A Mass of Christian Burial for Viola Berdine Stangl formerly of Knoxville, Iowa, was held Monday, February 5, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Knoxville, Iowa. Reverend Dennis Hoffman was Celebrant. Music was provided by the St. Anthony's Choir with Jane Buffo as pianist. Her cremated remains will be buried at the Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville following the service.

Viola, daughter of William and Dorothy Joens was born April 26, 1922, in Manilla, Iowa. She was the second of five children. She was raised in Manning, Iowa, and graduated from Manning High School in the class of 1940 and then attended business school. She married Oswald (Barney) Stangl on October 8, 1941, and soon after saw her husband sent off to the South Pacific with the outbreak of World War II. Immediately after the war, she and her husband lived in Manning, moving to Knoxville in 1951. She was a long-standing member of the Knoxville Senior Center Kitchen Band, a volunteer band that performed free for residents at various nursing homes around the area. Besides her musical talents, she was also an artist who painted many lovely landscapes and nature scenes. A devout Catholic, she was a member of the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Knoxville since 1951. She was active as a member of the choir, played the guitar, and was an officer in the Altar and Rosary Society. She also was active in the Mothers' club at the St. Anthony School.

Viola, age 84, died February 2, 2007, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

In addition to her parents, Viola was preceded in death by four sisters: Inez Joens, Elnora Johnson, Donna Williams, and Naomi Spitler.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Barney of Carlisle Care Center; son, Larry (Lily) of Pittsburg, California; daughters, Beth Ann (Gary) Clarke of Ames, Iowa, and Suzanne (Joe) Stangl-Erkens of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota; three grandchildren, David (Tina) Stangl, Aprille Clarke (Denny Crall), and Tyler Clarke; one great grandchild, Lisa Stangl, and many other family members and friends.

Bybee & Davis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.