Victor Spohnheimer was born on the family farm near Donnellson, Iowa. He was raised by his father, Edgar, and mother, Pauline, along with his younger brother, Levi.
Victor and Levi attended a one room schoolhouse, walking cross-country to school almost every day. They later attended Donnellson High School and graduated in 1933. Their walk to Donnellson occasionally intersected with that of Victor's future wife, Iola Lowenberg, and her siblings. During the lean years of the early 30's, Victor's grandfather at one point offered him $25 if he would stay and work on the farm rather than continue his education. After serious consideration, he chose to enter Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, in 1934 on a work scholarship. During the fall of 1935, Victor was struck with polio in his left arm. After six weeks of recovery, he returned to school and graduated in 1938 with a BS in Math and Science, Phi Beta Kappa.
His 42 year teaching career began at Burlington Junior High in 1938 teaching PE and Art. The following year he began teaching algebra and biology at Burlington Senior High and continued there until 1946. While at Burlington, he obtained a MS degree in botany from the University of Iowa.
Victor and Iola were married on June 2, 1946. They made their home in Keokuk where Victor had accepted a position at the Senior High teching math and biology. While there, he also taught biology, zoology, and botany at the Junior College and adult night school math classes.
In 1961 he began teaching math at Central Lee Community High School in the new school district, providing the opportunity to move back to the family farm. Victor taught all advanced math classes at Central Lee until he retired in 1980. He operated the family farm from 1958-1992, his "official retirement", but many neighbors would say he never actually "retired" from farming.
Victor served a total of 18 years as trustee, deacon, and chairman of the Mennonite and Presbyterian Yoked Fellowship.
He is surved by Iola, his wife of 64 years; daughters Sandra (David) Petersen of Altoona, IA, and Mary Spohnheimer of Donnellson; son John (Merry) Spohnheimer of Carrollton, TX; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Victor took great pleasure in showing family members the pine and walnut groves he had planted over 30 years ago and in leading expeditions into the timber for hickory nut harvests. Ever the teacher, he imparted his love and knowledgeg of trees and his timber to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Victor and Levi attended a one room schoolhouse, walking cross-country to school almost every day. They later attended Donnellson High School and graduated in 1933. Their walk to Donnellson occasionally intersected with that of Victor's future wife, Iola Lowenberg, and her siblings. During the lean years of the early 30's, Victor's grandfather at one point offered him $25 if he would stay and work on the farm rather than continue his education. After serious consideration, he chose to enter Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, in 1934 on a work scholarship. During the fall of 1935, Victor was struck with polio in his left arm. After six weeks of recovery, he returned to school and graduated in 1938 with a BS in Math and Science, Phi Beta Kappa.
His 42 year teaching career began at Burlington Junior High in 1938 teaching PE and Art. The following year he began teaching algebra and biology at Burlington Senior High and continued there until 1946. While at Burlington, he obtained a MS degree in botany from the University of Iowa.
Victor and Iola were married on June 2, 1946. They made their home in Keokuk where Victor had accepted a position at the Senior High teching math and biology. While there, he also taught biology, zoology, and botany at the Junior College and adult night school math classes.
In 1961 he began teaching math at Central Lee Community High School in the new school district, providing the opportunity to move back to the family farm. Victor taught all advanced math classes at Central Lee until he retired in 1980. He operated the family farm from 1958-1992, his "official retirement", but many neighbors would say he never actually "retired" from farming.
Victor served a total of 18 years as trustee, deacon, and chairman of the Mennonite and Presbyterian Yoked Fellowship.
He is surved by Iola, his wife of 64 years; daughters Sandra (David) Petersen of Altoona, IA, and Mary Spohnheimer of Donnellson; son John (Merry) Spohnheimer of Carrollton, TX; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Victor took great pleasure in showing family members the pine and walnut groves he had planted over 30 years ago and in leading expeditions into the timber for hickory nut harvests. Ever the teacher, he imparted his love and knowledgeg of trees and his timber to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Victor Spohnheimer was born on the family farm near Donnellson, Iowa. He was raised by his father, Edgar, and mother, Pauline, along with his younger brother, Levi.
