Elsen, Fred H. 1909-2005

ELSEN, JESSEN

Posted By: Lin Ziemann (email)
Date: 4/18/2005 at 13:24:44

Fred H. Elsen, 95, of Le Mars, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Fred H. Elsen was born Oct. 3, 1909, in Le Mars, the son of Carl B. and Dena (Jessen) Elsen. Fred graduated from high school in Le Mars in 1930 and later attended Western Union (Westmar) College in Le Mars.

On Nov. 26, 1933, Fred and Marie Johnson were united in marriage in Manson. The couple made their home in Le Mars. Fred owned and operated his own business for 45 years. He specialized in windmill and pump repair as well as laying waterlines and plumbing. Marie and Fred also owned and operated Marie's Dress Shop in downtown Le Mars. Fred proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946. He served overseas with the 330th Engineers in Burma, India and China.

Fred and Marie retired in 1979 and moved to their retirement home in Mountain Home, Ark. Marie died March 26, 1980, and Fred returned to Le Mars. For the past two years he has been a resident at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.

Fred was a member of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed woodworking as a hobby.

He is survived by a daughter Dillis Converse of Denton, Texas; grandchildren Monica McLaughton and her husband, David of Uxbridge, Mass., Lance Kramer and his special friend, Geri Dreckman, of Le Mars and Marie Arguin and her husband, Matt, of Texas; several great-grandchildren; a niece, Carol Maymon and her husband, Ron, of Schaller; a nephew Tom Leist of Seattle, Wash., and a sister-in-law, Ester Johnson of Holstein.

He was preceded in death by his parents: wife Marie; a grandson, Wade Kramer: two sisters, Lina Leist and Dorothy Betsworth; and three brothers John, Herman and Karl.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today (Monday) at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The Rev. G. Dean Goebel of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars, with Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion in Le Mars providing military honors. Visitation was after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. and a prayer service at 3 p.m. Visitation resumed at 9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home and continued until service time.

Pallbearers were Lance Kramer, Leonard Langel, Roman Langel, Doug Langel, Curt Niehus and Ronald Wendt.

Tombstone Photo
 

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