Von Essen, Lois (Kruger) 1939 - 2022

VON ESSEN, KRUGER, BALL, ROETHLER, WAGENS, WATSON, OTTEMAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/19/2022 at 11:47:56

Lois Von Essen, age 83, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Riceville Family Care and Therapy in Riceville, Iowa.

Lois (Kruger) Von Essen was born on January 26, 1939 on the family farm in rural Elma, Iowa to Elmer and Mabel (Ball) Kruger. Lois was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church south of Riceville.

Lois attended Afton #5 Country School near Elma and always considered herself a “farm girl”.

Lois played the accordion and was part of an informal band called “Annie and Her Toe Teasers”. This band would play on weekends in the upstairs of the Old Acme Store for many neighborhood friends and relatives to enjoy.

After graduation from Riceville High School in 1957, Lois attended Commercial College in Mankato, MN. She then moved to Rochester and worked at First National Bank as a teller for several years. During this time, Lois was on the bank bowling league and was also active with the “Sweet Adelines” singing group.

On June 25, 1966, Lois married Herman Von Essen and moved with him to Southern California where Herman was stationed in the United States Navy. To this union, two children were born: James and Lorna.

Lois was actively involved in Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School where the family attended church and her children went to school.

After Herman’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to a farm in rural Mazeppa, MN.

Lois eventually got back into banking and worked as a bank teller at both the Mazeppa and Zumbro Falls, MN branch locations.

After Herman’s death in 2016, Lois’ health started to fail and she resided in assisted living at Cottage Woods for a year and then moved to Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center in Riceville, until the time of her death.

Lois enjoyed music to the end and was excited whenever “Tim the Music Man” came to entertain at the nursing home. Lois looked forward to the many visits she received from family and old friends, and always enjoyed visits from Pastor Alan Horn as well.

Preceding Lois in death were her parents, husband, son, Jim in 2021, brother in-law, James Roethler and a nephew, Wayne Wagens.

Lois is survived by her daughter, Lorna Von Essen of King City, MO, a sister, Anna Mae Roethler of Riceville, IA two brothers; Dean (Janice) Kruger of Elma, IA and Dale (Nancy) Kruger of Forest City, IA. Lois is also survived by two grandchildren; Jesse and Loren Von Essen of Arequipa, Peru, two sisters in-law, Glenice Watson of O’Neill, NE and Judy Otteman of Meridian, ID.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home beginning at noon. Interment will be in the Mazeppa Cemetery in Mazeppa, Minnesota.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database