Virginia Munier Beach
November 4, 1925 — June 13, 2019
Virginia Munier Beach, 93, a life-long resident of Marion, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019, after a major stroke. Family will greet friends and family from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2019, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the funeral home with Vicki Standley officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Virginia Belle Munier was born on November 4th, 1925, in Marion, Iowa, the youngest of four children born to George and Margaret (Starks) Munier. Virginia’s mother was ill for many years and died when Virginia was 15.Virginia graduated from Marion High School in 1943. On January 24th, 1946, she married a neighbor boy, Robert Beach, in the parlor of her father’s Marion home and joined Robert on his farm east of Marion.
Robert was a life-long farmer in the Marion area and she treasured being a farmer’s wife. Their son, Alan, was born on Virginia’s 21st birthday and their daughter, Joyce, was born four years later. In 1958, the family moved to a farm on North Alburnett Rd that was purchased by her grandfather Munier in 1860, from the original homesteader.
Virginia went to work for First National Bank in Marion in 1964, and was employed there for 15 years. She was Assistant Cashier and made many life-long friends through her work experience. In 1980, after Robert suffered a heart attack, Virginia chose early retirement in order to assist him on their farm.
In their 42 years together, Robert and Virginia – whom he called “Ginny” -- enjoyed sight-seeing on pickup rides around the countryside, numerous vacations to Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, and Branson Missouri, and attending countless Beach and Munier family gatherings.
Robert passed away in 1988. Virginia remained on the family farm for many years before suffering a serious fall in 2007, that caused her to move to The Villages of Marion independent and assisted-living complex. Virginia celebrated her 90th birthday at an open house at the Lowe Park Center in November 2015, with over 120 family and friends in attendance. Thank you to all who took the time to stop by as she appreciated it so much.
After her first stroke in 2016, Virginia has resided at Northbrook Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Her family is extremely grateful for the excellent care and kindness she received from the Northbrook Manor staff as well as UnityPoint Hospice.
We will always remember Virginia’s love of horses, dalmatian dogs, country music, dancing at the Walford Ponderosa, playing cards (particularly “500”), doing crosswords, and engaging in countless phone chats with all her precious family and friends of all ages. Through the years, scores of people who weren’t even related to her called her mom, aunt and grandmother!
Virginia leaves behind her daughter, Joyce (Rick) Maddux of Marion; her son, Alan (Diane) Beach of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who she was very close to, Vicki (Christopher) Conaway of Marion and their children Alyssa and Chase, Bart (Annette) Glowacki of Marion and their children Carly, Ashly, Haily, & Lilly, and Lori (Jim) Kopatich of Shawnee, Kansas and their children Evan, Thomas, & Jenna.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; two brothers, Theodore (Daisy) Munier, and Harold (Evelyn) Munier; one sister, Mary (Austin) Coons; brothers-in-law, Howard (Mae), Marvin (Ruth) and Ralph; and sister-in-law Esther (Carl) Reynold; as well as four nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the “Friendship Fund” at First United Methodist in Marion, or the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia’s memory.
Virginia Belle Munier was born on November 4th, 1925, in Marion, Iowa, the youngest of four children born to George and Margaret (Starks) Munier. Virginia’s mother was ill for many years and died when Virginia was 15.Virginia graduated from Marion High School in 1943. On January 24th, 1946, she married a neighbor boy, Robert Beach, in the parlor of her father’s Marion home and joined Robert on his farm east of Marion.
Robert was a life-long farmer in the Marion area and she treasured being a farmer’s wife. Their son, Alan, was born on Virginia’s 21st birthday and their daughter, Joyce, was born four years later. In 1958, the family moved to a farm on North Alburnett Rd that was purchased by her grandfather Munier in 1860, from the original homesteader.
Virginia went to work for First National Bank in Marion in 1964, and was employed there for 15 years. She was Assistant Cashier and made many life-long friends through her work experience. In 1980, after Robert suffered a heart attack, Virginia chose early retirement in order to assist him on their farm.
In their 42 years together, Robert and Virginia – whom he called “Ginny” -- enjoyed sight-seeing on pickup rides around the countryside, numerous vacations to Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, and Branson Missouri, and attending countless Beach and Munier family gatherings.
Robert passed away in 1988. Virginia remained on the family farm for many years before suffering a serious fall in 2007, that caused her to move to The Villages of Marion independent and assisted-living complex. Virginia celebrated her 90th birthday at an open house at the Lowe Park Center in November 2015, with over 120 family and friends in attendance. Thank you to all who took the time to stop by as she appreciated it so much.
After her first stroke in 2016, Virginia has resided at Northbrook Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Her family is extremely grateful for the excellent care and kindness she received from the Northbrook Manor staff as well as UnityPoint Hospice.
We will always remember Virginia’s love of horses, dalmatian dogs, country music, dancing at the Walford Ponderosa, playing cards (particularly “500”), doing crosswords, and engaging in countless phone chats with all her precious family and friends of all ages. Through the years, scores of people who weren’t even related to her called her mom, aunt and grandmother!
Virginia leaves behind her daughter, Joyce (Rick) Maddux of Marion; her son, Alan (Diane) Beach of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who she was very close to, Vicki (Christopher) Conaway of Marion and their children Alyssa and Chase, Bart (Annette) Glowacki of Marion and their children Carly, Ashly, Haily, & Lilly, and Lori (Jim) Kopatich of Shawnee, Kansas and their children Evan, Thomas, & Jenna.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; two brothers, Theodore (Daisy) Munier, and Harold (Evelyn) Munier; one sister, Mary (Austin) Coons; brothers-in-law, Howard (Mae), Marvin (Ruth) and Ralph; and sister-in-law Esther (Carl) Reynold; as well as four nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the “Friendship Fund” at First United Methodist in Marion, or the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia’s memory.
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