, and being a member of the Farm Bureau Women. She supported her kid’s athletic teams at Pleasant Valley High School by being an active Booster and also a member of the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation. In retirement, one of her great joys was traveling as she and Ralph completed their goal of visiting all 50 states and Europe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Valley Education Foundation or the American Heart Association.
Survivors include her 12 children: Jackie (Ron) Lawrence, Danville, CA, Ron (Jane) VenHorst, Bettendorf, Jeanne (Dennis) Hambleton, Davenport, Joyce (Greg) Voelcker, San Jose, CA, Roy (Carol) VenHorst, Bettendorf, Paul (Sandy) VenHorst, Bettendorf, Peggy (Peter) Rogers, Marshalltown, IA, Polly (David) Green, Dallas, TX, Donna (Perry) Rodriguez, Pleasanton, CA, Shirley (Basil) Christopoulos, Piedmont, CA, Bette (Steve) Lombardi, Mill Valley, CA, Patty (Nic) Towle, Reno, NV. Ralph and Marge had 37 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
She also leaves her sisters, Mildred (Harry) VenHorst, Bettendorf, Arlene (Jack) Holst, DeWitt, Dorothy (Bob) Schlapkohl, Durant, and brother, Robert (Norma) Schnoor, Davenport. She also leaves sisters-in law Sister Marie VenHorst, CHM and Marjorie VenHorst, and brother-in-law Herman (Sally) VenHorst, all of Bettendorf. Her 31 nieces and nephews were also part of her family circle.
The family thanks Marge’s doctors along with the care staffs at the Fountains of Bettendorf, and the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House who returned the comfort and care she deserved after her many years of caring for so many.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Mrs. VenHorst’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
