Margaret Aldeen Van Van Zante's Obituary
Margaret Aldeen (Hiatt) Van Zante, of Moravia, passed away February 27, 2011 at the Continental Care Center in Seymour, Iowa. She was 94 years old.
Margaret was born September 15, 1916 in rural Appanoose County to Lewis (Lute) Rural and Anna Freelove (Chambers) Hiatt. She grew up on the family farm in the Hiattsville vicinity, and graduated from Moravia High School in 1933. After high school, she attended Albia Junior College and then taught at the Pleasant Grove and New Hope Country Schools for the next four years.
On April 27, 1938, Margaret married Lewis Carl Van Zante in Moravia and began her life's work as a mother, homemaker and farmwife. Margaret and Carl spent their entire married life on the farm west of Moravia where they raised their three sons. Carl preceded her in death on June 23, 1993. She then made her home in Moravia for the next sixteen years until moving to the Continental at St. Joseph's Assisted Living facility in Centerville in 2009.
Margaret was active all her life. She was a member of Salem United Methodist Church where she served as pianist/organist, youth leader, Sunday School Teacher and was a member of Ladies Aid. After the merge, she attended Grace United Methodist Church, was a member of United Methodist Women (UMW) and participated in other church activities. She was a 65 year member of the neighborhood Sew and So Club and for a number of years chaired the Needlework Department for the Moravia Fall Festival. She also served on the Monroe County Girls 4-H Committee and judged local 4-H Club achievement shows.
Margaret interests included playing cards, attending craft shows, and watching Iowa Hawkeye basketball and Chicago Cubs baseball. However, her main focus in life centered around traveling with Carl and being involved in the activities and achievements of her family. She was an outstanding cook and baker and enjoyed ""feeding"" and entertaining her family on holidays and other special occasions. She also maintained a keen interest in the farm and cattle operations of which had been a part of her life for so many years.
Margaret is survived by her three sons, Ronald L. (Lois) Van Zante of Moravia, Wm. Mark Van Zante of Clinton, and Charles N. (Becky) Van Zante of Shawnee, KS; her five grandsons, Greg (Beth) Van Zante of Carlisle, Jon (Amber) Van Zante of Moravia, Tom Van Zante of Kansas City, KS, Ted (Laura) Van Zante of Lenexa, KS and Andrew (Amy) Van Zante of Lenexa, KS; seven great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; parents, Lute and Anna; and her sister, Rubye N. Brees of Albia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Moravia with Pastor Gene Kubli and Pastor Kay Singley officiating. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 1-8 PM, Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Lange Funeral Home in Moravia with the family present from 6-8 PM. A memorial has been established to the Grace United Methodist Church or Moravia Fall Festival and may be left at or mailed to the Lange Funeral Home 103 N. North John St., Moravia, Iowa 52571. Condolences may be left online at www.langefh.com.
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