Nelda Louise Matz Vint

Nelda Louise Matz Vint was born July 9, 1919. She was the daughter of Albert Matz and Elsie (Schultz) Matz. She was raised and went to school in Wells, Minnesota. She married Earl Vint on September 18, 1936. They spent their early married life in Wells and then moved to Albertville, Minnesota, where Earl managed the J.F. Anderson Lumber Co. In 1952, the family moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa, where Earl managed the J.F. Anderson Lumber Company. Nelda passed away April 13, 2008, from complications of alzheimers and congestive heart failure. Six children were born to this union, Jerry, Judy John, Janelle, Mike and Tom. As was true of many women of her generation, she was stay-at-home mom. That was truly a full time job. Those were the times of wringer washers, hanging clothes out to dry, cloth diapers, coal stoves to load and carry out the ashes, the only fat food was prepared by her, no tvs or videos to entertain the kids, we lived in Albertville several years before running water and indoor plumbing was available. She handled all of this without complaining. While living in Spirit Lake, they owned a cottage on Big Spirit Lake. Mom was very afraid of water and worried continuously about her children swimming and doing water skiing with the neighbor. Of course, a cottage brought many visitors during the summer. Mom cooked and helped entertain all of them. Earl retired from managing the lumber yard in 1980 and they did lots of traveling. They enjoyed visiting relatives all over the United States. Nelda was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, in 1988, her son, Jerry, in 1992, her daughter-in-law, Deborah (Eckerman) Vint in 2005, her parents and her brother, Ben. She is survived by her children, Judy (Jerry) Stukey of Spirit Lake, Iowa, John (Corrine) Vint of Des Moines, Iowa, Janelle (Bob) Gmitter of Oakton, Virginia, Mike Vint of Pella, Iowa and Tom (Kim) Vint of Aurelia, Iowa. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Jackie, Julie, Jerene, Jennifer, Matt, Eric, Mark, Jessica, Pat and Mike. Nine great-grandchildren: Zachary, Garrett, Meghan, Haley, Jakob, Caleb, Kelsey, Kyler and Michael. Many nieces and nephews also survive and a sister-in-law, Ione Matz. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:30AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Burial was held at St. Margarets Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Turner Funeral Home of Spirit Lake in charge of arrangements.