Armella Venteicher, 94, of Arcadia, died Sunday, January 18, 2015, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. The Celebrant will be Fr. Richard Remmes. Mass servers will be Jared Vollstedt, Grant Sibenaller and Austin Sibenaller. Music will be by Darlene Leiting and the St. John’s Choir. Lectors will be Justin Riesberg, and Jeremy Haubrich. Gift Bearers will be Tammy Cline, Robin Fynaardt, and Julie Summers. Eucharistic Minister will be Steve Vollstedt. Honorary Casket bearers will be Jill Bruch, Janell Vollstedt, Wendy Sibenaller, Tanya Nelson, Heather Frideres, Kristy Frideres, Amanda Dohse, Erich Riesenberg, and Tina Brill. Casket bearers will be Todd Venteicher, Aaron Haubrich, Matt Riesberg, Pat Venteicher, Jamie Venteicher, Curt Riesberg, Kyle Haubrich, and Chris Venteicher. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The St. John’s Christian Mothers, Arcadia American Legion Auxiliary, and the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a Christian Mother’s Rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Armella’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on December 20, 1920 on the family century farm home near Arcadia, Iowa, Armella was the daughter of Ben and Elvira (Schroeder) Haverkamp. She was baptized in St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia by Fr. M. Stork. Armella grew up in the Arcadia and Halbur area. She attended school at St. John’s in Arcadia, and St. Augustine in Halbur.
On November 28, 1939 Armella was united in marriage to Leonard Venteicher, the son of Herman and Catherine (Kraus) Venteicher, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. After their marriage the couple resided near Arcadia where Armella was a devoted homemaker and helped with the farming operation. Armella was active in many community activities in Arcadia. She was a past president of the St. John’s Christian Mothers, past president of the Arcadia American Legion Auxiliary, and past president of the Senior Citizens of Arcadia. She enjoyed her many hobbies, such as gardening, traveling, quilting, and baking, where she loved to bake and decorate many birthday and communion cakes. Most of all Armella enjoyed her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the most.
Left to celebrate Armella’s life are her children: Gary (Betty) Venteicher of Carroll, Judie (Gary) Frideres of Ankeny, Sharon Secrist of West Des Moines, Nancy (Gene) Riesberg of Arcadia, and Cindy (Mike) Haubrich of Arcadia; 22 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-laws: Lorraine Irlbeck of Templeton, and Colette (Otmar) Fischer of Algona; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Armella was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leonard in 1993, son-in-law, Morris Secrist, great-great granddaughter, Talia Bruch, her siblings Merle Haverkamp, Donnabelle Bellinghausen, Marjean Nees, and Merton Haverkamp.
