UKER, Else (nee DeBuhr) 1909-2004

UKER, SIEBRANDTS, DEBUHR

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/16/2009 at 09:26:12

RUDD, IOWA — Else Uker, 94, of Rudd, died early Tuesday morning (Feb. 3, 2004) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit with her three surviving daughters present. She was the last living sibling of the 10 children born to Harm and Hilda (Siebrandts) deBuhr.

A celebration of Else’s life will be held at 11 a..m. Thursday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford, with the Rev. Patricia Shaw officiating.

Private family visitation, prayer service and graveside service will be held earlier that day.

A time of fellowship, remembrance and lunch will be held immediately following the celebration.

Else was born near Wellsburg, on Feb. 21, 1909. She moved with her family to Rockford at the age of five and later graduated from Rockford High School.

She taught in one-room schools until her marriage to Cecil Uker on Feb. 5, 1931. To this marriage four daughters were born, Carol, Shirley, Darlene and Joyce.

She spent her early years helping on the farm and raising her family. There were always hot baked rolls, cakes, pies and cookies that were shared with the many family and friends that gathered in her kitchen and home on a regular basis.

She continued her faith and family commitment by baking cookies up until four months ago when she broke her first hip.

She and Cecil played “500” card games with the area club and each year performed in the program that they put on.

She was also a faithful member of the Busy Bee Quilting Club.

After 25 years of being a farm wife, she went to work in Mason City at Risto Manufacturing and later Como Photo.

After retirement, Else spent her time crocheting, playing cards, reading and making many quilts for her family, friends and church.

Visits from relatives and young children brightened her days.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford, where over the years she was active in bible study, Circle, Guild, and served the church as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent.

Surviving are three daughters, Shirley Eger and husband, Walt, of South Bend, Ind., Darlene Field, of Rudd; Joyce Navratil, of Mason City; eight grandchildren, Dan Schlobohm and wife, Karen, Sally Tan and husband, Chris, Barry Field and wife, Jo, Marty Field and wife, Kelly, Wayne and Loren Field, Karin Winters and Pat Navratil; and seven great-grandchildren.

She has been granted her wish to go home to be with those who preceded her in death, which include her parents; Cecil in 1985; her daughter, Carol, who died of polio in 1951; nine brothers and sisters, Herm, Ted, Gay, John, Bill, Al, and Ben deBuhr, Hilda Goodsell and Marie Bequette.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 301 W. Main in Rockford, is in charge of arrangements, (641) 756-3311.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]