Virginia M. Valant (Zuhlke)
December 17, 1917 — June 30, 2011
Virginia M. Valant, 93, passed away peacefully at Northbrook Manor, surrounded by her family on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2011, at St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church by Father Thomas McDermott. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial: St. John’s Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.
She is survived by her 5 children, Mary (Dean) Havel, Rita Rummells, Michael (Bev) Valant, all of Cedar Rapids, Nancy (Steve) Hess of Kansas City and Patrick (Kathy) Valant of Dyersville; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; a sister, Shirley (Joe) Machovec of Concord, California; two nieces, three great nieces and a great nephew.
Virginia was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on December 17, 1917, to Fred and Margaret (Murray) Zuhlke. She was raised by her mother (Marie) and stepfather, John Pettera. Growing up she lived in many cities throughout Wisconsin including Racine, Janesville and also in Chicago, Illinois. Her family made their way to Prairie du Chien with John purchasing the Cabinet Works there and starting the Rose Garden Tourist Court and the famous Rose Park Zoo. Virginia and her family spent many days helping her parents out at the zoo.
She married Francis Valant on September 25, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa. Together they moved their family to Cedar Rapids in 1950. Virginia was a full time homemaker and was a long time member of St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years in 1998 and her parents and son-in-law, David Rummells.
We wish to thank the American Red Cross and Task Force Red Bulls, Iowa National Guard, for getting her son Patrick home from Afghanistan in time to spend her final days with him. Also, thanks to Northbrook Manor staff and Hospice of Mercy for their care in her final days.
Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross, Hospice of Mercy, St. Ludmila’s Church-building fund or JDRF.
She is survived by her 5 children, Mary (Dean) Havel, Rita Rummells, Michael (Bev) Valant, all of Cedar Rapids, Nancy (Steve) Hess of Kansas City and Patrick (Kathy) Valant of Dyersville; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; a sister, Shirley (Joe) Machovec of Concord, California; two nieces, three great nieces and a great nephew.
Virginia was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on December 17, 1917, to Fred and Margaret (Murray) Zuhlke. She was raised by her mother (Marie) and stepfather, John Pettera. Growing up she lived in many cities throughout Wisconsin including Racine, Janesville and also in Chicago, Illinois. Her family made their way to Prairie du Chien with John purchasing the Cabinet Works there and starting the Rose Garden Tourist Court and the famous Rose Park Zoo. Virginia and her family spent many days helping her parents out at the zoo.
She married Francis Valant on September 25, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa. Together they moved their family to Cedar Rapids in 1950. Virginia was a full time homemaker and was a long time member of St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years in 1998 and her parents and son-in-law, David Rummells.
We wish to thank the American Red Cross and Task Force Red Bulls, Iowa National Guard, for getting her son Patrick home from Afghanistan in time to spend her final days with him. Also, thanks to Northbrook Manor staff and Hospice of Mercy for their care in her final days.
Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross, Hospice of Mercy, St. Ludmila’s Church-building fund or JDRF.
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