Elsbernd, Helen Rita (Hemesath) -- 1918 - 2001

HUBER, HEMESATH, ELSBERND, KATH, WHITTLE, SCHULTE

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/19/2010 at 21:09:14

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001

Helen Rita Elsbernd

Helen Rita Elsbernd, 82, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2001, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian.

A Funeral Mass was held Monday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian, with Msgr. Cletus Hawes officiating.

Organist was Sister Carol Hemesath, 0.S.F. Song leader was James Hawkins. Family members served as readers and gift carriers. In honorary attendance were members of the Catholic Society of Foresters.

Casket bearers were Fred Hemesath, Phil Hemesath, John Hemesath, Kylene Radmer, Jerry Schulte, Karl Kath, Mark Radmer and Kindra Kath.

Internment was at St. Francis Cemetery in Ossian. Schmitz Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Helen Elsbernd was born March 28, 1918 to Herman and Anna Louise (Huber) Hemesath, in rural Ossian. She was baptized and confirmed in faith at St. Francis de Sales church and attended De Sales School.

On Sept. 23, 1941, she was united in marriage to Leo Elsbernd of Fort Atkinson in the St. Francis de Sales Church. Three daughters were born to this union, Mary, Martha and Delores (Lori).

After her husband's discharge from the Army in November, 1945, they moved to their farm northeast of Ossian, where she helped with farm work, was a 4-H leader, raised her family and worked as an LPN at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah from 1971-1981.

She was a lifetime member of St. Francis de Sales parish and its rosary society, secretary for the St. Aloysius Catholic Order of Foresters in Calmar, and a member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters. She also was a former president for the St. Francis de Sales Rosary Society and an honorary member of the Brockman-Hammersland American Legion Auxiliary, Unit No. 503. Her hobbies included sewing, crocheting and golfing.

She is survived by her husband, Leo; three daughters, Mary, O.S.F. of Chicago, IL; Martha Kath of Waukesha, Wis.; and Lori Whittle of Sarasota, Fla.

Grandchildren, Kylene (Kath) Radmer; Kindra Kath; Karl Kath, all of Milwaukee, Wis.; Amber Whittle of Honolulu, HI; one brother, Andrew Hemesath of Calmar; and one sister, Sr. Luke (Mary) Hemesath of Techny, IL

Helen Elsbernd was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Theodore, Herman and Victor Hemesath; and sisters Pauline Schulte, Sr. John (Frances) Hemesath and Emma Hemesath.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.