Grace Irene Larson Obituary in Ankeny at Memorial Services of Iowa

Obituary For Grace Irene Larson

Grace Irene Larson, 101, passed away January 23, 2025, at The Village in Indianola, Iowa, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.) with visitation an hour prior starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Ankeny Memorial Gardens.

Grace was born January 20, 1924, near Curlew, Iowa, to Emile and Leah Matthiesen. She grew up on the family farm with her parents and six siblings.

Grace graduated from Curlew High School, Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing in Des Moines, and St. Mary’s School of Anesthesia in Duluth, Minnesota. She worked as a nurse anesthetist at hospitals in Fort Dodge, Ames, and Des Moines, retiring from Broadlawns Medical Center in 1984.

On May 19, 1949, Grace married John Larson. They began married life on a farm near Fort Dodge, Iowa, later moving to Story City and then Ankeny. They were blessed with two daughters, Sonja Rae and Janet Kay. They were married for 45 years until John’s death in 1994. Grace continued to live in Ankeny until 2005 when she moved to The Village Retirement Community in Indianola, Iowa.

Grace was a charter member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ankeny. She was a faithful and active member while she lived in Ankeny. Her faith was very important to her.

Grace loved music and was a talented pianist and organist. She also loved animals, especially cats. In her spare time, she liked to bake and crochet. She made wonderful cookies and cinnamon rolls and crocheted many afghans. Family was very important to her, especially her grandchildren. She adored them.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, Michael Mooberry; and all her siblings, Harry Matthiesen, Fern Stoltz, Gladys Johnson, Catherine Seagren, Mirriam Triggs, Homer Matthiesen, and Carolyn Matthiesen (infant).

She is survived by her daughters, Sonja Mooberry and Janet (Michael) Briggs; grandchildren, Thomas Briggs (Angela Berenz) and Laura (Matthew) Hempel; step-grandchildren, Michelle Mooberry and Pam (Tom) Noack; great-grandchildren, Cameron Briggs, Caitlyn Briggs, Julia Hempel, and Ethan Hempel; and step-great-grandchildren, Ashley (Zach) Vielhauer, Riley McCombs, Joah Noack, and Justus Noack.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Willows Memory Care Unit of The Village and Wesley Life Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care of Grace.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Food Bank of Iowa or the charity of your choice.

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