Connie Ann Vargason, 93 of Oelwein, died Tuesday, June 12 at Mercy Hospital after a short illness.
She was born December 8, 1919 in Oelwein, daughter of Juan Rico and Mercedes Ortiz Rico; she married Henry D. Vargason on June 19, 1946 at Saint Francis Assisi Mission Church, Chicago, Illinois.
Connie attended Sacred Heart School. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Sacred Heart Rosary Society and American Legion Auxiliary.
While living in Chicago she worked at Brach Candy Factory, she and Henry returned to Oelwein in 1948 to care for her mother. Connie also worked for Father O’Hagan as housekeeper, and Sacred Heart School, as a cook. She was an avid seamstress and loved cooking Mexican dishes for her friends and family. She was very proud of her Mexican heritage and instilled this in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include: Her two sons, Henry “Rick” (Cathy) Vargason, and Michael (Deb) Vargason, a daughter, Kathy Wetherbee all of Oelwein, and a Step-daughter Karen (Chuck) Santana of San Jose, California, her four Grandchildren, Scott (Catrena) Vargason, of Cedar Rapids, and Mandy (Jamie) Logan, Christopher Fox, and Seth (Jamie) Vargason of Oelwein and Shawna (Scott) Hansen of Neenah, Wisconsin. Ten Great-grandchildren, Keenan, Madison, Makayla, Drake, Colton, Mason, Halle, Jordynn, Dayton and Colin, and nieces, Bea (John) Lenz, Pat (Ed) Schulmeister, Judy (John) Clendenen, Ruth (Marvin) Staton, Mary Eick, Maria (Stanly) Wolf and nephews, Bernard Vela, Jim Smith, Gary (Deb) Fox, and Troy Vargason; also, her extended Family at Oelwein Care and her Special Friends Consuelo (Connie) Ledesma, Josephine Nading and Linda Jensen.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry D. Vargason (March 11, 1988), a sister Maria (infant), her step-son Berry, Cousins Florencio and Clara Morales, and Pete and Mary Vela; and her brothers and sister-in-laws, Wanda and Albert Lenius, Carl and Leona Smith, Richard and Marjory Fox and Donavon and Ruth Vargason.
Funeral Services: 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 16 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, with Father Harry Koelker officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, June 15 at Geilenfeld Funeral Home, Oelwein.
Connie will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein.