Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Trinity Church at the Hausbarn Heritage Park in Manning with burial at the Manning Cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 - 8 PM Friday, February 2, 2018 at the Ohde Funeral Home in Manning. There will be a prayer service at 7 PM.
Visitation will resume at 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Church.
Officiating Pastor Robert Riggert
Congregational Hymns "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" "Jesus Lives, The Victory's Won" "I'm But A Stranger Here"
Carolyn Kerkhoff, Organist
Casketbearers: Aaron Ostebee, Heath Ostebee, Amber Ostebee, Bridget Cunningham, Tim Christensen, Stan Baack
Interment Manning Cemetery Manning, Iowa

Viola Mae, daughter of Henry & Wilhelmina (Dreager) Asmus was born April 6, 1925, at the family home in rural Audubon. She died January 30, 2018, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center at the age of 92 years, 9 months, and 24 days.

Viola attended school and graduated from Gray Community Schools in 1942. Viola was united in marriage with Magnus Ostebee by Pastor Otto at 8:30 pm on August 20, 1944, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple initially made their home near Irwin before making their home in rural Audubon County where they farmed and raised Hereford cattle and farrowed hogs. The couple was blessed with three children: Eugene, Merlene, and Eileen. Eugene went to be with Jesus in July of 1956 during open heart surgery at Iowa City. Magnus was called to his eternal home in February 1966. Despite these challenges, Viola remained on the farm, maintaining the land and the livestock while raising her two other children.

Viola was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Audubon until it was moved to a historical site in May 2006. Then she became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning until she was no longer able to drive. She then enjoyed attending evening services at Peace Lutheran Church in Harlan with her son, where she was an active member at the time of her death.

Viola was definitely a farm girl. She loved being outside tending her flowers and garden, doing daily chores and working with the cattle, whom she all knew personally. Viola had a heart bigger than life and enjoyed piecing together quilts for family and friends, as well as Lutheran World Relief. Most importantly Viola had a contagious love for the lord. She was rock solid in her faith and this made her the pillar of her family and the tremendous wife, mother and grandma we cherished.

Welcoming Viola at heaven's gates in addition to her parents, husband and son were her daughter Eileen in 2005 and her brothers Arnold, Earl and Harold Asmus.

Welcoming Viola at heaven's gates in addition to her parents, husband and son were her daughter Eileen in 2005, and brothers Arnold, Earl, and Harold Asmus.

Left to grieve Viola are her son Reverend Merlene (Joyce) Ostebee of Audubon and son-in-law Ron (Kay) Sporrer of Anderson, South Carolina; grandchildren: Bridget (John) Cunningham of Stewartville, Minnesota; Aaron (and special friend Adriane) Ostebee of Easley, South Carolina; Heath (Sitton) Ostebee of Easley South Carolina; Amber Ostebee of Rochester, Minnesota; Lindsey Sporrer of Santa Monica, California; and Kyle Sporrer of Corvallis, Oregon; great-grandchildren: Ian, Aayden, Anna, and Elayna of Stewartville, Minnesota; Halle of Easley, South Carolina; and Ali, Lexi, Hunter, and Nate of Easley, South Carolina. Also surviving Viola are sisters-in-law Darlene Asmus of Audubon, Iowa, and Margaret Cook of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.