Iva Amundson

MADISON-Iva Fern Amundson, age 94, died at HospiceCare in Fitchburg on December 26, 2009. Born in Slayton, MN Sept 6, 1915, she was the ninth and youngest child of Carl and Sarah Amundson. Following her Slayton High School graduation she had a year of teacher training and taught country school for a year. Deciding to become a nurse, she entered the Peoria, IL Methodist Hospital Nurses Training School in1936, graduating as a registered nurse in 1939, then working as a surgical nurse at the Geiley Eye Clinic in Bloomington, IL. In 1942 she entered the Army Nurse Corp, nursing in U.S. military hospitals before being shipped to the South Pacific in 1944, where she nursed the wounded in military hospitals in Australia, New Guinea and Manilla,Phillipines. Following her Army Corp discharge in 1946, she enrolled in the Public Health Nursing Program at the University of Minnesota under the G.I. Bill. Field work requirements needed for her to complete her Public Health education, sent her to Madison to work with the County and Visiting Nursing Service. Receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing graduation, she returned to Madison as a staff member of the Visiting Nurse Service staff. She was as the Director of Nursing for the Badger Red Cross retiring in 1979. The Badger Red Cross Bloodmobiles and her staff of 50 nurses traveled to 46 counties in WI, IL, IA, and MI, collecting thousands of units of blood for area hospitals. Iva was a world traveler, enjoying the opportunity of meeting the people of other countries as she learned their history and culture. In the 1970\'s, she was honored in being named Know Your Madisonian, and a special dinner was given in recognition of this tribute. She enjoyed the diversity volunteering offered her in her retirement, and had been an active volunteer for RSVP and her church., She had been a member of Bethel Lutheran Church for many years. She was an avid Bridge and scrabble player, and enjoyed bowling, music, concerts and reading. Her parents, brothers and sisters preceded Iva in death. She leaves to mourn her niece Pat Linn and many other nieces and nephews, her many friends and the staff of Oakwood Village - West, which has been her home these past six years.Memorial services will be held at Oakwood Village West Resurrection Chapel, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison on January 2, 2010,at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at Oakwood. Memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church. Memorials: Memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church. Visitation: Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at Oakwood Service: Memorial services will be held at Oakwood Village West Resurrection Chapel, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison on January 2, 2010,at 11:30 a.m