Eunice M. Mccollough

Eunice Mae McCollough, daughter of Soren and Florence (Hamann) Rasmussen, was born March 12, 1924 near Manilla, Iowa in Nishnabotna Township. She was baptized on May 4, 1924 and later confirmed in 1937 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla. Eunice was raised around the Vail and Manilla area where she went to country school and later attended Vail High School where she graduated with the class of 1941. After high school, she worked for a short period of time in Denison.On October 8, 1944, Eunice was united in marriage to Dick McCollough. To this union six children were born: Joseph who died in infancy, Elaine, Judy, Janice, Paul and Linda. She later joined the Vail Presbyterian Church in 1972 where she was active for many years serving as church secretary for thirty-seven years. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Women serving in various offices. Her church life was a very important part of her life. She was active with Dick in Farm Bureau as well as with the Farm Bureau Women serving as Chairman for many years. She was also a member of the Friendly Homemakers until it disbanded in 2010.In later years, Eunice enjoyed being outside working with her flowers and yard. She was an avid painter, especially landscape scenes on antique saw blades. She was a loving, devoted and compassionate wife, mother and grandmother. Her Christian faith lived strong in her heart as she never said anything negative about anyone she encountered in life.Eunice moved to the Eventide Senior Housing in February of 2011 and this is where she died on March 20, 2017, eight days after her ninety-third birthday. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Dick, infant son Joseph, son-in-law Dave Bell, brother Francis and his wife Mary Jean Rasmussen and her in-laws: Earl, Harold, Clyde, Mary Alice, Pearl, Bonnie and Violet.Eunice is survived by her children: Elaine and her husband Marko Georgeou of California; Judy and her husband Doug Gronau of Vail, Iowa; Janice Bell of Dubuque, Iowa; Paul McCollough of Verona, Missouri and Linda of Minnesota; grandchildren: Andrea Gronau of Ames, Iowa, Greg Gronau from Denison, Iowa, Todd Gronau from Westside, Iowa, Troy Gronau and his wife Jessie from Algona, Iowa and Trian Georgeou and his fiancé Amber of California; great grandchildren: Dayton, Brody and Drake Gronau; sisters-in-law Jeanette McCollough and Lois McCollough both of Denison; brother-in-law Gerald Jensen; nieces and nephews other relatives and many friends.Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2017 at United Presbyterian Church, Vail, Iowa with Rev. Kevin Freese officiating. Soloist was Rick Powell singing “”Amazing Grace”, “Wind Beneath My Wings”, and “Love Me”. Ruth Noelck served as organist. Pallbearers were Greg Gronau, Todd Gronau, Troy Gronau, Steve McCollough, Rick Rasmussen, and Roger Rasmussen. Following the graveside rites and burial at Vail Cemetery, Vail, Iowa, the family invited everyone to return to the church for fellowship and a luncheon provided by Lidderdale Catering and United Presbyterian Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , was in charge of arrangements. A visitation was held at the church from 9:00 a.m. until time of service on Friday, March 24, 2017. Memorials may be made to the Vail Fire Dept., Eventide, or Vail United Presbyterian Church.