Zola Luree Wagner

On a beautiful sun shiney May day, Zola Luree (Jones) Vickroy Wagner, formerly of Danville, IA, peacefully passed away on Friday, May 27, 2022, at the Westview Care Center in Indianola, Iowa. She was born on January 10, 1929, at Burlington Hospital, Burlington, Iowa, to Charles Albert and Clara Pearl (Brennan) Jones of Danville, Iowa. As per her wishes, she has been cremated and no service is planned.

Luree lived a great portion of her life in Danville. She attended and graduated from the Danville Community School in 1946. She matriculated to State Teachers College of Iowa in Cedar Falls, earning a Teacher’s Substitute Certification. She married, Edward (Bud) Vickroy, in 1951. Following Bud’s graduation from UNI, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict, and stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Luree joined him there and during that time welcomed their first child, Yvonne. After he was discharged in 1954, they moved to Jamaica, IA, where Bud was hired as a math teacher for the high school. There, their second child, Mike, was born. After one year at Jamaica, they returned to Danville and they spent the next 30 plus years in Danville as Bud taught HS Math and Shop classes for Danville HS. During that time two more children, David and Kathleen, were born. Luree spent the time caring for her children, substituting at the school, participating in many community organizations and church circles, chaperoning with her husband, Bud, the "After Prom Party at the Burlington Bowl," doing extensive research of places to be included on the annual family vacation in their trailer, and being a leader in the community. She enjoyed working with the roses from Bud’s rose garden and enjoyed “Tea and Talk” with many of her friends as they sat in the swing on the porch at 105 East Dewey. She continued the Tea and Talk with her neighbors after her move to Kensington.

After Bud’s untimely death in 1987, Luree married another former Danville native, Arlo Wagner on July 1, 1989, at the Congregational Church in Clinton, IA. Following their wedding they made their home in Kensington, MD, where Arlo was a reporter for the Washington Times. Luree busied herself at Kensington Methodist Church, was a member of several Bridge Clubs, became friends with many new people in the Kensington area, and provided a place for her children and grandchildren to stay as they visited the nation’s capital and areas around it. She did lots of research of the area so when friends and family came to visit, she was able to be a “tour” guide. She was a Life-Time member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter in Danville and then transferred her membership to the chapter in Kensington, MD. During her membership she served the organization as Worthy Matron and other offices of the chapter. Her favorite Star Point was Ruth and held that office many times.

In 2014, Luree and Arlo relocated to the Des Moines area to be closer to her oldest children as they were needing more assistance in their senior years. Arlo eventually moved to memory care, as his issues with Alzheimer’s worsened. At the same time Luree moved to assisted living as she became more immobile because of her knee surgery in 2014. Following Arlo’s death in 2017, Luree moved to Bickford House of West Des Moines for her additional needed care. Her health continued to decline and she moved to Westview Care Center, for the final stage of her life.

Luree was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Pearl Jones, her husband Edward William (Bud) Vickroy, second husband Arlo Theodore Wagner, daughter Yvonne Dewein, and son Mike Vickroy. She is survived by son-in-law Rich Dewein of West Des Moines, IA, daughter-in-law Cathy Vickroy of Norwalk, IA, son David (Marcia) Vickroy of El Dorado Hills, CA, and daughter Kathleen Vickroy (Tom Dardick) of Enola, PA. Also surviving are grandchildren Sarah (Tyler) Reihmann of Clive, IA, Andrew (Tiffany) Dewein of Wake, IA, Lindsay Scheidler (Chris) of West Des Moines, IA, Jon-David Stewart of Fremont, CA, Skyler Vickroy (Yuko) of San Jose, CA, and Collyn and Geneva Dardick of Enola, PA. Great-grandchildren include Abigayle and Penelope Reihmann of Clive, IA, Bryna and Landrey Dewein of Waukee, IA, Dupree Stewart of Arcata, CA, Justice Stewart of Fremont, CA and Greyson Vickroy of San Jose, CA. Additional surviving members include sister-in-law Phyllis Thie of Mediapolis, and nephews Kirk (Deb) Thie of Ankeny and Kevin (Julie) Thie, Burlington. Great-nephews are Daniel (Ashlee) Thie of Ames and Kyle (Kelley) Thie of Ankeny. Great-nieces are Addison Thie, Keltsin Collin and Leslie Schulte, and great-nephew Bentlee Collins.

Cards and letters can be mailed to Rich Dewein, 1025 59th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Hamilton's Funeral Home, Des Moines, IA, is in charge of final preparation.

The family wishes to “Thank” the Nursing and Support Staff at Westview Care Center, Indianola, for the excellent devotion and care they give to ALL their patients that we witnessed during Luree’s 6 month residency at their facility. It is outstanding.

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