Emmett C. Whalen 1918-2011

WHALEN, DANAHER, STRUB, CORRIGAN, DILLON, MCDONNELL, LARSON, MAUSS, THEIS

Posted By: Matthew Whalen (email)
Date: 5/19/2011 at 16:15:53

Emmett C. Whalen
January 6, 1918-May 14, 2011

Emmett Cornelius Whalen, 93, of Elkader, Iowa, died Saturday, May 14, 2011, at the Elkader Care Center. Services will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 10:30 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elkader, Iowa, with the Very Rev. Paul Peters as celebrant. The wake will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011, from 3:30 to 7:00 PM at Leonard Funeral Home in Elkader, Iowa, where a Knights of Columbus rosary will be held at 3:30 PM. A meal following the burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery wil be held at Johnson's.

Emmett was born January 6, 1918, near St. Mary’s Lycurgus in rural Allamakee County, one of the closest spots to heaven on earth. He was the first born of nine children to Agnes (Danaher) Whalen and William Whalen.

He was educated in the rural Allamakee County School system, Lansing IC Junior High and
Waukon High School. He spent one year at Loras College and returned to Waukon to work. He knew early farming wasn’t his vocation. He went to work at the Equity Co-Op in Waukon and later was the Assistant Manager of the Piggly Wiggly Grocery in Austin, MN. Recognizing he had face to face people skills, he began working for Harry Theis in the clothing business in Waukon, Iowa, and the rest is history. He became the manager of Theis Clothing in Riceville, Iowa.

In 1947, Emmett married Leonette Strub, the daughter of Kathryn (Corrigan) Strub and Leo Strub at Immaculate Conception Church, Lansing, Iowa. Starting their life together in Riceville, they soon moved to Elkader, Iowa, in 1950. There he was the Manager and subsequent owner of Theis Clothing, retiring in 1989. Emmett was a innovator in the clothing business recognizing the need for a good product, special service, and local and regional marketing. Building your community was as important as building your business. Trying to do the best for everyone that entered his store in a gracious way was his motto. He had a knack for organizing and raising money for civic and church causes.

Elkader is an idyllic place to live, work, and raise children. The Whalen Family clearly had a
patriarch and matriarch that jointly molded their children expecting all to be kind and work to their ability. Never telling their children what path to choose but silently expecting your best.

Emmett enjoyed people, sports especially the Hawkeyes and of course the intimate details of the Yankees. He enjoyed hunting squirrels and fishing, especially family fishing trips to Northern Wisconsin with the grandchildren. He loved all family events including but not limited to get togethers, wakes, funerals, weddings, and visiting the sick or the healthy. He was a voracious reader.

Finally, Emmett was Irish to the core. With that came a strong commitment to his faith. He lived it day to day, unassumingly an example to his children in consistency.

He was a long time member and participant in the Knights of Columbus and a member of the 4th Degree.

The family siblings and children did recognize one shortcoming, voting Republican.

Emmett is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lee Whalen of Elkader, one daughter, Ellen and Jim Dillon, four sons, John and Cheryl Whalen of Dubuque, Charles and Karen Whalen of Carroll, Mike and Karen Whalen of Dubuque, Don and Tami Whalen of Cedar Rapids; one brother, Jim and Bess Whalen, Augustus, WI; sister, Delores McDonnell of Waukon; two brother-in-laws, Wally and Gloria Larson of Waukon and Mark Mauss of Waukon; one sister-in-law, Bernie Whalen; grandchildren, Erin, Sean (Brandy), Sara (Kevin), Beth, Quinn, Felicity (Mark), Greg, Karen (Scott), Stephanie, Emmett, Kelsey, Ray, Blake, Mark, Willie, Kes, Reagan, Ryan, Alex, Connor, Nathan, Grace and Jacob; Grace, Ella, Payton, Macy, Banks, Sam, Carlie and Cooper Tony (Linda), Darcy (Jason), Meagan (Rob), Angie (Sam) Brian, Chad (Jerri); five great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by a son Ray; his parents Agnes and William and the following siblings and their spouses, Anna Mae and Bob, Dorothy, Julia, Donald, Pat, Dan and Gerry, Vivian and Ann, Jimmy, Myrtle, Mary and Doug.

Emmett will be missed by all those who knew him.

~Leonard & Leonard-Muller Funeral Home obituary
~deceased was an uncle of the contributor

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