Genevieve ‘Gennie’ Springer

Genevieve “Gennie” Springer, 84, of Charles City, passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at Colonial Manor in Elma with her loving family by her side.

A funeral service for Genevieve Springer will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Hauser Funeral Home with Pastor Wendy Johannesen officiating. Burial will be at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Genevieve Ruth Bigelow began her earthly life near Nashua, Iowa, on February 12, 1935, as the only daughter and 4th child of Lulu (Ullom) Bigelow and Orin Bigelow. Instead of being treated differently as the only girl in the family, she was simply one of the kids, playing baseball and other games not afraid of getting dirty. Gennie was right handed, but in order to play baseball she was taught by one of the neighborhood children, becoming a left handed player. This continued throughout her life. Any sport she learned, she played as a left hander, including golf. She gained her love of flowers and gardening from her Mother which served her well in the future. She graduated high school from Nashua Community Schools.

After graduation she worked for a time until she married country boy, Gordon Richard Springer on April 12, 1956. This city girl embraced country life and further enjoyed her love of flowers, gardening and canning during the extent of their life together on the family farm. Her children would tell you that the garden was football field size (especially when it came to keeping the weeds at bay), and to this day I would say that not one of her children enjoys even the sound of snapping beans. Although she loved all of her flowers, she always said her favorite flowers were the wild flowers that grew along the road by the family home. She especially enjoyed the ones we picked for her – including the dandelions.

Added to the blessed marriage of Gennie and Gordon were 4 children, 3 girls and one boy. Her children were taught the value of hard work, the love of all things nature, and the fun of getting dirty while playing outside. The family started camping after the tornado which passed through Charles City and continued until Gordon’s illness. Frequent trips to Yellow River Forest and Decorah in Iowa and various lakes in Minnesota now leaves her children with many priceless memories much more valuable than gold. Many songs were sung, hot dogs and marshmallows cooked on sticks were enjoyed over campfires over those many years. It was a time when kids could wander the streams and caverns and bicycle anywhere all day just so long as she generally knew where they were headed. Many of the camping trips were shared with relatives which only added to the fun.

After Gordon retired they continued to travel, eventually becoming snowbirds going to South Padres Island, Texas. They also loved to go to garage sales and flea markets, both being bargain shoppers always on the hunt for “a good deal.” This trait was also passed on to their children who even still greatly enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Sadly, Gennie lost her country boy to his battle with cancer in 2000. Being such a kind and gentle soul, we were concerned how she would be able to carry on without her husband of so many years. She proved to be stronger than we ever thought, keeping herself busy with friends, playing cards, reading, or just simply enjoying a good conversation over a nice cup of coffee. Most important to her was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Just being with them made her glow like the ray of sunshine she was.

The most special thing about Gennie was her love of family. The people she and Gordon consistently camped with were family. The many friends she had at Apple Valley were family. Gennie didn’t have son and daughter in laws or “step” anything. Once you became part of one of her children or grandchildren’s lives you immediately became loved and treated like a son, a daughter, a grandchild. Family. It was the most important thing in Gennie’s life, and she never failed to find love to give with each new addition.

Gennie Springer was preceded in death by her husband Gordon in 2000. Her parents, Orin and Lulu Bigelow, brother Edward and his wife Trudy, brother Curtis’ wife Wilma, brother Elmer’s wife Jean, two grandchildren, Christian and Jaime, as well as four of Gordon’s sisters and spouses.

Genevieve Springer is survived by her children, Rhonda and Steven Banser, Michael and Laura Springer, Theresa and Mikel Walters, and Dana and Jeff Sherman, who were her main strength and support and caretakers in her later years, as well as 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, brothers Elmer and Curtis, Gordon’s sister Beverly Bray, as well as countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She will forever be missed by many and has now become part of the Heavenly family where she will continue to share her love with us and watch over every one of her many families. We were blessed to have her as part of our and lives for as long as we did. She will always be remembered and we are all better people for having known her. God Bless you Gennie. We love you.

Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.