Wirkler, Hazel F. (Cook) 1906-2001

WEST, COOK, WIRKLER, GREEN, BRANDT, BETHEL, WENGER, BRACKEN

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 5/10/2007 at 10:24:49

Hazel F. Wirkler

Hazel F. Wirkler, 95, of Monona, died Mon., Oct. 22, 2001, at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.

Services were held Fri., Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona. Officiating were the Reverends Christopher Staley and Lynn Groe, Burial was in Monona City Cemetery.

Hazel was born Jan. 21, 1906, in Highland Township, Clayton County, to Andrew and Mary (West) Cook. She attended rural area elementary school and graduated from Elkader High School. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and was a teacher in Clayton County rural schools.

On Aug. 6, 1929, Hazel married Reuben Wirkler at the Cook family farm in rural Clayton County. To this union, two daughters, Patricia and Nancy, and one son were born. The Wirklers lived their married life in Monona.

Hazel was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona, where she participated in choir, women's organizations, and was a former council member.

She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Northeast Iowa Garden Club. She is an honorary member of Women's Club.

When her husband became ill, Hazel became manager of the Monona Dry Goods Store. Upon Reuben's death in 1964, Hazel became sole owner and ran a successful business until 1977, when she sold the business to her daughter Patricia and husband Donald Green. While in business, Hazel was an active member of Commercial Club.

Hazel is survived by her daughters, Patricia Green of Monona and Nancy (Ronald) Brandt of Waukon; eight grandchildren: Margaret (Dennis) Jasper of Bettendorf, Susan (Jeff) Johnson of Madison, IN, Mary Pat Wulff of Milwaukee, WI, Elizabeth Green of Davenport, Kathryn (Jack) Hennen of Cottage Grove, MN, Robert (Kristin) Green of Cedar Rapids, James (Margaret) Brandt of Mesa, AZ, and Susan (Jeff) Hand of Hiawatha; eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Bethel of Rome, GA, and Marie Cook of Sumner; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reuben; an infant son; three brothers, Alfred, Merlin, and Newell Cook; three sisters, Gladys Wenger, Marjorie Wenger, and Inez Bracken; a son-in-law, Donald Green; and a great-granddaughter, Jessica Hennen.

Pallbearers were Dennis, James, Merton and William Cook, Ralph Matt, Russ Wenger and Paul Wille.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection. Submitter has no further information.