Elva Mae Larson 1928-2000

FRIEDERICH, LERCH, LARSON, REINHARDT, POESCH, JOHNSON, SHAW, MEISNER

Posted By: M. Durr - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 5/18/2010 at 17:36:47

Elva Mae (Lerch) Larson, 72, of Postville, IA passed away Monday, December 13, 2000 at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union, IA after several months' battle with cancer. She reached the age of 72 years, 6 months, 27 days. The daughter of Ernest and Selma (Friederich) Lerch, Elva Mae was born May 14, 1928 near Elgin. She attended schools near Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School in 1946.

On November 25, 1947 she was united in marriage to Mervin Larson. They farmed near Elkader until 1968 when they purchased the farm near Postville which is their present home.

Elva Mae was active in church organizations having served different offices of the WELCA, even as president, when she became ill. She also taught Sunday School many years, belonged to the Good Neighbor Club for over thirty years, and for a few years was a member of Questers. She did a lot of sewing and enjoyed quilting with ladies of the church. She enjoyed working with the garden, raising flowers and using the riding mower. Through the years they enjoyed traveling, some by plane, and several bus tours which included Nashville and several big league baseball games. Elva Mae belonged to a couple of card clubs which she enjoyed very much, always trying to be a winner and her family was also very special to her.

Survivors include her husband Mervin of fifty-three years; three daughters: Sandra of Northville, MI; Shirleen (Michael) Reinhardt of Elgin and their son and daughter, Jesse and Josie; Karma (Charles) Poesch of Jacksonville, IL and their children Carly, Christopher, Collin and Chelsea; and their deceased son Stanley Larson's three daughters: Shelley (Shane) Harbaugh and their daughter Sierra, Sabrina (Lance) Hangartner and their son Tyler, and Sonya Larson. Also surviving are two sisters Anna Johnson of West Union and Dorothy (Eldon) Shaw of Edgewood; five brothers Lawrence (Edith) Lerch of Elkader, George (Barbara) Lerch of El Reno, OK, Lyle (Sharon) Meisner of Greeley, Ivan (Jeanne) Meisner of Farmersburg and Glen (Kathy) Meisner of Iowa City; and two very special friends, Margaret Morarend of Yulee, FL and Marie Muehlenbein of Northville, MI.

She was preceded in death by her son Stanley in 1997; her parents and two brothers, William and Joe Lerch.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 14, 2000 at Highland Lutheran Church, rural Elkader, IA with Rev. Galen Kuhens officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Honorary casket bearers were Irvin Bush, Cliff Olson, Eldon Kurth, Jim Farmer, and Roger Meyer. Casket bearers were Earl Shaw, Larry West, Ben Meisner, Dean Meisner, Gary Berns, Brad Christianson, Lonnie Lerch and Lane Lerch.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from my mother's obituary collection. Posted for genealogical purposes, contributor is not related.