DOLORES LaRene (Leas) GJEFLE 1921-2007
LARSEN, LEAS, GJEFLE, NORDQUIST, THORSTENSON, MOWAT
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/23/2007 at 20:03:24
Dolores LaRene Gjefle
April 13, 1921 - January 29, 2007
Dolores LaRene Gjefle, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, January 29, 2007 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 1st at 1:00 pm at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 to 6:00 pm Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Dolores LaRene Leas Gjefle was born on April 13, 1921 in rural Waterville, IA, the daughter of Arthur and Helga Louise (Larsen) Leas.
She attended the rural Sixteen School and graduated from Waterville High School. During her schooling and for a time after, LaRene did housekeeping for neighboring families.
On March 14, 1945 she married Theodore Gjefle at the East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church parsonage. They farmed together near Rossville, IA, milking cows as well as raising hogs, chickens and crops. LaRene was a dedicated homemaker, not only caring for her children, but raising a big garden, doing lots of canning and making sure the threshing crews had plenty to eat. She also worked hard on the farm by tending to the chickens and later, after her kids were gone, helping with milking and many of the other chores. She continued to live on the farm until 2006 when health concerns forced her to move to Waukon.
LaRene was always active in her church and its ladies organizations. She was a member of East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waterville until 1963 when she joined St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. She liked music, often having the radio playing while she did her work, and loved to go dancing, particularly to waltzes and polkas. In later years, she had enjoyed a number of bus trips throughout the midwest.
LaRene was an excellent cook and baker and liked to make her family's individual favorite dishes for them. Chocolate chip cookies and fruit cake were two of her specialties.
Survivors include 2 children, Donald of Waukon and Dolores (Phillip) Nordquist of Rochester, MN; 2 sisters, Maxine Thorstenson of Waukon and Barbara (Kirk) Mowat of Altoona, IA; and 2 brothers, Allen Leas of McGregor, IA and Arvid (Hedy) Leas of Waterville, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Theodore, who died in 1983; infant twin sons; a brother, Eldon Leas; and infant twin sisters.
Casketbearers are Ron, Jim and David Leas, Paul Snitker, and Dean and Virgil Thorstenson.
Martin Funeral Home pamphlet
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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