Mary Virginia Mingus

Mary Virginia Mingus, known by friends and family as Virginia and “Jiddy”, age 88, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2020 due to injuries suffered in an auto accident south of Coon Rapids.

A public graveside service will be held at 3:30 P.M. on Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Coon Rapids Cemetery with Rev. Joyce Webb of the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids officiating.  Casket bearers will be Virginia’s family members.  Those in attendance at the cemetery are asked to abide by Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

A Celebration of Virginia’s life will be held at a later date when circumstances permit.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorials and cards to: The Family of Virginia Mingus c/o Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home, 518 Main St., Coon Rapids, Iowa  50058.

Virginia was born on July 16, 1931 on her family’s farm north of Coon Rapids, IA, and was the daughter of Jake and Ruth (Rafferty) Bell.  She grew up on the farm and attended school in Coon Rapids.  She was active in many school activities, was honored to be homecoming queen, and graduated in 1949.  She went on to attend Drake University where she earned a degree in elementary education.  Virginia was married to Ronald Mingus on August 9, 1953 at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids.  The couple made their home in Coon Rapids where their three children, Bob, Jean and Ann, were born.  In 1963 the family moved to the Iowa City area where she taught kindergarten at Clear Creek Community School.  The family lived in Ames, IA from 1971 – 1984 where she was a teacher’s associate in the Ames Community School District.  Ron and Virginia also lived in Colorado and New York with Ron’s job before moving permanently back to Coon Rapids in 1989.  Virginia was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids and did a great deal of volunteer work in the area including many years with the “Apple Dumpling Gang”, church circle, funeral luncheon committee, and the United Methodist Women.  She had a kind heart and a loving spirit who brought joy to all who knew her.

Virginia is survived by her children and their families: Bob Mingus (Melinda) of Ankeny, Jean Marcello (Art) of Ft. Collins, CO, and Ann Cropper (Bill) of Steamboat Springs, CO; seven grandchildren: Shaun Mingus (Danyelle) of Palm Springs, CA, Kate Frisch (Maxim) of Ft. Collins, Co, Marie Newton (Randy Phariss) of Steamboat Springs, CO, Sara Downing (Justen) of Indianola, IA, Jared Mingus of Austin, TX, David Cropper of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Molly Mingus of Des Moines; eight great-grandchildren: Connor, Taylor, Natalie, Hunter, Nathan, Benton, Jade, and Veda; a sister Shirley Hachmeister of Coon Rapids; a sister-in-law Carol Hoover of Kankakee, IL, and several nieces and nephews.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Mingus in 2010; her parents Jake and Ruth Bell; her in-laws Freeman and Ruth Mingus of Coon Rapids; and a nephew David Hachmeister.