Vera Dunn

Vera Esther Dunn, 99, of Colby, died August 13, 2014 at Citizens Medical Center, Colby. She was born July 10, 1915 in Coulter, IA to John and Emma (Ahrens) Vogel, the 7th of 10 children. She moved with her family to Blanchard, IA in the early 30’s on the train. Early in her life Vera worked for families in the area helping with cooking, cleaning, and care giving. These were skills well taught by her mother and ones she used throughout her life.

She later moved to California where she worked in a munitions plant that made shell casings used in World War II. While in California Vera met “Sam” Wiley and a short time later they were married. The couple relocated to Nebraska, where Larry was born in 1948, and then to Phillipsburg, KS where Vera worked as a clerk in a drug store. Sam Passed away in December of 1969. A few years later Vera married Lloyd Dunn and moved to Denver, CO where she worked at a Plastic Manufacturing Company until Lloyd’s death. After moving to Colby 13 years ago, she enjoyed being close to family and socializing over many pots of coffee and pot luck dinners with friends at the Meadow Lark Housing Association. She lived independently to the age of 99.

Vera was preceded in death by her husbands C.A. (Sam) Wiley and Lloyd Dunn; her parents; 6 sisters, Lena Rathman, Frieda (died in infancy), Flora (Dolly) Dorhman, Alma Winger, Fern Edwards, and Helen Cato; 3 brothers, Walter, Leonard and Lewis Vogel; and step-daughters, Barbara Helm and Peggy Bobinmyer.

She is survived by her son, Larry (Marilla) Wiley, Colby; step-daughter, Marge (Duane) Rousselle, Bartlesville, OK; grandchildren, Monte (Tara) Wiley, Minot, ND, and Carrie (Dan) Willems, Haysville, KS; great grandchildren, Ethan and Katelyn Wiley and Bella and Dexter Willems; step-grandchildren, Sandra Ben, Alan Rousselle, Kent and Randy Helm, Terri Duncan, Mary Jo, J.D. and Chuck Bobinmyer; 13 step-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Interment will take place at a later time in Iowa. Memorials are suggested to Celebration Community Church, Colby in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.