Erma Jean Conder, 89, passed peacefully and entered into heaven December 30, 2020 at Ramsey Village in Des Moines. Private burial will be held at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery on Merle Hay Road. There are no immediate services planned at this time and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Erma was born to Charles Parr and Opal (Hollingsworth) Parr May 17, 1931 at home in Mahaska County, Iowa. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1949, and was married to the late Ronald (Barney) Conder on August 1, 1951. They lived together in Des Moines for 61 years. Erma is survived by six children, Terry (Vicki) Conder of Omaha, NE, Sue (Chet) Muehlenthaler of Ankeny, Cindy DeGeus of Oregon, Dr. Tom Conder of Missouri, Tim (Karen) Conder of Tennessee, and Julie Thompson of Georgia, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband Ronald in 2012, parents, brothers Lauren Parr and Carroll Parr, and grandson Jason DeGeus.
Over the years Erma worked for Kings Food Host, Montgomery Ward Collections, Iowa Credit Union League, and finally Norwest (Wells Fargo) where she retired in 1996. After she retired, up until a few years ago, Erma worked for the Senior Companions/Visiting Nurses Association and during the holidays at the Hickory Farms kiosk in Merle Hay Mall.
She belonged to Westchester Evangelical Free Church and was an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye basketball fan. Mom and Dad loved to travel and her favorite times were spent together with her children and grandchildren.
The family requests that people make a charitable contribution in support of Senior Companions c/o EveryStep-3000 Easton Blvd., Des Moines, IA 50317, in lieu of sending flowers.
