Josephine Bernice Dickey

Ashton, IA Josephine B. Dickey, age 88 of Ashton, IA, died Sunday, October 24, 2010 at Sibley Nursing & Rehab in Sibley, IA. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 27th at the St. Marys Catholic Church in Ashton, with Father John Vakulskas as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 26th from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m., with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Marys Catholic Church. The Jurrens Funeral Home of Ashton is in charge of arrangements. Josephine Bernice Houwen was born on May 28, 1922 in Ashton, Iowa, the daughter of George and Bertha (Willemssen) Houwen. She attended country school and after her education she remained with her parents and helped with the family farm. She also worked for Verdoorns Nursing Home in Ashton. She was united in marriage to Joseph Dickey on April 2, 1951 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Ashton. Together they lived on a farm northwest of Ashton, and Josephine began taking nursing classes through Northwest Community College in Sheldon and received her nursing degree. She worked as a nurses aide for many years at the Ashton Nursing Home and Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. She was a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Ashton, active with Catholic Daughters of America and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, doll collecting, painting, gardening, flowering, fishing and spending time with her grandchildren. On November 28, 1982, her husband, Joseph died after 31 years of marriage. A short time later, she went to live with her sister, Earlene and mother, Bertha at their home. In 2010 Josephine entered the Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center, where she remained until her death this past Sunday. She is survived by her three children, LaVonne (Lester) Bents of Rushmore, MN, Linda (Dennis) Schoneman of Ashton, IA and John (Teresa) Dickey of Worthington, MN; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Bertha Houwen; husband, Joseph Dickey; brother, William Houwen; sister, Earlene Houwen; and an infant sister.