Obituary of Virginia O'Dell

Virginia Kay O’Dell, aged 81, died Monday, June 3, 2024, at Windmill Manor in Coralville. Funeral Mass will take place at 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2024, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be held at the church prior to the Funeral Mass beginning at 11:00 a.m. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Virginia "Ginny" was born December 8,1942 in Iowa City, IA.  The daughter of Earl E.  and Mary Catherine (Volk) Anderson.  She graduated from Iowa City High School in 1961 and went on to further her education to be a nurse. She graduated from the University of Iowa for her LPN degree and from Kirkwood Community College for her nursing associate degree for her RN.

Virginia devoted her nursing career to caring for the US military veterans where she worked at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City for 42 years. She was also the AFGE Union President for six (6) years. Virginia retired in March 2018 after being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

Virginia has four (4) children: René (Clarence), Dawn, Tracy (Carolina), Jennifer.  She also has 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.  Her siblings: Mary "Connie", Earl "Bud", Judith, Barbara, Lorna, William.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Connie, Judith and Lorna, brother William, and her daughter Dawn.  She also leaves behind three stepchildren: Cindy, Connie, and Scott.