Obituary

Verlene Mangels
August 28, 1928 - March 6, 2008

Verlene Mangels

Verlene Mangels
Aug 28, 1928 - Mar 6, 2008

Verlene Mangels
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Verlene Mary (Dow) Mangels died Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines. Services will be Monday, March 10 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ames at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Al Aiton officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday, March 9 from 5 to 7 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. Burial will take place at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Verlene was born on August 28, 1928 in Greeley, IA. She was one of five children born to Huse and Esther Dow. The family moved to Iowa City in 1943. She graduated from Iowa City High School in May 1945 and began work at a local insurance agency, further education being out of the question due to her father's sudden death in 1944. She joined the staff of the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce in 1946 and worked there until 1953.
In 1953 Verlene married 2nd Lt. Donald K. Mangels in Santa Maria, CA. She had met Don in Iowa City while he was a student there. For the next twenty four years Verlene accompanied Don as he moved from base to base during his Air Force career. They lived in Japan, Washington, California, Arizona, Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma, and Colorado.
Verlene was a full time mother and homemaker, but was active in PTA, Officer's Wives Club and bridge groups. At several different locations she was instrumental in organizing gourmet groups including the one started by the Iowa State University Faculty Wives Club.
In 1974 Verlene and her family moved to Ames, IA where her husband had been assigned Commander of the Air Force ROTC program. In 1977 upon his retirement from active duty the decision was made to make Ames their permanent home. Verlene began work at a local travel agency. She retired in 1992 shortly before Don retired from a local bank.
Since making their home in Ames, Verlene and Don have traveled extensively. They have taken cruises to the Baltic, Black Sea, Society Islands and the Mediterranean plus many trips to the Caribbean. They have also extensively toured the continental United States and Canada.
Verlene is survived by three children, Kristen Lee Mangels (Murray Buchheit) of Ames, Lisa Ann Volk (Patrick) of Champaign IL, and Eric Donald Mangels (Julie) of Ankeny: and five grandchildren, Ashley, Austin, Nathan, Anthony and Alex, two sisters, Vivian Gilliland, Verona (Howard) Hessick; one brother, Verne (Joanne) Dow; sister-in-law Arlene Dow and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, an infant daughter, and brother, Victor Robert Dow.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Iowa Hospice or to Verlene's family for the staff at Arbor Springs for the quality care they provided to her.
Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family.

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