EMERSON, Emma Christine “Chris” (Meiners) 1918-2005

DETERS, MEINERS, EMERSON, HART, THOMPSON, SORRELLS, EDMONDS, SHAWDA, MCDONALD

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/3/2006 at 20:08:30

Emma “Chris” Emerson

Emma “Chris” Emerson, 87, of Waukon, Iowa, died Saturday, December 31, 2005, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in La Crosse, Wis. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 5, at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Rev. Richard N. Eick officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 4:30 p.m. American Legion Auxiliary and 5 p.m. VFW Auxiliary memorial service.

Emma Christine “Chris” was born August 20, 1918, in rural Dorchester, Iowa, on her grandparents’ Union City Township farm. Her parents were Walter F. and Alice (Deters) Meiners. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen, Minn. Chris graduated as valedictorian from Caledonia High School in 1935 and from Upper Iowa University with a BA in 1939. More hours were acquired at Luther College, Winona State, and the University of Iowa.

December 25, 1941, she married Oliver Emerson at the UCC parsonage in Elkader, Iowa. From 1939 to 1941 she taught at Littleport High School and from 1941 to 1943 at Rock Valley Iowa Junior High. Then she decided to remain at home to raise her family and also to help with farming activities on she and Oliver’s Brooklane Farms in Paint Creek Township, rural Waterville. In 1964 she returned to the teaching field as a junior high school Language Arts instructor in the Eastern Allamakee School District in New Albin and Lansing, Iowa. She retired from teaching in 1983.

Chris was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon where she was a member of Women’s Circle and a former Youth Leader. She had a long-term commitment to Farm Bureau and she was past chair and vice chair of Allamakee County Farm Bureau Women. She was also a member of both the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and very involved with Republican Party activities throughout much of her life.

She was an avid reader and loved to garden, raising vegetables and flowers. Chris and Ollie also enjoyed traveling extensively, both in the US and abroad. A devoted mother, she remained a vital part of her children and grandchildren’s lives and constant supporter of their activities.

Survivors include her husband Oliver of Waukon; four children, Alice Lynne (Michael) Hart of San Marcos, Calif., Joe (Sandra) Emerson of Poway, Calif., Diane (Tracy) Thompson of Forest City, Iowa, and Kevin (Janice) Emerson of Dorchester, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gilbert (Dorothy) Meiners of Eitzen, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Howard Meiners.

Members of the Eastern Allamakee School District Retired Teachers Association will serve as honorary casketbearers. Casketbearers are her grandchildren, Carrie Lynne Sorrells, Dean Michael Hart, Troy Jason Thompson, Nicole Marie Edmonds, Angelique Bre' Shawda, Justin Blaine Thompson, Jamie Christine McDonald, Hollie Christine Thompson, Matthew Lloyd Emerson, Katherine Ann Emerson-Guthrie, and James Joseph Emerson.

Waukon Standard, January 4, 2006
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Posted By: Diana Henry Diedrich
Date: 12/3/2006

Emma “Chris” Emerson, 87, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, December 31, 2005, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in La Crosse.

She was born on August 20, 1918, in rural Dorchester, IA, to Walter F. and Alice (Deters) Meiners. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen.
Chris graduated as Valedictorian from Caledonia High School in 1935 and from Upper Iowa University with a BA in 1939.
On December 25, 1941 she married Oliver Emerson at the UCC parsonage in Elkader, IA. From 1939 to 1941 she taught at Littleport High School and from 1941 to 1943 at Rock Valley Iowa Jr. High.
In 1964 she returned to the teaching field as a junior high school language arts instructor in the Eastern Allamakee School District in New Albin and Lansing, IA. She retired from teaching in 1983.
Chris was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon where she was a member of Women’s Circle and a former Youth Leader.
Survivors include her husband Oliver of Waukon; four children, Alice Lynne (Michael) Hart of San Marcos, CA; Joe (Sandra) Emerson of Poway, CA; Diane (Tracy) Thompson of Forest City, IA and Kevin (Janice) Emerson of Dorchester, IA; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gilbert (Dorothy) Meiners of Eitzen. She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Howard Meiners.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 5 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Rev. Richard N. Eick officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 4:30 p.m. American Legion Auxiliary and 5:00 pm VFW Auxiliary memorial service

~The Caledonia Argus 2 Jan 2006