Amdahl, Laura Margaret (Dreyer) 1909 - 2016

AMDAHL, DREYER, BRANDT, EDGELL, SACKS, ANDERSON, BRUNGER, ZWEIBOHMER, KAMIN, RUSSETT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/23/2016 at 11:36:19

Laura Amdahl, age 107, of Decorah, IA, died Saturday, September 17, 2016, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, IA.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA. There will be visitation after 10:00 Tuesday at the church. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah is handling the arrangements.

Laura Margaret (Dreyer) Amdahl, was born June 2, 1909, to Carl and Magdalena (Brandt) Dreyer in their home near Frankville, Iowa. She was baptized July 4, 1909, by Rev. Blessine of the Eldorado Lutheran Church in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Diedrich Peck in Ossian, Iowa. She was confirmed by Rev. J. C. B. Peck in the Presbyter-ian Church in Frankville in July, 1921. She attended the rural District #4 Birdsell school through the 8th grade; then on to Frankville and Postville high schools. Due to the death of her mother on July 15, 1924, she and her older sister, Ora, took over the home making duties for their father and 6-year-old sister Mae. On November 20, 1930 she was united in marriage to Leo Arthur Amdahl of rural Ossian in the Little Brown Church near Nashua, Iowa by Rev. William Kent. Their home was established on one of Leo’s parents’ farms south of Ossian. To this union two children were born: Douglas Leo on December 11, 1931 and Barbara Lou on December 1, 1932. In June, 1946 Laura began work in the Gunderson Department store in Ossian until October, 1951 when she and Leo moved to Waukon where she was employed by the JC Penney for one year. After that she worked in the office of Art and Al Nesheim Brother’s Hatchery in Waukon for 6 years followed by 6 1/2 years in the office of Dr’s. Bob and Curtis Sander, veterinarians in Waukon. On October 1, 1964 she resigned and went to California to spend her first Thanksgiving and Christmas in 15 years with her children and families in Riverside returning in March, 1965. On February 7, 1966, they purchased the former Red Oak school house on the Ossian blacktop from Mr. and Mrs. Willard Torgrim of Decorah. Their membership in St John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon was transferred to Washington Prairie Lutheran in June, 1966.On August 1, 1966 Laura began work in the office of Veteran Affairs in the Winneshiek County courthouse in Decorah until December 31, 1974 when she was retired after 8 years. In March, 1975 she became an Avon representative in Springfield township. In July 1976, she was employed in the Priscilla dress shop in Decorah until 1977, when the store was sold and she retired for good to enjoy her home, garden and flowers and her several collections. Having been a farm wife she still enjoyed canning and preserving every summer. She liked going to antique shops and garage sales, reading and good music and visiting relatives and friends and old neighbors. In all her various jobs Laura made many friends and being a ‘people’ person she enjoyed and cherished them all. On April 7, 1996, ‘Red Oak’ was sold to Carol and Greg Torgrim. On October 28, 1997, Laura and Leo moved to Oneota Village in Decorah. Laura resided at Wellington Place and then to the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, IA.

Laura is survived by two granddaughters: Brenda Kay (Ted) Edgell of Lake Forest, CA; Dana Marie (Bill) Sacks of Crestline, CA; three grandsons: David Douglas (Pat) Amdahl of Riverside, CA; Michael Glenn (Judy) Amdahl of Upland, CA; Kevin Lee (Sandy) Amdahl of Riverside, CA; and Larry Dean (Trudy) Amdahl of River-side, CA; Six great grandchildren; Derek Dustin and Lindsey Nicole Edgell; Shanna Marie Amdahl; Michele Nicole Anderson; Laurean Nichole and Larry Jr Amdahl; Five great great grandchildren: Robbie Brunger, Danielle and Allie, Kara and Nathan; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leo on April 23, 1999, her son, Douglas (Jean) Amdahl on April 23, 1980 and her daughter, Barbara (Gerald) Zweibohmer on March 28, 1987, great granddaughter Kara Leigh Amdahl on June 7, 2005, two sisters, Ora (Lester) Kamin of Frankville, IA and Mae (Olaf) Russett of Ulysses, KS.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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