Vera Arlene Ensz

Vera Arlene Ensz: Vera passed away Saturday at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 6 days. Her family includes her daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Alan Flax of Bettendorf, IA; son, Joe Amissah of Milwaukee, WI; grandchildren: Robert Flax of Bettendorf, IA; Pamela and Russell Laws of Lincoln, NE; Eric and Jessica Flax of Iowa City, IA and Keisha Amissah of Milwaukee, WI; and her great grandchildren: Zachary McDearmon, Alex Flax, and Daniel, Benjamin and Rachel Laws. Also surviving her is Supachanee Jankaew of Cerritos, CA, who Vera looked upon as a daughter; and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Karl & Patty Messer of Stockton, Iowa, Emmett and Carol Messer of Mediapolis, IA, and Melvin & Barbara Messer of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; and a sister and brother-in-law, JoAnn & Wayne Stahly of Lincoln, NE. Vera Arlene Ensz, daughter of Sheridan and Walcom McMurran Messer, was born November 6, 1921 in Rome, Iowa. She attended school in nearby Mount Pleasant, where she was a 1940 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. While at church camp as a youth, Vera met the love of her life, Darrel Ensz; they married February 18, 1943 in Trenton, Iowa. They both went on to attend the Chicago Evangelical Institute. Following their education, Darrell served as pastor to numerous churches. Darrell & Vera later moved to Mishawaka, Indiana where Darrell furthered his education at Bethel College. Following his graduation in 1952, they moved to University Park, Iowa where Darrel was employed at Vennard College. Vera was employed at William Penn College as the manager of its book store from 1958 to 1991. She enjoyed her work at Wm. Penn and took a special interest in the foreign students that came to study there. After her retirement she and Darrel moved to Bettendorf to be near their daughter. In 2003, Vera and Darrel returned to Oskaloosa, where their son, John, was living. Ill health required their move back to Bettendorf in 2007 and Darrel passed away November 18, 2007. Vera enjoyed cooking and sewing. She was a member of the College Avenue Friends Church and its auxiliary in Oskaloosa and recently had attended the First Baptist Church in Davenport. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, John S. Ensz; a sister, Pauline Ingwerson and a brother, Gilbert Messer. PDF Printable Version

Vera Arlene Ensz

November 6, 1921 - April 12, 2008