Val Jean Mae Long
March 20, 2012
Val Jean M. Long, 85, surrounded by family, passed away peacefully at home on March 20, 2012, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Val Jean was born in Franklin, NE, to John and Frieda Wessels. She married Arthur Long and spent her life as a loving and devoted wife and mother. Val Jean was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church, volunteered for many years with the Blank Guild at Iowa Methodist Hospital, and enjoyed daily walks and table chats at Southridge Mall with friends she’d made there.
She is survived by her three children, Kevin (Ronda) Long of Des Moines, Jean (Joel) Akers of West Des Moines, and Dee Long of Los Angeles, CA; four grandchildren, Angela Long, Jennifer Long, Nicholas Davis, and Samantha Akers; as well as her extended family.
Val Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 49 years, Art, and her sister, Elaine Gidley.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, with burial at Graceland Cemetery in Creston. A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank Dr. Shreck and the staff of the John Stoddard Cancer Center, the Powell nursing staff at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, HCI Care Services of Central Iowa, and the caregivers who took care of their mother over the last year.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Val Jean’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Iowa Chapter or the Food bank of Iowa.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Cliff Fries & Kristen Sample
05/08/2012
So sorry to read about Val Jean...With age and distance we all lost touch. We will be glad to see her in heaven.
Mark & Leann Carolan
03/23/2012
Jean and Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. You have our deepest sympathy/
Cecil and Deb O'Neal
03/23/2012
Kevin, Jean & Dee.
Your mother was a beautiful soul and she will be dearly missed. In all the time we were a part of the St. John's family she was always a welcoming smile. She impacted the lives of many. Please accept our condolences for your loss.
Deb and Cecil O'Neal
Evelyn Bunn
03/22/2012
Keven, Jean & Dee: You have my deepest sympathy. Val Jean was a lovely lady and good friend to the St. John's community. I haven't been around for a long tim, but I think of all of you often. Dee, I have special memories of the long haired little girl who hung around with Suzi.
with my sincere condolences.
Sonia Stilwell
03/22/2012
I will always, always remember Val Jean's beautiful smile and the way she loved me and my girls! She was a true servant of God who was not afraid to speak her mind and was always there to greet everyone with a smile on Sunday mornings. She loved to sit in front of me during the worship service as we sang the songs so that she could stay in tune with the songs and this is something that will stay etched in my mind forever. I will always love you, Val Jean, and I miss you already, Sweetheart. I can't wait to see you in Heaven someday, Beautiful Lady!!!
Don & Dian Barry
03/21/2012
May the peace of our Lord be with you & your family, Kevin, & may
your Mother rest in peace.
Don & Dian