Beverly Jean Wagner

Beverly Jean Wagner, 94, of Ankeny, IA, formerly of Marshalltown passed away from complications of a broken hip, Thursday December 31, 2020 at Taylor House Hospice, Des Moines. A private family service will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home on Saturday, January 2, 2021, with burial to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.  Memorial contributions may be directed to her family and will be designated to Independence Village Memory Care, 1275 SW State St., Ankeny, IA 50023. For further information or to send Beverly’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Beverly was born on May 21, 1926 near Conrad, one of three daughters born to Harry and Grace Graves. She grew up in Iowa, graduated from Albion High School in 1942 and attended Business College. Beverly was a charming lady. Her most endearing quality was her never-failing kindness. Everyone who knew her was touched by her sparkling blue eyes, smile and ability to listen. She was beautiful inside and out, always impeccably and elegantly dressed, hair in place, makeup and fingernails perfectly done. She had a lovely voice and sang at many weddings and funerals, accompanied by her sister Marylouise. Beverly enjoyed styling hair, creating flower arrangements and playing tennis. In her younger years she was an enthusiastic horsewoman. As a teenager she helped with the household expenses by styling hair and working as a part-time telephone operator in Albion. She worked for 30 years at Lennox Industries in Marshalltown, and rose to head the payroll department at Lennox Industries at a time when women did not hold those types of positions. Beverly was also involved in the community as a member of Marshalltown United Methodist Church, Leornian Club, Red Hat Ladies, area card clubs and many more organizations. Left to cherish her memory are her four nieces and nephews: Larry (Shirley) Long, Kevin (Pam) Long, Gregory (Cheryl) Long, Mitzi (Doug) Currie and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Butterfield (death 1981) and second husband John Wagner (death 2002); parents, Harry and Grace Graves (Albion), her sisters Henrietta Logsdon (Kansas City) and Marylouise (Charles) Long (Marshalltown).