Nellie VerDught

September 10, 1935 - November 17, 2021

Nellie J. VerDught of Storm Lake, IA. died Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, IA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:30 P.M. (Central Time) via a Zoom video conference. To join the service, please visit Nellie’s Tribute Wall, under the “Event” tab at http://www.fratzkejensen.com. for the link and passcode or click the following link: https://jworg.zoom.us/j/89788154074?pwd=SlNzQ01YWHYyMzdYcXNxcE4rTGZOQT09 and enter the passcode: 090547 Burial will be at a later date. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Nellie was born September 10, 1935, to Jacob and Henrietta (Willemsen) Neef in Bussey, IA. at home on the family farm. Later the family moved to a farm in Otley, IA., then to two separate farms in Monroe, IA. The family operated a dairy, and raised hogs and chickens. She worked at her mother’s side in the dairy barn and in the chicken house. As a young girl, her mother taught her the joy of canning home-grown fruits and vegetables. Nellie attended country schools in the Monroe area and graduated from Monroe High School in 1954. While in high school, she was chosen to be the 1952 FFA Chapter Sweetheart. The major function of the sweetheart was to be a public relations social ambassador. Wearing her national blue Sweetheart jacket, she would represent the chapter in a school parade, at the school’s homecoming, or in the county fair. In high school, she met the love of her life, Verl D. VerDught. They were married on March 16, 1955 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Newton, IA. Nellie and Verl were blessed with two daughters, Carolyn Marie and Jane Ann. Nellie obtained a thorough knowledge of the Bible by being taught by her parents at home and by attending the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. On September 5, 1947 she provided an outward symbol of her dedication to God by being baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She and Verl also instilled Bible truths in their daughters. She took every opportunity to talk to others about the Bible. She had many privileges as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of her most treasured privileges was serving as a Regular Pioneer by spending 100 volunteer hours a month in the public ministry. During her early adult single life, Nellie worked at Bankers Life Insurance in Des Moines, IA. After marrying, she gave her time to raising her two daughters. When the girls started school, she became an Avon representative distributing cosmetics. When the girls got older, she worked as an Administrative Assistant for financial institutions, a lawyer and retail businesses. When the girls left home, she became an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay skin care products. Her knowledge of proper skin care was evident in her beautiful, youthful complexion. Nellie was an accomplished musician. She played the piano, organ and accordion. She would play at the congregation meetings and assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Through the years, she gave piano lessons to numerous students, some became accomplished pianist themselves. She instilled a deep appreciation for music in her husband and daughters. Verl enjoyed listening to her play the piano and he would often ask her to play just for him. The family first lived in the town of Monroe, IA. Then in 1967 they moved to an acreage north of Knoxville, IA., where the family started a project of raising lambs and growing a vegetable garden. The daughters were taught how to care for animals, how to can home-grown vegetables, and to be industrious, hard workers. After the daughters left home, Nellie and Verl moved back to Monroe on the acreage Verl grew up on. In 2004, after Verl retired, they moved to Sebastopol, CA. to live next to their daughters. Upon the retirements of their daughter Carolyn and her husband Keith Fulton, the four of them returned to Northwest Iowa. Nellie and Verl lived in Alta, IA. at the Wel-Life Assisted Living facility. In February of 2019, their daughter Jane and her husband Jeff McCleeary moved from California to Storm Lake to join the family. In January of 2020, Nellie and Verl moved into the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, IA. Nellie was a very fun-loving person. She enjoyed driving Carolyn’s 1969 Pontiac GTO. She never missed an opportunity to show just how fast it could accelerate. She loved to entertain others. Some of her favorite things to serve were homemade lasagna, a delicious banana crème pie, and blended Margarita’s. Nellie was a very loving, kind and compassionate wife and mother. She enjoyed sharing a meal and spending time with the family. She loved to make the family her scrumptious fried chicken, potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, and homemade ice cream. She often would tell people that her “2 girls” were the light of her life. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Those left to cherish Nellie’s memories include her two daughters Carolyn (Keith) Fulton of Galva, IA. and Jane (Jeffrey) McCleeary of Storm Lake, IA.; one granddaughter Janell McCleeary; one great grandson Mason; two step grandsons Jeremy and Alexander Fulton; three step granddaughters Jillian Vega, Haley and Chelsea Fulton; one step great-great-granddaughter Isabella Vega; two brothers Jacob G. (Joann) Neef and Cornie W. (Jacqueline) Neef both of Newton, IA.; two sisters-in-law Julie A. Neef of Newton, IA. and Twyla Thorpe of Urbandale, IA.; one brother-in-law Elvyn (Betty) VerDught of Higginsville, MO.; 10 nephews; 4 nieces; plus extended family and many friends. Nellie was preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Henrietta Neef; her sister-in-law Betty Neef; her brother John H. Neef; and her husband Verl D. VerDught.