Obituary of Virginia Thiesen

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Terril, Iowa for Virginia Thiesen. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Virginia Kaye Chapman (Andresen) Thiesen was born July 18, 1943 in Spencer, Iowa. Her parents were Lenore (Kahler) Chapman and Lyle J. Chapman of Terril, Iowa. She passed away July 22, 2014 at the age of 71. Ginny grew up in Terril and attended Terril Community School. She married William Andresen in 1959. They became the parents of two sons, Erick (Rick) William and Douglas Alan. Ginny worked for many years at Berkely's (now Pure Fishing) during this time in her life. After their divorce, she married Bill Thiesen and it was during those years that Ginny operated the Black Coach Restaurant south of Spirit Lake. After retiring from the restaurant business, Ginny went back to school and earned a degree in nursing from Iowa Lakes Community College. She worked as an RN at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital for a number of years and then at Longhouse Care Center in Spencer until ill health forced her to retire. Ginny had many talents. When she was only eleven she won a Singer Sewing Machine contest and a trip to a competition and style show in Minneapolis. She loved to sew and made clothes for her sister and her niece, Janice, including Janice's first prom dress. She also knitted, drew lovely sketches, made jewelry, arranged silk flowers and did so many other craft projects. Her flower garden was the envy of many and her house plants were beautiful. She had a "green thumb: and loved to garden and share her flowers and vegetables. She made a mean and delicious salsa! She also loved cats! She rescued many and provided a home for as many as she could. Ginny always said that one of the biggest joys and blessings in her life was when she became Grandma. She absolutely adored Hunter and loved to share stories of their time together and of Hunter's accomplishments. Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle & Lenore Chapman, step mother Lucille Morris Chapman, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herman and Darlene Andresen. She is survived by her sons Rick and Doug Andresen, grandson Hunter Andresen and his mother Nissa (who she spoke of as the daughter she never had), her only sister Pat Erickson and her husband Don, former husband William Andresen, the father of her children, sisters- in -law, Connie Sidles and her husband Dwayne and Darla Crosser and husband Mike and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Playing a special part in her life as an "almost sister" as she was growing up, Evelyn Nelson Lanpher also survives, along with her husband Robert. Doug & family would also like to recognize and give a special thank you to Ann Dinklage for her special and compassionate care and support for Ginny. And also special recognition given to Arlene Miller, Gloria Krieger and Kay Rouse for their support and help.