Borchers, Elmer 1915-2005

BORCHERS, REEMTS, KOCK

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2007 at 13:48:23

AKRON, Iowa -- Elmer Borchers, 89, of Hawarden, Iowa, formerly of Akron, passed away Sunday, May 15, 2005, at Hillcrest Care Center in Hawarden.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston Township, rural Akron, with the Rev. William Kallestad officiating. Burial will be in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with the family present after 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home-Schroeder Chapel in Akron.

Elmer Louis John Borchers was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Akron, the son of John F. and Katherine (Reemts) Borchers. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended country school in Preston Township until he started helping his father on the family farm in the early 1930s.

He was united in marriage to Minnie Koch on Nov. 18, 1937, in Preston Township. Together, they were the parents of five children, Jack, Pat, Bob, Alan and Mark. They farmed in Preston Township for many years. In the early 1980s, they moved to Akron, where they made their home for more than 27 years. He continued to farm and help out where he could until health reasons forced him to retire five years ago. Most recently, the couple have been residing in assisted living in Hawarden.

He was a longtime member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he was a former trustee, deacon and served on the cemetery board. He also was a former member of the Lutheran Brotherhood. He was a longtime member of the Iowa Farm Bureau. He enjoyed fishing, traveling and watching sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones. But most of all, he loved the times spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of more than 67 years, Minnie of Hawarden; five children, Jack Borchers and his wife, Kay of Hawarden, Pat Smith of Kansas City, Mo., Bob Borchers and his wife, Karin of Hawarden, Alan Borchers and his wife, Linda of Atlanta, Ga., and Mark Borchers and his wife, Sandy of Akron; 17 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Lorena Gabel of Akron and Marilyn Koch of Waverly, Iowa; a brother-in-law and his wife, Hank and Lee Koch of Virginia Beach, Va.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters and their husbands, Amanda and Benny Fisher, Esther and Norman Heeren and Irene and Lucian Cornish.

Pallbearers will be Stacey Borchers, Brandy Borchers, Justin Borchers, Darrin Finley, Jeff Petersen, Steve Rehder, Joe Crosgrove and Kurt Clayberg. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Borchers and Michael Spaugh.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]