Betty Holwegner

Betty Marion Clark Holwegner, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully with family holding her hand in the early morning hours on February 25, 2022 at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. She was born March 12, 1939 at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. The daughter of Thomas McNeil Clark and Ida Marion Caldwell Clark. She graduated from Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Maryland in 1957. She attended Washington Hospital Center School of Nursing in Washington, D.C. and graduated June 10, 1960 with her registered nurse certification. She completed her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree at South Dakota State University College of Nursing in Brookings, South Dakota in 1966. Betty was united in marriage to Leonard James Holwegner on September 21, 1963 in Wheaton, Maryland. After her husband graduated from South Dakota State University, they moved to Washington, Iowa where they raised their family; Son, James McNeil and daughter, Jeannette Renee. Bettys marriage ended in 1985 with a divorce. Betty’s professional career included: Private duty nursing in Rapid City, SD. Public School Nursing in Brookings, SD. Director of Halcyon House Retirement Center in Washington, Iowa. Staff nursing at Washington County Hospital. Her last position was Health Facility Surveyor for the State of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa. She retired in 2002 to care of her mother until she passed in 2006. Even though she retired, her love for nursing never ended. She used her broad knowledge to care for many friends, family and loved ones during their times of need and felt great joy being able to help others. Betty loved to travel. The more she saw, the more she wanted to explore. Her travels took her to every state of the USA. Outside the USA she visited Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom, all European countries, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. South Korea, Canada including Nova Scotia, Cape Brenton and Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Vancouver, Victoria Island and Yukon. She shared her love of travel with her children and grandchildren by taking them with her to the beautiful countries of Ireland, Japan and Scotland. She loved the great outdoors and would find great solitude and peace being in the wilderness marveling at Gods beauty. Betty’s interests also included flower gardening and bird watching. She was a member of the Urbandale Garden Club and Des Moines Audubon Society. She volunteered as a bluebird monitor each summer checking boxes and counting new fledglings. She was a well-loved member of the New Hope United Methodist Church and loved helping out in the kitchen with church events. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Anne Nelson and brother Charles William Clark. Her legacy will forever live on through her family; son Jim and wife Deb Holwegner (Gallup); daughter Jeannette Wagner and husband Bill; the grandchildren she was very proud of: Jenna Marie Holwegner, Jacob Thomas Holwegner, Amanda Grace Holwegner, Ashley Marion Stanley and husband Andrew, Paige Jamie Chalupa and husband Jaden and Sierra Leigh; two great-granddaughters who she adored: Juniper Jae Chalupa and Magnolia Mae Chalupa. Betty’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 5th, at 12:00 p.m. at the New Hope United Methodist Church, 4525 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50310. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be collected and donated to the ADA-Juvenile Diabetes Association per her wishes.