Beverly J Thrall

BEVERLY JEANTHRALL, 75, of Cedar Falls, died Friday, May 5, 2006, at the Western Home Communities Elizabeth Martin Health Center. She was born December 16, 1930 at Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Emil and Inez (Oakley) Johnson. Beverly was a graduate of Waterloo West High School and then married Donald Joseph Nemmers on August 26, 1950 in Waterloo. They were blessed with five children. Beverly and her family lived in Iowa City, Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver and Naperville, where Donald preceded her in death in 1963. She married Dr. William Thrall on September 1, 1973 and they lived in Cedar Falls until Bill's retirement from the University of Northern Iowa in 1991. Beverly and Bill moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where they lived for ten years, before moving back to Cedar Falls to live at the Western Home Communities. Beverly was a member of P.E.O. Chapters R, OJ, CX and DH, serving as president of Chapter R from 1980-82.  She demitted back to Chapter OJ when seh returned from Arkansas.  Beverly was also a longtime member of the Crafty Ladies of Cedar Falls.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, of Cedar Falls; three sons, Michael (Anita) Nemmers of Des Moines, Iowa, James (Bonnie) Nemmers of Eagan, Minnesota, and Stephen (Kammy) Nemmers of Cedar Falls; two daughters, Deborah Valenta of Omaha, Nebraska and Victoria Smith of Wichita, Kansas; a step-son, Michael (Carrie) Thrall of Des Moines; two step-daughters, Teri (Randy) Nordaker of Des Moines and Kristen (Bryan) O'Leary of Katy, Texas; eighteen grandchildren, Dr. Melissa (David) Billings of Ankeny, Iowa, Wesley Nemmers of Des Moines, Blake Schultz of Rockford, Illinois, Michelle (Mark) Engelbart of Omaha, Monica Valenta of Omaha, Katelyn Thrall of Chicago, Molly Thrall at the University of Iowa, Ally Thrall at Creighton University, Kalene Smith at Wichita State University, Emily Smith of Wichita, Kansas, Adam Nordaker at The University of Northern Iowa, Vance Nordaker at DMACC, Kristen Nordaker of Des Moines, Jordan Nemmers at St. Cloud State University, Alex Nemmers of Eagan, Minnesota, Alexis O'Leary of Katy, Texas, and Keegan and Austin Nemmers of Cedar Falls; four great-grandchildren, Ashtyn Billings, Michael Nemmers,  and Jake and Tyler Engelbart; and a sister-in-law, Artsie Johnson of Fairhope, Alabama. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, a brother, Neal Johnson, and a son-in-law, Al Smith.

Funeral services were Monday, May 8, 2006, at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, with burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waterloo.  Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the American Cancer Society.