Vivian Janette McPherson

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Vivian Janette McPherson, 91, of Hawarden, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Funeral Service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, September 8, 2025, at Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden with Rev. Dr. Tom Smith officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by Two Oaks American Legion Post 254 of Hawarden and the Offutt Air Force Honor Guard will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will begin at noon on Monday until 1:15 p.m. at the funeral home.

Vivian Janette McPherson was born July 25, 1934, in New York City, the daughter of Fredrick and Francis (Porter) Stewart. She grew up in Jackson Heights, New York and attended school at Valley Stream Central High School and graduated from Nasua County High School. She entered the United States Air Force in 1952. Vivian married Donald Henry McPherson May 7, 1954, in Sonoma, California. They later moved to Akron, Iowa where they owned and operated the “McPherson Variety” store for almost 20 years. Their store was known for the biggest candy rack in Siouxland!

Vivian and Donald moved to Hawarden, Iowa where Vivian sold Avon products for 20 years. She was also a Hospice Volunteer for 19 years, following the death of Donald in 1997. Vivian was an avid quilter and made 100’s of quilts in her lifetime. She loved being a mother and loved cooking for others. Vivian was a longtime member of the American Lutheran Church in Hawarden.

She is survived by her four children, Nancy Lynn McPherson and her significant other Ann of Burnsville, Minnesota, David Ray McPherson and his wife Susan of Dillon Lake, Colorado, Karen Sue Kennedy and her husband Russell of Hawarden and her children, Hayden Robak and Holly Robak, and Dawn Vivian McKee and her husband Clinton of Hawarden and their children, Ellyn McPherson and her fiancé Chris Lewis and her children Braelynn and Kinzi Hinkeldye, Tori Tegethoff and her husband Seth and their children Aubrey, Everleigh and Remi, and Jocelyn Ortiz and her husband Luis.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; husband Donald; and two brothers, Donald Charles Stewart and Malcolm Fredrick Stewart.