Agnes A. Rayhons

GARNER – Agnes A. Rayhons, 94, of Garner died Saturday (November 3, 2007) at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with Fr. Brian Dellaert as celebrant and Fr. Henry Huber, Fr. Jerry Kopacek and Fr. Randy Schon as concelebrants. Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Tuesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with a combined Rosary Society, CD of A and Catholic Workman rosary at 4 P.M. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Agnes Anastacia Rayhons, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Kudej) Kopacek, was born February 28, 1913 on a farm east of Britt. She attended the rural schools of Liberty Township until the eighth grade. On September 6, 1932 she was married to Henry J. Rayhons at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They lived on the family farm northwest of Garner where they raised their family and farmed. In 1972, they retired from farming and moved to their new home in Garner. Agnes loved to bake bread and made delicious kolaches, rolickes and other Czech breads. She was a wonderful and caring wife and mother. Agnes took great pride in her family and home. She loved her flowers and had a vase of fresh flowers on her table in the summer. Agnes enjoyed her grandchildren, great grandchildren, quilting with her sisters and friends and handiwork. She also made patchwork quilts for all her great grandchildren.

Agnes was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan and St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner. She also was a member of Rosary Society, CD of A and Catholic Workman FCSLA Branch W51.

She is survived by her nine children, Francis (Lois) Rayhons of Garner, Henry V. Rayhons (fiancée, Donna Young) of Garner, Teresa (LeRoy) Preuschl of Garner, Evelyn (Paul) Grandgenett of Wesley, Agnes (Jerald) Zeihan of Marshalltown, Laurence (Carole) Rayhons of Lenox , George (Mary) Rayhons of Corpus Christi, TX , Mark (Kathy) Rayhons of Garner and Mary ( Gene ) Rasmussen of Ames; thirty-five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; sixty-one great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; a brother, Vincent Kopacek of Britt; two sisters, Vivian Formanek of Britt and Marie Brcka of Britt; and many nieces and nephews.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, of 49 years in 1981; her parents; a daughter-in-law, Marvalyn Rayhons; three grandchildren; one great grandchild; sisters, Mildred Wellik, Lillian Chizek, Blanche Paca, Helen Kopacek and Evelyn Kopacek; and brothers, Raymond, Arnold and Francis Kopacek.

In passing Agnes contributed to mankind by donating her brain tissue to Washington State University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO for Alzheimer’s research.