Vivian Grace Lane

Vivian Grace Lane
of Johnston, Iowa

Vivian Grace Lane, 78, passed away on October 24, 2025 at Harmony West Des Moines. She was born on June 8, 1947 to Lawrence and Dorthea (Anthony) Lang in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Vivian graduated from BGM (Brooklyn, Guernsey, Malcom) High School in May 1965. Following high school, she attended the Professional Business Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she completed a six-month Medical Assistant training program and graduated in December 1965.

Vivian began her career as a Medical Assistant at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, where she worked for several years. In 1967, she married and moved to Cedar Rapids. The couple later settled in Brooklyn, Iowa, where Vivian worked at Donaldson’s in Grinnell for about ten years.

In 1980, Vivian and her family moved to Pella, Iowa, where she worked at Pella Windows for approximately twelve years. They eventually relocated to Des Moines, where she joined Bosens The Florist. Vivian later became the owner and manager of Reeds in Beaverdale, Iowa, a role she took great pride in.

Throughout her career, Vivian also managed several grocery store deli departments at Dahl’s and Price Chopper locations in the Des Moines area. In 2018, she moved to Johnston and worked at Goodwill, retiring from there in March 2020.

Mom found so much joy in making floral arrangements, both for herself and for others. Each creation reflected her love of beauty, her creativity, and the happiness she brought to those around her.

Vivian is survived by her loving children, Brenda (Scott) Witmer, Sandy Flanagan and Dan (Naomi) Flanagan; grandchildren, Brittany, Shelby, Christopher, Summer, Macoy, Joshua, Tory, Tabor, Hawkins and Zoe; great grandchildren, Nora, Isabel, Sawyer, Beau, Callahan and Naomi.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Debbie Flanagan; parents, Lawrence Lang and Dorthea (Anthony) Lang.

Family will greet guests on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Vivian will be laid to rest at the Calvary Cemetery in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ronald McDonald House in loving memory of Vivian.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

Print