Vera J Kvamme

Vera Joyce (Fox) Kvamme, age 86, of North Mankato, died Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at the Mankato Lutheran Home.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 24, 2007 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato. Private family burial will be in Savidge Lake Cemetery, Cleveland, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Monday. Memorials may be given to an organization of the donor's choice.

Vera was born April 13, 1921 to Charlotte A. (Randall) Fox and George W. J. Fox in Cleveland, MN. She graduated from LeCenter High School in 1939 and obtained her Registered Nursing degree from Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis. She was united in marriage to J. Peder Kvamme on July 28, 1943 at Riverside Church, New York City, NY. During World War II, while her husband served in the U.S. Navy, she worked in the contagious diseases ward of the San Francisco Children's Hospital and for the Red Cross blood bank in San Francisco, CA. Returning to Minnesota after the war, she volunteered with many organizations in the Mankato area. She taught Sunday School and was chairman of the Stewardship Committee for many years at Bethlehem Lutheran. She was a leader in both Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scouts, served on the boards of the United Way and the Luther Memorial Home, Madelia, was active in Lutheran Social Services and was an honored member of the Mankato Heart Health program. She originated the blood pressure clinics in Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties, was chairman of the Swine Flu clinics and began the Red Cross babysitting program. She was also chairman of the local American Red Cross Disaster Nursing program which proved so successful during the 1965 flood that she was asked to give organizational seminars at the state and national levels. For her meritorious work, she was recognized by the American Red Cross with the Clara Barton Award and with the Ann Magnuson Award, their highest national recognition. She was the first volunteer ever to receive it. She was also honored with the Service to Mankind Award from the Mankato Sertoma Club. Over the years she was active in the Minnesota State University " Mankato Foreign Student Wives Association and home hosted 65 foreign students. She and her husband loved to travel, several times traveling with the Friendship Force organization, and visited many countries throughout the world including Russia and China, her childhood dream. She also traveled extensively tracing her family's genealogy and has her work in numerous universities and libraries, including the Library of Congress.

Vera is survived by her husband, J. Peder Kvamme of North Mankato; four children, John (Marit) Kvamme of St. Peter, David (Maria) Kvamme of North Mankato, Karene (Gene) Heupel of Maple Grove, JoNell Kvamme of Seville, Spain; twelve grandchildren, Kristine, Greta, and Johan Peder Kvamme, Stephanie, Monica, and Gabriela Kvamme, Paul, Mark, and Ben Heupel, Jaime, Mercedes, and Elena Esteben-Kvamme; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents; twin brother, Vernon; sister, Ruth.