Adkins, Elma E. 1899-1998

ADKINS, PETERMEIER, POLHAMUS, SCHMIDT, WILEY, WERTZ, HAWK, KREAGER, BALMER, SCHINDELE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 6/24/2013 at 14:13:12

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
July 1998

ELMA E. ADKINS

Elma E. Adkins, 99, of Grinnell, formerly of Newton, died of congestive heart failure Tuesday, July 14, at the Mayflower Health Care Center.

A graveside service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Our Silent City Cemetery, Kellogg.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. The family will be present at the funeral home from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday.

She was born Jan. 1, 1899, near Melbourne to Albert Frank and Charlotta Petermeier Polhamus. She was raised on the family farm and attended rural school.

She was married to Benjamin Lester Adkins Nov. 15, 1922, in Newton. They farmed in Jasper County. In 1975 they moved to Newton. Mrs. Adkins had lived at the Mayflower since October 1997.

She was a member of the Hickory Grove Church, the Victor Grange, the Golden Agers of Newton and the Newton Senior Citizens.

Surviving are one son, Morris of Oceanside, Calif.; three daughters, Gweneth Schmidt of Victorville, Calif., Colleen Wiley of Grinnell and Beverly Wertz of Newton; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Albert Polhamus of Manson and Lloyd "Bud" Polhamus of Newton; and three sisters, Minnie Hawk of Victorville, Calif., Avis Kreager of Newton and Vic Balmer of Kellogg.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one granddaughter; one sister, Erma Schindele; and two brothers Earl and Rolland Polhamus.

Memorials in her name may be directed to the Kellogg Historical Society or the Hickory Grove Church.