Geneva L. Hovey (Hemfling)

Geneva Leora Hovey, 98, of Bellevue, passed away, Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Bethany Home in Dubuque. A Christian Funeral Service for Geneva will be held at 11:00 am, Friday morning, April 29, at First Presbyterian Church, in Bellevue. A visitation will be from 10:00 11:00am, Friday morning prior to the service, also at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Hachmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Bellevue. Geneva Hemfling was born the third of 5 daughters to Henry and Jesse (Smith) Hemfling on December 6, 1917 on the family farm near Andrew, Iowa. She met and married Daryl Galen Hovey on May 8, 1945. Out of that union were born twins, JoAnn and Joyce (who died 3 days after birth), and Glinda. In 1949 Daryl and Geneva moved to Bellevue and purchased The Bellevue Locker and Ice Company. Geneva worked alongside Daryl running the locker until his death in 1967. Geneva continued to operate the locker until selling it. She then worked at Tillmans Variety and Theisens Variety until 1992. Bellevue was her home until 2012 when she moved to Bethany Home in Dubuque. Geneva was a wonderful cook, especially lemon meringue and chocolate pie. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and 4-H leader in addition to working full time and raising her two girls. At the age 80 Geneva underwent open heart surgery which allowed her many more years to do what she loved most, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Arizona and many bus trips with friends. Geneva was an avid Cubs fan and had a wonderful sense of humor. Those left to honor her memory include her two daughters, JoAnn (Douglas) Latham, of Bellevue, and Glinda (Lee) Manternach, of Peosta, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jessica (Chad) Witter, Gina (Dan) Sargent, Tom Blitgen, Tracy (Mike) Blaser, Michelle (Jeremy) Heiderscheit and Jared (Emily) Ernst ; eight great-grandchildren, Cole and Luke Witter, Shelby Sargent, Austin and Alyssa, Blaser, Nate and Pete Heiderscheit, and Mckenzie and Easton Ernst; 5 step grandchildren, 14 step great-grandchildren and two dear friends, Karen Ganzer and Lorraine Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Joyce and four sisters, Edith, Enid, Frances and Kay. Thank you to ALL of the staff at Bethany Home for their care and compassion to Mom.' Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hachmannfuneralhome.comReception:First Presbyterian Church305 Market StreetBellevue, IA 52031