Velma 'Val' Jean Gannon

Velma "Val" Jean Gannon, 85, passed away on Saturday November 14, 2009, at the Spencer Hospital. Velma was born in Spencer on August 9, 1924 to Max and Mary Lockey Barth. Val attended Spencer High School. After graduation, she married Howard Gannon, to whom she was happily married for 63 years. Val's main joy in life was being a wife and a proud mother to her 9 children and their families. She "jumped" at the chance to spend time with them whenever possible. Through the years she volunteered countless hours helping many organizations, including Boy and Girl Scouts, her children's schools, and visiting nursing homes. After raising her children, she worked as the Activities Director at Jackson Nursing Home. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Catholic Daughters. She loved to organize pictures, and spent many hours making scrapbooks and photo albums. She also enjoyed spending winters with Howard in Mesa, AZ. Val loved life; she never met a stranger. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, her parents, Max and Mary Barth, and a brother, Richard Barth. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Barbara Hanson of Minneapolis, MN, Nancy (Ron) Enger of Medford, OR, Kathy (Bill) Johnson of Riverside, CA, Tom (Janet) Gannon of Norfolk, NE, Sally (Kirk) Naber of Ankeny, IA, Richard (Lynn) Gannon of Denver, CO, Bob (Cindy) Gannon of Marcus, IA, Cheryl (Matt) Lantz of Lake Crystal, MN, and Bill (LaDonna) Gannon of Aberdeen, SD, 17 Grandchildren, 8 Great Grandchildren, a sister, Shirley Thorsen, In laws: Dr. Jim & Shirley Gannon of Rogers, AR, Dr. Harold & Pat Gannon of Mesa AZ, Iola Schomberg of Minneapolis, MN, Mary Markado of Reseda, CA, Lois Gannon of Iowa City, IA, Jo Gannon of Peoria, IL and Hazel Barth of Spencer, IA, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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