Victor and Levi attended a one room schoolhouse, walking cross-country to school almost every day. They later attended Donnellson High School and graduated in 1933. Their walk to Donnellson occasionally intersected with that of Victor's future wife, Iola Lowenberg, and her siblings. During the lean years of the early 30's, Victor's grandfather at one point offered him $25 if he would stay and work on the farm rather than continue his education. After serious consideration, he chose to enter Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, in 1934 on a work scholarship. During the fall of 1935, Victor was struck with polio in his left arm. After six weeks of recovery, he returned to school and graduated in 1938 with a BS in Math and Science, Phi Beta Kappa.
His 42 year teaching career began at Burlington Junior High in 1938 teaching PE and Art. The following year he began teaching algebra and biology at Burlington Senior High and continued there until 1946. While at Burlington, he obtained a MS degree in botany from the University of Iowa.
Victor and Iola were married on June 2, 1946. They made their home in Keokuk where Victor had accepted a position at the Senior High teching math and biology. While there, he also taught biology, zoology, and botany at the Junior College and adult night school math classes.
In 1961 he began teaching math at Central Lee Community High School in the new school district, providing the opportunity to move back to the family farm. Victor taught all advanced math classes at Central Lee until he retired in 1980. He operated the family farm from 1958-1992, his "official retirement", but many neighbors would say he never actually "retired" from farming.
Victor served a total of 18 years as trustee, deacon, and chairman of the Mennonite and Presbyterian Yoked Fellowship.
He is surved by Iola, his wife of 64 years; daughters Sandra (David) Petersen of Altoona, IA, and Mary Spohnheimer of Donnellson; son John (Merry) Spohnheimer of Carrollton, TX; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Victor took great pleasure in showing family members the pine and walnut groves he had planted over 30 years ago and in leading expeditions into the timber for hickory nut harvests. Ever the teacher, he imparted his love and knowledgeg of trees and his timber to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Victor and Levi attended a one room schoolhouse, walking cross-country to school almost every day. They later attended Donnellson High School and graduated in 1933. Their walk to Donnellson occasionally intersected with that of Victor's future wife, Iola Lowenberg, and her siblings. During the lean years of the early 30's, Victor's grandfather at one point offered him $25 if he would stay and work on the farm rather than continue his education. After serious consideration, he chose to enter Parsons College, Fairfield, IA, in 1934 on a work scholarship. During the fall of 1935, Victor was struck with polio in his left arm. After six weeks of recovery, he returned to school and graduated in 1938 with a BS in Math and Science, Phi Beta Kappa.
His 42 year teaching career began at Burlington Junior High in 1938 teaching PE and Art. The following year he began teaching algebra and biology at Burlington Senior High and continued there until 1946. While at Burlington, he obtained a MS degree in botany from the University of Iowa.
Victor and Iola were married on June 2, 1946. They made their home in Keokuk where Victor had accepted a position at the Senior High teching math and biology. While there, he also taught biology, zoology, and botany at the Junior College and adult night school math classes.
In 1961 he began teaching math at Central Lee Community High School in the new school district, providing the opportunity to move back to the family farm. Victor taught all advanced math classes at Central Lee until he retired in 1980. He operated the family farm from 1958-1992, his "official retirement", but many neighbors would say he never actually "retired" from farming.
Victor served a total of 18 years as trustee, deacon, and chairman of the Mennonite and Presbyterian Yoked Fellowship.
He is surved by Iola, his wife of 64 years; daughters Sandra (David) Petersen of Altoona, IA, and Mary Spohnheimer of Donnellson; son John (Merry) Spohnheimer of Carrollton, TX; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Victor took great pleasure in showing family members the pine and walnut groves he had planted over 30 years ago and in leading expeditions into the timber for hickory nut harvests. Ever the teacher, he imparted his love and knowledgeg of trees and his timber to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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