Vera Isabelle Skank

Vera Skank, 95, of Oakland, IA, passed away at the Oakland Manor on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, May 5, 2014 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson with interment in the Farm Creek Cemetery near Henderson. Visitation is Sunday, May 4, 2014 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson.

Memorials: Oakland Manor or AseraCare Hospice - Council Bluffs.

OBITUARY
Vera Isabelle Skank, was born on a farm north of Carson, Iowa on June 17, 1918, one of seven children of Hettie Viola (Carlstedt) and William Earl Fritcher. She spent most of her childhood around the Carson and Henderson area and attended Henderson High School where she graduated in May 1936.

On graduation night following the ceremony, Vera and Alma Claude Skank walked to the Christian Church parsonage and were married by Rev. Slick. Rogene Skank, Alma's sister and Claude Holt witnessed the ceremony. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Harold Dean, Larry LaVern, and Jacquelyn Jean. Vera and Alma farmed for 20 years in the Henderson and Red Oak, Iowa areas before giving it up and moving to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1958. At this time, Alma's health began to fail. Vera found it necessary to start work at the First Corn States Laboratories and then worked for 10 years in Creighton Research for Dr. Hugh Phillips. In 1966, Vera worked at the Veterans Hospital as a lab assistant for 18 years.

Vera and Alma had been married 52 years when Alma died in 1988. Vera then worked at the Cogley Clinic for three years before retiring, selling her house in Council Bluffs, and moving to Carson to live near her son Larry and his wife Irene. Vera later moved to Oakland Heights in Oakland, Iowa. She passed away at the Oakland Manor in Oakland on May 1, 2014 at the age of 95 years, 10 months, and 14 days. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hettie Fritcher; husband Alma Skank; sons, Larry and Harold Skank; and siblings, Lois Magers, Earl Fritcher, Doris Procopio, Maxine Espinosa, Alice Hostetter, and Donald Fritcher.

Vera is survived by her daughter Jacquelyn Allensworth and husband John of Mesa, AZ; daughters-in-law, Frances Skank of Ames, IA, and Irene Skank of Carson; 12 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.