Skaim, Hazel I. 1924-2013

SKAIM, MYRAN, ANSTEN, BERG, MIKKELSON, CASH, HENZLER, TILLMAN, BRUVOLD, KELSO, MENDEZ, FOSTER, HIGHTSHOE, GOETTELMAN, VARON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/21/2013 at 08:23:43

Hazel I. Skaim, age 89, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday morning, May 9, 2013 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, May 13, 2013 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorensen officiating. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 12 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Monday after 10:00 A.M., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Hazel Irene Skaim was born at home on February 9, 1924, the daughter of Henry Ansten and Inga Myran. She was baptized and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa. She attended rural school in Madison Township and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1942.

After high school, during World War II, she worked in a factory in Decorah that made secret parts for the war effort. She later found out that the parts were for radar equipment.

After the war, Hazel and her cousin, Mable Berg, went to California. She worked in a factory that made some of the first TVs.

On December 28, 1951, in a double wedding ceremony, Hazel I. Ansten and Oscar J. Skaim, along with her cousin Mabel Berg and Ernest Mikkelson, were united in marriage by the Rev. M. B. Quill at the Madison Lutheran Parsonage in Ridgeway.

This union was blessed with two daughters, Luane in 1953 and Susanne in 1956. In 1960, Hazel began working at Deco Products Company and worked until her retirement 28 years later.

After retirement Hazel and Oscar enjoyed traveling and visiting with friends and relatives. In 1986 Hazel went to Norway with her siblings and a first cousin to visit the sights and a trip to Sigdal to see ancestral homes.

She enjoyed her flowers, crocheting, spending time with her grandchildren and the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed making Rommegrot for the Nordic Fest church suppers. She rarely missed the monthly Class of ’42 dinners.

She was a very kind and gentle lady and always tried to be helpful to everyone.

She became a resident of Aase Haugen Home Assisted Living in 2010. In March of 2013 she transferred to the Aase Haugen Nursing Home.

Our Heavenly Father called Hazel home to an eternal life with Him on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the age of 89 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Oscar on January 6, 2002; a sister, Malene Cash; a brother, Telford Ansten; a son-in-law, James Henzler; and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Henzler. Hazel is survived by two daughters: Luane (Bill) Tillman and Susanne (Paul) Bruvold of Decorah; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (David) Kelso of Newton, IA, Natalie Mendez of Council Bluffs, IA, Andrea Henzler of Rochester, MN, Sara Henzler of Cresco, IA, Travis Henzler of Council Bluffs, IA, Joni and Kelsey Bruvold of Decorah; two step grandchildren: Gentry Foster and Nicole Hightshoe; ten great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Rosella Goettelman of Decorah and Gladys (E. Art) Varon of Camarillo, CA.

Blessed be her memory. The Des Moines Register Website, Des Moines, Iowa.