Emma Luck Towsley DeVries, 96

Emma Luck Towsley DeVries, age 96, of Greene, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2024, at the Clarksville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Woodley Funeral Home of Greene is caring for Emma and her family. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 28, 2024, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene. Visitation will be held the same day, from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Emma will be laid to rest with a private family committal service at Oak Hill Cemetery in New Hartford.

Emma was born on June 30, 1927, near New Hartford, IA in Butler, County, the daughter of Ernest Alonzo Luck and Evelyn Marie (Jepperson) Luck.  She graduated from New Hartford High School in 1944.  Emma was united in marriage to Delbert Towsley of New Hartford August of 1946, while a student nurse in the US Cadet Nurse Corps at Allen Hospital in Waterloo.  Delbert died in 1964.  They had three children: Doreen Marie, Lynn Alan and Brent Ernest Towsley.  She married Raymond B. DeVries of Greene in June of 1970 and acquired another son, Randall Ray DeVries.

Emma continued her education and worked in various fields of healthcare for 25 years, including medical-surgical nursing and obstetrical nursing at Sartori Hospital, Cedar Falls, and as office nurse for Dr. Gerard, Waterloo. She provided geriatric nursing care at Allison Care Center as the Director of Nursing and served as Administrator of Community Nursing Home, Clarksville, for 13 years and continued to serve on the Board of Directors for 12 years. 

Emma taught Sunday school and youth groups for several years.  She enjoyed nursing and helping others, a variety of music, flower gardening, basket weaving, candle making, church activities and family most of all. 

Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Doreen Towsley-Cook, Lynn (Jean) Towsley, Brent Towsley and Randy (Anne Marie) DeVries; grandchildren: Eric (Carrie) Cunningham, Timothy Cunningham, Amy (Shane) Testroet, Levi (Sarah) Towsley, Bryon (Caryl) DeVries, Katie DeVries, Jennifer (Cole Nevid) DeVries, Charles (Mallory) DeVries and Samantha Sullivan; great-grandchildren: Hallie (Trae) Ulrich, Dallas Testroet, Dawson Testroet, Alysa (Ryan) Towsley, Clayton Towsley and Emma Towsley, June Hassman, Adrian Hassman, Matilda DeVries, and Raymond DeVries; great-great-grandchildren: Rowan Ulrich, Briar Ulrich, Eli Ulrich, Abram Ulrich, Indie Ulrich, Brantley Grimm, Ila Grimm, and other extended family members and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Delbert Towsley; second husband, Raymond DeVries; parents, Ernest and Evelyn Luck, son in law Gerald Cook, and seven siblings including her twin, Clara.

In expression of sympathy, memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene.