Stella Gertrude Nervig

Stella Gertrude Nervig, age 99+ passed on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 3:00 pm in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Stella was born on January 22, 1915, in Coulter, Iowa, to Karen ‘Stine’ Hansen and Soren Hansen, the only one of three siblings to be born in the United States rather than Denmark. She graduated from Hampton High School and attended Grand View College, and later thoroughly enjoyed her career as a certified inhalation therapist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for two decades. Stella was a member of Luther Memorial Church in East Des Moines

Until her late seventies, you could always find Stella ballroom dancing at the Val Air. A true Dane, she loved to dance; she was also an enthusiastic traveler, bridge player, and Democratic Party activist.

Stella will be remembered for her unending love of life and her perseverance in the face of adversity, as well as her volunteer service during the polio epidemic and for Planned Parenthood Des Moines, which honored her as “Volunteer of the Year.” As the founding principal of the Des Moines Chapter of the Iowa Alliance for the Mentally Ill, she counseled families confronting mental illness and continued to support its educational goals for many years.

Stella was preceded in death by her husband, Donald A. Nervig, and is survived by her loving family of three daughters, Jeri McGiverin (Terry), Carole Nervig and Donella Nervig; her two grandchildren, Kelly Kienzle (Brian) and Brian McGiverin (Sarah); and three great-granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday the 12th of July at Hamilton’s Westown, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Visitation for family and friends will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm prior to the service. A private family inurnment will precede the service.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa Alliance for the Mentally Ill or Planned Parenthood.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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