Marie Albertsen 1926-2004

ALBERTSEN, MEHRINGS, WENGER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/30/2009 at 22:03:47

Mapleton Press
24 June 2004

Marie Albertsen, age 77 of Mapleton, Iowa, died Sunday, June 13, 2004, at her home in Mapleton.

Services were held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton with Pastor Scott Fiege officiating. Burial was in St. Paul Cemetery, Midway, rural Battle Creek, Iowa. Karen Krusen was the organist and Timothy Mauritz was the soloist. He sang, "Because He Lives". The congregational hymns were "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Lift High The Cross". A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton. Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.

Marie was born November 11, 1926, in rural Ida County, Iowa, the daughter of Frank E. and Clara (Mehrings) Wenger. She was baptized in the Methodist Church in Danbury and was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Midway, rural Battle Creek, Iowa. She graduated from Danbury Public School in 1944 and furthered her education by attending Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and taught school for two years in rural Woodbury County and two years at Onawa Public School. On June 13, 1948, she married Marvin C. Albertsen.

Marie was an officer on the Woodbury County Fair Board and a 4-H leader for 30 years. She held numerous offices at the local and zone level for the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and was a board member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton. She served on the board and was the treasurer of the Loess Hills Historical Society, and her involvement with the Monona County Historical Museum was instrumental to it's organization and development. Her commitment to her community was further evidenced by her membership and board appointment to the American Legion Auxiliary, the Thursday Club, Mapleton Community Club and the M.V.D.I. One of her many accomplishments was being named Iowa Master Farm Homemaker in 1983. She was also employed as office manager at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton for many years.

Her group of 14 grandchildren was one of the highest priorities in her life and she was their #1 advocate. She also enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles, and spending time with the ladies in the "Friday Night and Saturday Morning Group." She was known for her spunk, her convictions, and her willingness to keep pace with the changing times.

Those living in God's grace of time include one son, Marc and his wife, Marjie, of Grimes, Iowa, her three daughters, Marlene DeRosa and her husband, Carl, of Flagstaff, Arizona, Mary Lu Mauritz and her husband, Stan, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Marla Hogan of Danbury, Iowa and her husband, Joe; her 14 grandchildren; Joanne and Amie Albertsen; Sara, Patrick, and Christopher DeRosa; Nathaniel, Jonathon, Timothy, Benjamin, Hannah, Rebecca, and Elisabeth Mauritz; and Nicholas and Melissa Mauch; one step-granddaughter, Jennifer Six; one sister, Helen Pithan; two brothers, Dean and his wife, Della Wenger and Earl Wenger and his wife, Rosie, all of Danbury, as well as nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by Marvin Albertsen, a sister, Hilda, and a brother-in-law, George Pithan.

Honorary pallbearer groups were "The Friday Night and Saturday Night Morning Group" and the American Legion Auxiliary Loren Hollister Post #496.

Pallbearers were Allan Pithan, Brad Pithan, Greg Pithan, Pat Pithan, Tony Wenger and Mike Wenger.

"Each day is a gift from God".