In Memory of Velda Hemer Pierson

Velda Hemer Pierson, age 97, formerly of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on August 31, 2015.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Reverend Richard A. Salcido will officiate. Inurnment will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com
 

Velda Hertha Martha Schug was born March 9, 1918 to Otto and Alma Schug at their farm home in Grant Township near Ida Grove, Iowa. Four older brothers, Walter, Herman, Arthur, and Erwin and two older sisters, Minnie and Rose welcomed her into the family. Velda was baptized on 31 March 1918 and confirmed on 29 March 1931 in Trinity Lutheran Church in Grant Township. She grew up on the farm and attended country school. Her younger years were during the tough economic times of the Great Depression.

Velda married LeRoy W. Hemer in June 1936 and they began raising a family in Ida Grove, IA.  They had two sons, Ronald J. Hemer and Victor L. Hemer. When WW II began in 1941, LeRoy contributed to the war effort by building bomber aircraft at the Martin Bomber Plant in Omaha, NE. The family lived there until the war ended in 1945 and then moved back to Ida Grove.  They bought a house at 500 Barnes Street where Velda loved to work in her large garden full of flowers and vegetables. When her boys became more self-sufficient, Velda began working outside of the home. Over the years, she worked for Paulsen Produce, Hansen Photography, the Ida County Court House, and Horn Memorial Hospital.

Her husband, LeRoy Hemer, died in Nov 1966 of cancer. Velda continued living and working in Ida Grove for five more years and then moved to White Bear Lake, MN where her son Ronald and his family lived.  Velda became employed by the municipality of Arden Hills. She led an active social life and within a short time she met Albert Pierson. They both had lost their spouses and had a lot in common. They married in Dec of 1974 and resided in Circle Pines MN where they were active members of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church of Circle Pines. Together they enjoyed traveling overseas and in the States and enjoyed life, gardening, fishing, golfing, bowling, playing cards, etc.  After retiring from their jobs, Velda and Albert spent approximately two and a half months in Tucson, AZ each winter for the next 23 years, where Velda’s son, Victor and his family lived.

After a brief illness Albert died in December 2002. Velda continued to live in their house in Circle Pines for another two years and then moved to a retirement home in White Bear Lake. She enjoyed the life style there but within two years, declining health forced her to move to a nursing home. She remained active, participating in bingo, cards, group outings and she maintained a small garden of flowers and vegetables. She loved to watch game shows on TV and she was an ardent fan of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings.

Velda joined her Lord and Savior on August 31, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and sisters, her two husbands and many of her friends and relatives. She is survived by her two sons Ronald (Connie) and Victor (Darlene) Hemer, four grandchildren, Amy, Michael, Holly and Nick and five great grandchildren and numerous relatives.