Van Sickle, Ethel M (1914-2015)

VAN SICKLE, KOESTNER, BOYLE

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 4/2/2015 at 17:58:59

March 23, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal

Ethel Mae Van Sickle, 100, of Woolstock, died Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Unity Point Hospital in Fort Dodge. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City, with Father Stephen Meyer, officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, near Duncombe. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday evening at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. A Rosary will begin at 6:45 p.m. followed by Scripture service.

Ethel Mae Koestner, daughter of Andrew Sam and Eva Boyle Koestner, was born December 15, 1914 on the family farm southwest of Woolstock in Hamilton County. She attended the local rural school until 8th grade and graduated from Webster City High School in 1933. She received her college education from the Iowa State Teachers College, now UNI, in Cedar Falls. She taught in Hamilton County rural schools for eight years. On June 11, 1941 she married Allen George Van Sickle at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Duncombe. The couple farmed near Swaledale, Iowa. In 1942, they moved to the family farm southwest of Woolstock. They retired from farming in 1976, but continued to reside on the farm helping their son, Harold. Allen died on October 25, 2003. Ethel Mae lived in the same house for 73 years. Except for a short few periods of her life she was on the same farm she was born on.

She is survived by her son, Harold Van Sickle of Woolstock and several nieces and nephews.

Ethel Mae was preceded in death by her husband, parents, eight brothers-in-law and six sisters-in-law.

She was a long time member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Duncombe until it closed in 2008, and member of the St. Joseph's Ladies Aid. She then joined St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City.