Gwennith V. Vandersee, 95, of Oelwein, Iowa, formerly of Maynard, Iowa, died Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Oelwein Health Care Center.
Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, February 10, 2026, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maynard, Iowa with Rev. Randy Baldwin.
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Monday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday.
Interment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Hazleton, Iowa.
Memorials may be directed in her name to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maynard, the Maynard Library, the Maynard First Responders or the West Central School Library.
Gwennith Verle Stewart was born December 12, 1930, in Elkport, Clayton County, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph Elmer and Velma Marie (Ortmann) Stewart. In 1948, she graduated from Maynard High School in Maynard. On September 5, 1948, she was united in marriage to Laverne Ralph Vandersee at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maynard. The union was blessed with five children, Vernon, Barbara, Elaine, Ruth and Paul. While farming with Laverne, Gwennith also was employed as a waitress at the Maynard Café and a library assistant at the Maynard Library. Laverne died on February 16, 2000. In 2000, Gwennith moved to Oelwein. On April 30, 2014, she married Clarence E. Williams at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Clarence died on May 15, 2020. Gwennith was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and St. Paul WELCA, where she served as WELCA treasurer and circle leader. She had also served as a 4H leader and was a member of the Maynard Senior Citizens, where she served as secretary. She enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family.
Gwennith is survived by her 4 Children: Barbara (Dale) Lowe of Fairbank, Elaine Gallagher of Hazleton, Ruth Wenger of Fairbank and Paul Vandersee of Dubuque; 7 Grandchildren: 7 Great grandchildren; Bonus family: Mike Weidman of Madrid and Sons: Chris and Brad; Step Family: Clarence Williams Children and Family: Dan, Bonnie and Susan; sister-in-law: Karen Stewart of Lomira, Wisconsin; 4 Vandersee In-Laws: Russ (Susan) Vandersee of Sumner, Dennis & Arlene Vandersee of Fayette, Harold & Venice Vandersee of Oelwein and John & Shirley West of Dripping Spring, Texas and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 husbands; son: Vernon Vandersee; bonus daughter: Irene Weidman; 2 sons-in-law: Mike Gallagher and Richard Wenger; 3 brothers: Carl Stewart, Ronald Stewart and Glen Stewart; and 6 sisters-in-law: Delores Stewart, Kay Stewart, Beverly Vandersee, Arleta Vandersee, Dixie Vandersee and Betty Pierce and 2 brothers-in-law: Donald Vandersee and Marvin “Bud” Vandersee.
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