Kuennen, Elaine (Schmitt) 1930 - 2024
KUENNEN, SCHMITT, HACKMAN, OHLOFF, PAWLICKI, KLEVE, BECKMAN, KLING, FRANA, BOSELY, ROSTEDT, SALES, NEFF, GIPSON, MUEHLING, SMITH, MATT, RUSSLER, UHLENHAKE, ELSBERNT, MASSMAN, KUHN, WILLIAMS, HORVORKA, GARBERS
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/23/2024 at 10:28:35
Elaine Kuennen, age 94, of Festina/Ossian, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Stoney Brook Village in West Union.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 23, 2024, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, Iowa, with Rev. Henry Huber officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at the Festina Community Center and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Friday morning.
Elaine was born March 24, 1930, on the family farm, near Fort Atkinson, the fifth of seven children: to Frank X. and Anna Hackman Schmitt. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith at St. John’s Nepomucene Catholic Church, Ft. Atkinson, IA. She graduated from the 8th grade at St. Johns Nepomucene, 80 years ago; in 1944. Upon graduation, she continued to help at home, on the family farms.
On November 5, 1951, at the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Elaine was united in marriage to Luke Kuennen. To this union five sons and three daughters were born. They farmed together in the Festina area. The family raised registered Holsteins, hogs and chickens (receiving awards for milk and egg production.) They later divorced. Elaine continued to farm along with the help of her children. In 1983, Elaine obtained her GED at the Northeast Iowa Community College. In 1984, she received her Lay Ministry Certificate. As a member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Festina, she served as Lector, choir director, Eucharistic Minister, and bringing the Eucharist to shut-ins. Elaine was a member of the Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters of America, holding offices in both organizations. She was also a member of the Winneshiek County Farm Bureau and the Archdiocese Council of Catholic Women.
Along with farm chores, church, and working off the farm, she kept busy with cooking, baking and gardening. She enjoyed music, learning to play the accordion “by ear!” She also crocheted many Afghans and doilies for her children, grandchildren and for gifts. Elaine was an exceptional historian; assisting relatives compile several genealogy books. Related to the farm crisis, in 1985, she began work in the activities department at Oneota/Winneshiek County Care Facility, now Wellington Place. For a few years, she was milking cows on the farm and working full-time in Decorah until the “Dairy Buy-Out” program. This was a difficult decision, as she had worked so hard to build up her Registered Holstein herd. Elaine retired from Wellington in 2011, at the age of 81! She volunteered at the Ossian Senior Hospice with sing-a-longs, playing her piano accordion or button accordion, playing cards, leading the rosary, bringing communion, and “just visiting.” She received Certificates of Appreciation from RSVP and The President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2010. Her favorite season was spring, and she always enjoyed having her entire family together at Christmas time.
Elaine moved to Ossian in the late 90s, living in town for 25 years. She enjoyed long country drives with her family, especially driving by her farm. She moved to her new home, Stoney Brook Village, Assisted Living, West Union, in 2022. She was proud to have lived almost her entire life in Winneshiek County.
Elaine is survived by her four sons: Larry (Peggy) Kuennen of Cedar Rapids, Tom (Cindy) Kuennen of Cedar Rapids, Brian Kuennen of Cedar Rapids, and Pat (Rhonda) Kuennen of Mantorville, MN. Her three daughters: Sue (Dan Ohloff) Kuennen of Elgin, Mary (Dean) Pawlicki of Doylestown, Ohio, and Karen (Dennis) Kleve of Calmar. 15 Grandchildren: Brad (Amelia) Kuennen, Brent (Elle) Kuennen, Kyle (Sara) Kuennen, Eric (Alicia) Kuennen, Jennifer (Missy Kling) Beckman, B.J. (Stephanie Frana) Beckman, Sarah (Matt) Bosely, Melissa (Ryan) Rostedt, Michael Pawlicki, Katie (Ethan Sales) Pawlicki, Nicole Kuennen, Beth Kleve, Brandon (Lindsay) Kleve, Nathan (Amanda) Kleve, and Evan Kuennen. 23 Great Grandchildren: Amie and Emily Kuennen Cali Neff, Camila, Leo, Lucy, Asa and Quinn Kuennen, Christien (Amora)Beckman, Devan Gipson, Jedrek Muehling, Bowmont Beckman, Sophia, Phoebe, Isaac and Christopher Bosley, Emily Rostedt, Quintessa Sales, Josiah Smith, Carter, Olivia, Emma, and Allie Kleve. Baby Sales due September 1. 2 Great-Great Grandchildren: Hazel and Sutton Beckman. One brother and his wife, Elmer and Dorothy Schmitt. In-laws: Dolores Kuennen, Henry & Arlene Kuennen, Helen Williams, Laura & Art Matt, Margaret & Gerald Kuennen, Martin Kuennen, Dennis & Kathleen Russler, Deb Kuennen and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her son Kevin in 1966, her granddaughter Lily Kuennen 2018, her parents, Frank and Anna (Hackman) Schmitt. Her son-in-law Jim Massman. Brothers Leonard Schmitt, Clarence & Evelyn Schmitt, and Francis Schmitt in infancy. Sisters, Mildred & Cletus Uhlenhake, Luella and Jerome Elsbernd. Her ex-spouse, Luke Kuennen, his parents, Frank & Elizabeth Kuennen. In-laws, Norbert Kuennen, Mary Ann & Jim Kuhn, Neil & Irma Kuennen, Francis & Darlene Kuennen, Greg & Rosemary Kuennen, David Kuennen, Bob Kuhn, Fred Williams, Ed Horvorka and Carol Kuennen. Nieces and nephews, Jean Ann Uhlenhake, Machele Kuennen, Elizabeth Kuennen, Kay Garbers, Wayne Kuennen, and Ron Kuennen.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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