Slifka, Elmer Raymond 1924-2009
SLIFKA, SCHNEIDER, TIESKOTTER, EVANS, GOSSMAN, DUNCAN, KUDRNA, SCHISSEL, DROZD
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 12:49:36
Elmer Slifka, age 85, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, with Deacon Nick Francois presiding. Burial will be at a later date in St. Benedict’s Catholic Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa.
Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah, IA.
Elmer Raymond Slifka was born on March 17, 1924, the son of John J. and Ann (Schneider) Slifka in Cresco, Iowa. Elmer attended rural country schools between Cresco and Protivin and then Notre Dame Catholic School. Elmer enlisted in the US Army where he had glider training and was as a paratrooper. He served in Germany during World War II, as a roving guard at the Palace of Justice. He returned to Cresco and married Eleanor Tieskotter on April 22, 1956 [coordinator' note;Eleanor's obit states that they were married in 1946] in Cresco, Iowa. They moved to Mabel, Minnesota in June of 1947, and Elmer was self-employed as a Carpenter Mason. He also worked for K.V. Hagen Lumber Co., until he retired. After retirement, he repaired lawn mowers, bicycles and enjoyed “tinkering” in his garage. His favorite pastime of all was fishing and traveling and loved taking his grandchildren, Shannon and Trevor, along with him. In Elmer’s earlier years, he enjoyed being a clown and riding his tall bicycle with the Mabel Grenadier’s and driving his “00” stock car. Elmer was a founding member of St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in Mabel and was a current member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah. Elmer was a member of the Joseph B. Lund American Legion Post #299 and a lifetime member of the Kittleson – Onsgard VFW Post #5769 in Mabel, Minnesota.
Elmer’s survivors include his daughter: Sandra (Chad) Evans, Decorah, IA. Two grandchildren: Trevor Gossman and Shannon Duncan, both of Decorah, IA. Two great granddaughters: Sierra and Aria. One brother: Daniel (Irene) Slifka, Cresco, IA, and one sister-in-law: Dorothy Slifka, Waukon, IA, along with many nieces and nephews.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents: John J. and Ann (Schneider) Slifka. His wife: Eleanor (Tieskotter) Slifka on October 9, 2006. One son-in-law: Charles Gossman on January 7, 1977. One sister: Mildred (Frank) Kudrna. Two brothers: Gerald (Lil) Slifka and Clarence Slifka. Two brothers-in-law: Arnold (Mildred) Tieskotter and Gordon Tieskotter. One sister-in-law: Gertrude Schissel. One niece: Marilyn Drozd. Three nephews: Gerald Slifka, Bill and James Tieskotter.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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