Vera R. Cory

January 10, 1931 - February 23, 2020

Vera R. Cory, 89, of Ankeny, IA went to be with Jesus on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at The Bridges at Ankeny with her family by her side. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Elkhart Christian Church (252 NW Washington Ave., Elkhart, IA 50073). Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2020 at Elkhart Christian Church with Pastor Kevin M. Jones officiating. Burial will follow services at Elkhart Cemetery and a lunch will be served at the church following the graveside service. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Elkhart Christian Church. Born to Alva and Mildred (Spooner) Kendig on January 10, 1931 in White Oak near Elkhart, Iowa. She started to school at White Oak Country School and moved to Elkhart during her first year of school. During WW II her grandparents sold milk around town and because of the gas shortage she would deliver the milk on her bike. She graduated from Elkhart High School in 1948. During school she had detassled corn, worked at the lumber yard, the telephone office, drove a truck in the field picking up bales, and punched wires on the baler. She had lived with a couple in town during her junior and senior years working off her board by cooking on an old fashioned cook stove and mowing the yard with an old reel mower. Vera married the love of her life, Dale Cory, on October 16, 1948. They were blessed with 5 children: Diane, Gary, Ned, Gene, and Julie. Vera had joined the Elkhart Christian Church when she was 11 years old. Her grandparents were custodians of the church and she would often help them clean, her job was to bring water from the well in the basement to fill the baptismal, since the church did not have running water at the time. She was very active in the church and had been an adult Sunday School Teacher, in the choir, Children’s Sunday School teacher and superintendent, participated in all the plays and Christmas programs, chaired many different committees, and helped with funeral luncheons, wedding receptions, and fund raisers not only at the church but for her community. She also had fond memories of helping with the farm progress shows. Vera was a proud member of the VFW Auxiliary and served many offices including president. Vera and Dale enjoyed camping, dancing, family get togethers, and especially enjoyed camping in the back yard with the family for the entire weekend. She loved to bowl with Dale and she bowled a 297 and picked up a 7 – 10 split! She also loved to drive and had reflected that she had never had a traffic ticket and only a minor fender bender. In Vera’s word’s,” I have had a great life for many years. There have been ups and downs, joys and sorrows, joys and worries, many friends and many family members. A Great Family and Loved Ones.” Left to remember and cherish Vera’s memory are her children: Diane (Roger) McHone of Bondurant, Gary (Janice) Cory of Polk City, Ned (Theresa) Cory of Des Moines, and Julie (CJ) Kulish of Altoona; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and her sister, Veda Dyer of Madrid. Preceding her in death were her parents: Alva and Mildred; husband, Dale; son, Gene; and grandsons: Tommy and Shawn.