Mechem, Elsie L. (1938-2015)

MECHEM, MILES, OLSON, REMINGTON, NELSON, SOUGSTAD, KNAPPER, ERICKSON, HIEMSTRA

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/24/2015 at 21:17:54

Elsie L. Mechem
March 10, 1938 - May 26, 2015

Elsie L. Mechem, 77, passed away peacefully at her home in Thompson on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

Elsie, a daughter of Leo and Ingrid (Olson) Miles, was born on March 10, 1938, in Forest City, Iowa. One hundred percent Norwegian, she displayed her love for her Norwegian heritage throughout her homes.

Elsie married Dean Mechem in September of 1975. They farmed north of Thompson. After retiring from farming, they delivered Winnebago motorhomes for twenty-five years to dealers across the country.

Because of her son Erick Hanson’s severe mental illness, Elsie became a Mental Health Advocate in North Iowa, a position she held for thirty years. A contributing member of the Mental Health Center Board of North Iowa for over fifteen years, she pioneered in the care and awareness of those who did not have a voice, the mentally ill. Upon retiring at age seventy, she was honored to receive the Advocate of the Year Award.

Elsie and Dean fell in love with Sun City, Arizona, and purchased a second home there in 1990, affectionately called “the Pink House” by grandson, Willie. Through the years, all family members enjoyed many memorable experiences at the Pink House.

Elsie and Dean embraced the members of the Lakeview United Methodist Church in Sun City where Elsie made many wonderful friends. Active in the Stephens Ministry, she planned the Wednesday noon meal which she loved serving with her group of volunteers once every month. Everyone enjoyed Elsie’s meals and embraced her in friendship and Christian care.

Elsie and Dean took pride in the Saguaro Cactus they planted in their backyard in earlier years. The cactus has grown strong and tall and is lovingly called “Erick’s Cactus” in his honor. Erick passed away in 1986.

She is survived by her husband, Dean Mechem, of Thompson, Iowa; her daughters, Kathy (Johnny) Remington Nelson, of Thompson; Patti (Steve), of Forest City; her grandchildren, Jimmy Remington; and Randall, Willie, and Emma Sougstad; her great-grandchildren, Ally and Owen Remington and Evelyn Sougstad; and her sisters, Arlene Knapper, Ione Erickson, Shirley (Carl) Hiemstra; as well as by several nieces and nephews.

Elsie is preceded in death by her son, Erick Hanson; her parents-in-law, Clark and Lela Mechem; her son-in-law, Greg Remington; her brother, Kora Olson (Stavanger, Norway); her brothers-in-law, Goldy Knapper and Robert Erickson.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 North Clark St., Forest City. A Celebration of Life service will be held following the visitation at 7:00 P.M. in the chapel. Inurnment of cremains will be held at a later date.

Copyright © 2015, Cataldo Schott Funeral Home

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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