Erma E. K. Vagts

Erma Vagts, age 91 of Boyden, IA died Sunday, August 20, 2006 at the Lyon Manor Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Friday, August 25th at United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, IA, with burial at the Boyden-Sheridan Township Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, August 24th from 2 " 8 PM, with the family present from 6 " 8 PM at the Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Erma Emma Katherina Dickmann Vagts was born October 25, 1914 in Wheeler Township, Lyon County, Iowa to Wilhelm and Wilhemina Meyn Dickmann. Erma was baptized into the Lutheran faith on June 27, 1915 and confirmed on March 24, 1929 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of rural Hull, Iowa. When Erma was 12 years old her father passed away and so after she completed eighth grade it was necessary for her to work for various farm families doing housework and helping when new babies arrived. Erma was married to Wilhelm M. Vagts on November 5, 1935 in her mothers home in Wheeler Township. Bill passed away June 7, 2001. Erma enjoyed fixing other womens hair and did so for many years in the dining room of their Boyden home. She always had a large garden of vegetables and could keep any flower growing. Some of the young people in Boyden knew her as the apple lady because of her apple tree in the back yard that produced many, many bushels of apples. She planted that apple tree herself. Erma also worked in the Boyden Produce for 16 years, lifting eggs to be graded. With six daughters, sewing was also a part of her life, making many dresses for each girl. When she no longer needed to sew dresses, she sewed quilts. Erma made each daughter and grandchild a quilt. She was very proud of each quilt. Erma was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Boyden for many years. She enjoyed UPW and Bible Study with the women there. In June of 2001 she moved to live in George, Iowa in an apartment of the George Good Samaritan Center. There she was able to take part in activities of the Center and no longer worry about the upkeep of her home. On October 1, 2004 she became a resident of the Lyon Manor Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Rapids, Iowa. This past Sunday, August 20, 2006 Erma died at the age of 91. She is survived by 6 daughters, Marlene (Gerald) Hollander of Iowa City, IA, Marian (Royce) Privett of Santee, CA, Marie (Homer) Daniel of Sioux Falls, SD, Bonnie (Nick) Berklich of Grand Blanc, MI, Beverly Doorenbos of Rock Rapids, IA, and Peggy (Mark Miller) Vagts of Dover, NH; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Erma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers, two sisters, one half brother, and two sons-in-law, Clairneil Dunnick and Ivan Doorenbos.