Mohan, Elsie 1912-2002

MOHAN, ZIMMERMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/12/2007 at 21:53:21

Obituary:

Elsie Mohan

HAWARDEN – Elsie Mohan, 90, of Hawarden, died Tuesday, October 22, 2002, at the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden.

Elsie Zimmerman Mohan was born September 2, 1912, in rural Plymouth County, the daughter of R.H. and Elsiena (Bonnes) Zimmerman. She spent her childhood in Plymouth County and near Bigelow, Minnesota. Her parents moved to Le Mars, and she graduated from Le Mars Central high school in 1929, and Normal Training School. She taught school in rural Plymouth County from 1930-31.

Elsie and Joseph Mohan were united in marriage in Des Moines on September 28, 1931. They lived in Kansas City, Missouri, and Sioux City until shortly before the beginning of World War II. During the war years, they lived in Maryland, where Joe was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Following the war, else he taught school in rural Plymouth County for a year. The couple began lived in Holly, Colorado, for one year, and then moved to Hawarden, where they made their home for the remainder of their lives. Joe died July 27, 2001.

In the summer of 1952 during the last polio epidemic in Sioux City, Elsie contracted polio. It left her crippled, but not handicapped. She went on to work with Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, served as Hawarden Public Librarian, was a teacher's aide at St. Mary's school and a C.C.D. teacher. She was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Mary Guild, American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion Mothers Club, and Literature and Art Division of Hawarden's Women's Club until they disbanded. She received her certificate for 100 miles of lap swimming at Sioux Center municipal pool.

After her husband's retirement, she traveled with him throughout the 50 states and Canada, and they wintered in Yuma, Arizona.

Elsie's greatest interests in line for teaching children, her home and family and her church.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Jim Larsen, of Maurice; a son and his wife, J. Patrick and Sue of West Covina, Calif.; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; nine step grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren; one step great great grandchild; and two brothers, Richard Zimmerman, and his wife, Doris, of Le Mars, and George Zimmerman and his wife, Trudy, of Coronado, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and infant son; two brothers and three sisters, one in infancy.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hawarden with the Rev. LeRoy Seuntjens officiating. Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery at Hawarden.

Source: Le Mars Sentinel.
October 24, 2002