Elma Jirsa

JIRSA, EMDE, KING, NAYLOR, EHRENFELT, OLSON, GREINER, ASWELL

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 3/10/2010 at 11:09:12

Elma Jirsa passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday morning, March 5, 2010. She was a resident of Hawthorne Inn at Windmill Pointe in Coralville for the past several years.

Elma Irene Emde was born September 1, 1919 in Wellman, the youngest child of Everett & Lauretta (King) Emde. She attended local country schools and upon graduating went on to earn her teaching certificate. She taught country school for fifteen years.
On August 15, 1948, Elma was united in marriage to Charles “Bud” Jirsa in Maquoketa, Iowa. They made their home south of Wellman where they raised their three sons, Rick, Randy and Danny. Elma continued on with her education, attending the University of Iowa and then graduating from William Penn. She taught at Washington Township School for seventeen years before her retirement. When asked about her years of teaching she would fondly say that she enjoyed recess as much as the children!
Elma is survived by her sons Rick of Iowa City and Dan (Chris) of Wellman; three grandchildren, Danyelle Jirsa-Naylor (Mike) and Alissa Ehrenfelt (Brad), all of Wellman and Randy Jirsa (Leah) of Iowa City; seven great-grandchildren, Alexandria, Isabella and Jackson Naylor, Parker and Hudson Ehrenfelt and Sophia and Moses Jirsa; sister in law, Rosemary Olson of Kalona, nephew Robert Emde of Iowa City and special friend Mary Greiner of Kalona.
Preceeding her in death were her son Randy K. Jirsa, husband Charles “Bud” Jirsa, brother Boyd Emde, sister Norma Aswell and her parents.