YeVon Zismer

YeVon E. Zismer passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on April 4, 2017. Celebration of her life will be held at Lahey Funeral Home on April 10, 2017 with visitation two hours preceding services at 11:00 a.m. with her Pastor Nathan Combs officiating. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery.

YeVon was born, oldest of 11 children to Otto and Rowena (Speights) Barnes on October 9, 1921 in Arkansas moving to Oklahoma in a covered wagon as a small child, where she lived until she moved to California as a young wife and Mother.

She married Oren W. Dees on June 21, 1940. To this union a daughter and son was born. He preceded her in death in 1976.

She later married John W. Zismer on November 13, 1957. Moving with him to Delmar, Iowa in March 1959 where they farmed until buying the commercial property at the newly founded Leisure Lake in 1968 where they had a grocery store, dance hall and restaurant. They later sold this business and moved back to Maquoketa in 1976 where she worked in many restaurants as a cook and was head cook at Sacred Heart School for eight years, a job she thoroughly enjoyed and talked often of the students she served.

She taught many classes of painting, sewing, crochet, knitting, etc. in local schools. In 2013 she had the honor of being chosen as Grace Tubbs Volunteer of the Year, being nominated by the Monmouth Quilters, receiving many honors, one which was meeting and receiving her award from the governor of Iowa. She was involved with the Legion Auxiliary, Maquoketa Garden Club, Historical Society, Maquoketa Quilt Guild, Monmouth Quilters and starting the sewing group Honeybee’s in her church (Faith Community) where she was a member.

She enjoyed gardening and had huge gardens both vegetable and flowers and kept her family and friends well supplied. One year she canned over 400 quarts of produce by herself. She was a great fisherman catching “tons” of fish that she enjoyed giving away. She enjoyed hard work and gave all her best.

She is survived by a daughter Aurilla Stormes of Clinton, a son Kenneth Dees of Maquoketa, granddaughter Glenda Stormes-Bice (Andrew) of Ames, Iowa, great-granddaughter Jennifer Naeve of Boone, Iowa, one brother and two sisters from California, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents, both husbands, 4 brothers, 3 sisters, a son-in-law Glenn, and granddaughter Ginger YeVon.

Memorials may be made to Jackson County Hospice, who has our deepest thanks for their compassionate hearts and comforting hands. A special thanks to Ruth and Alliza who cared for her so tenderly as she made ready to greet Jesus, her Lord and Savior. Other memorials may be made to Faith Community Church “Honeybees” which is now lead by her good friend Francie Good.

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