- Born on: January 30, 1927
- Departed on: December 29, 2016
- Resided in: Maquoketa, IA
Virginia Powelka
Virginia Lee (Busch) Powelka, 89, of Maquoketa left this earthly journey for her eternal home with God on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the 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 on January 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 at Bliss Psychiatric Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
Virginia took pride in a career as a Registered Nurse for over 30 years. After retiring from nursing, Virginia and 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, 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, Colorado; Madison, Minnesota, and Maquoketa. They also live 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, her first born (premature) and granddaughter Ashlee Marie Powelka, daughter of John and Sheila. Besides being survived by her husband, children and numerous grand and great grand children, she has one surviving sister, Adabelle Myatt of Maquoketa and Bettendorf, IA.
Per her request, cremation rights have been accorded and a short prayer service will be held on at 12:00 noon on January 28, 2017 at Lisbon United Methodist Church, 200 E Market St, Lisbon, IA followed by lunch and a Celebration of Virginia’s Life. In lieu of flowers Virginia has asked that any memorials are directed to your choice of Children’s Hospitals.
Virginia was born on January 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 at Bliss Psychiatric Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
Virginia took pride in a career as a Registered Nurse for over 30 years. After retiring from nursing, Virginia and 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, 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, Colorado; Madison, Minnesota, and Maquoketa. They also live 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, her first born (premature) and granddaughter Ashlee Marie Powelka, daughter of John and Sheila. Besides being survived by her husband, children and numerous grand and great grand children, she has one surviving sister, Adabelle Myatt of Maquoketa and Bettendorf, IA.
Per her request, cremation rights have been accorded and a short prayer service will be held on at 12:00 noon on January 28, 2017 at Lisbon United Methodist Church, 200 E Market St, Lisbon, IA followed by lunch and a Celebration of Virginia’s Life. In lieu of flowers Virginia has asked that any memorials are directed to your choice of Children’s Hospitals.
