Gansen, Regina Mary (Praska) 1931 - 2014

GANSEN, PRASKA, NIBAUR, ROOKS, DEPAUW, SWANSON, ELIYAHU, PTACEK, RIVERA, HARP, SAPAN, MURPHY, CASE, PORTER, BRAUNGER, DAVIS, DIAZ, ROSONKE, FINLEY, WHITE, KOLBET, GLASER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/19/2014 at 14:53:18

Regina Mary “Dolly” Gansen, age 83, of Elma, IA, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2014 at her home.

Regina Mary “Dolly” Praska, the daughter of Joseph F. Sr. and Regina M. (Nibaur) Praska, was born September 21, 1931 in Lourdes, Iowa. Regina attended Our Lady of Lourdes School and graduated from Elma’s Immaculate Conception Academy in 1949. Following high school Regina worked as a household aid and later at St Joseph Hospital in New Hampton. While working at the hospital she would pray every day for Nicholas Gansen’s safe return from the Korean War. Following Nick’s return home they were married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on June 22, 1953. The couple moved to the family farm in 1955 where they worked off the land and raised their nine children.

Regina will be remembered as a hard-working woman who never stopped learning. She was a teacher to many as she passed on her knowledge of sewing and baking. Many people raved about her potato salad and kolache. She enjoyed gardening and expressed her devotion to Our Lady through a Mary’s Garden.

Regina enjoyed volunteering, she taught religious education at Immaculate Conception Church for 20 years, and was a member of the Altar Rosary Society, Auxiliary at Colonial Manor, and the Howard County Right to Life Committee.

Regina is survived by her children Larry (Julie) Gansen of Chanhassen, MN, Regina “Jeanie” (Todd) Rooks of Nevada, IA, Nancy (Ed) DePauw of Hudson, WI, Susan (Randy) Swanson of Olathe, KS, Greg Gansen of Elma, Beverly (Shawn) Eliyahu of Roseville, MN, Barbara (Dave) Ptacek of Cedar Rapids, IA, Chris (Susana Rivera) Gansen of Hudson, WI, Stephanie (Desirae Harp) Gansen of Waterloo, IA; grandchildren Nate (Kim Sapan), Ben (Molly Murphy expecting great-grandchild), Beth Gansen, Kate & Brian DePauw, Robert Case, Beth (Kwan) Porter, Patty (Dave) Braunger, Emily & Audrey Eliyahu, Alexis & Isaac Ptacek, Jennifer Davis, Andres Diaz; great-grandchildren Kai, Jylle, Maverick Porter, Devrah, Lexi Braunger; brother Joseph F. Jr. (Shirley) Praska of Elma; sister Marie Rosonke of Charles City; in-laws Gerald (Marge) Gansen of Riceville, Mary Finley of Story City, Kate White of Alta Vista, Norma (Ken) Kolbet of Naperville, IL, Jeannette (Brian) Glaser of Kansas City, Mo, Eleanor Gansen of Elma; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Nick; parents; in-laws Clarence and Geneva Gansen; brothers-in-law Joe Gansen and Dan “Butch” White and infant nephew Randy Praska.

Source: Conway - Markham Funeral Home database

Calvary Elma Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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