Marjorie ‘Midge’ Vannatta of Rippey

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A Celebration of Life service for Marjorie Vannatta, 87, of Rippey will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Rippey Methodist Church. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, with family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Rippery Methodist Church.

Marjorie died Jan. 16, 2019, at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines, Iowa.

Marjorie was born Aug. 8, 1931, in a farmhouse outside of La Porte City, Iowa, to Robert and Marguerite (Leaming) Bryan. She was the youngest of four siblings, Robert Jr., Pat and John.

Midge had perfect pitch and could play practically any instrument by ear. The family farm had milk cows, and her parents exchanged a gallon of milk per music lesson for Midge.

When Midge was 2 years old, their house had a chimney fire. It was winter, and the kids were bundled up and locked in the corn crib for their safety.

Midge attended country schools in the La Porte City area until 1942, when the family moved to a farm outside of Dawson.

Her parents would reward hard work with occasional trips to Riverview Amusement Park in Des Moines. The family had a cabin on Myrtle Lake in Minnesota and Midge looked forward to spending time there. In fact, the entire family has spent many vacations and honeymoons at that location.

She attended Dawson Community High School, where she played basketball. Iowa girls played six-on-six in those days. Each year the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union sponsored a free throw competition in Des Moines, and Midge qualified to participate.

Midge graduated in 1949 and was offered a basketball scholarship at the AIB College of Business in Des Moines, but her parents didn’t want her to travel so far from home.

Midge attended State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls for one year prior to working as a secretary at the Woodward State Hospital in Woodward.

One of Midge’s favorite memories was attending church fundraisers where picnic lunches were auctioned off. Her fried chicken, potato salad and cherry pie were always popular.

Midge and John Grow were married in the Dawson United Brethren Church.

Besides working hard as a farmwife, Midge was actively involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, playing games, basketball, music, vacations in Minnesota, babysitting and childcare.

Midge and John were divorced in 1995. Later she met and began dating a local farmer, and in 1997 she and Ben Vannatta were married in the Rippey Methodist Church and lived on their farm northwest of Perry.

Midge’s hobbies included painting, fishing, cooking and playing cards. Her favorites were Bridge and Hand and Foot.

She volunteered her musical talent, playing piano at churches and choirs, nursing homes and events in the Dawson and Rippey area. She played for the Rebekahs, a service organization, and she composed her own music for the Rebekahs March.

Midge unselfishly gave both food and money to those in need. She was an excellent example of using God’s gifts to help others.

Wisdom that Midge would pass on to others is “leave the room better than you found it.”

Midge had a kind and gentle heart. The thing she loved and valued the most in her life was her family.

In death, she rejoins her parents, Robert and Marguerite Bryan; and brothers, Bob Jr. and John.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 21 years, Ben Vannatta from the Rowley Masonic Community in Perry; her sister, Pat Girton of Ames; three children, Pat (Steve) McPherson of Perry, Doug (Pam) Grow of Rippey and Jeff (Lori) Grow of Rippey; eight  grandchildren, Margie (Darian) Braun of West Des Moines and sons, Barrett and Colt, Kristen McPherson of Perry, Bryan (Tammi) Grow of Maryville, Mo., with daughters, Bryna and Kora, Jason (Lindsay) Grow of Bondurant with children, Jaxon, Kamsyn and Quinton, Kelly (Ryan) Napoli of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Jenni (Brandon) Lauer of Perry with children, Alyssa, Cameren and Weston, Myschelle (Matt) Silbaugh of Jefferson with daughters, Matilynn and Macy, and Melissa (Luke) Gannon with sons, Landon and Braylon.

Hastings Funeral Home in Perry is in charge of arrangements.

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