Vivian I. LeMaster
July 16, 1914 — March 10, 2017
Vivian I. LeMaster, 102, of Moline, IL, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017, at her residence.
Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and burial of cremains will be at Riverside Cemetery at a later date. Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Vivian was born on July 16, 1914, in Silvis, IL, one of 12 children of John and Augusta Murk Herman. Her parents died when she was a young teen and her family was divided between various foster homes. While her life was not always easy she never lost her optimism or strength of character.
Vivian married Orville “Pete” J. LeMaster on April 22, 1939, in Davenport, IA, and he preceded her in death on November 14, 1997. At the age of 19, she began working in the Kewanee Hospital and went on to work for Servus Rubber, Buddy L., and later as a banquet waitress for the former Plantation in Moline.
Later, Vivian earned her GED and enjoyed computer games, solitaire, and facebook. She enjoyed finding yard sale bargains, her doll collection, and loved cooking for family and friends. Vivian especially enjoyed hosting holiday dinners and often said, “There’s always room at the table for one more.” She could fix things from toys to household repairs. As she grew older, she devised and created ways to make her life easier like using string to turn on her lights and ceiling fan without getting out of bed. How she managed to rig the system without help remained a mystery that she took with her. While in her later years her physical health deteriorated, she remained mentally sharp and did not lose her sense of humor, often remarking how “Getting old was not for sissies”.
Survivors include her 3 daughters, Beverly Haezebroeck, Moline, IL; Sally (Dave Happel) Stephens, Cambridge, IL; Nancy (Armando) Perez, Leming, TX; son, Glenn (Joyce) E. LeMaster; Port Byron, IL; 7 grandchildren, Kevin, Kris, Brian, Scott, Danny, Shelly, and Jennifer; and several great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandsons, Ryan and Donovon; son-in-law, Leon; 7 sisters; 4 brothers.
The family would like to send a special thank you to hospice staff, Laura, Cheryl, Julie, and Makaila of UnityPoint Hospice.