Ellen Jane (Kloster) McCUTCHEON

KLOSTER, MCCUTCHEON, BROOKER, FREDERICKSON, IMMELE, SNYDER, OLSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:59

March 22, 1932 --- April 8, 2019

Ellen Jane (Kloster) McCutcheon, daughter of Burt and Ethel Kloster (Brooker), was born on March 22, 1932, in Forest City, Iowa. She was raised in Forest City graduating from Forest City High School in 1950. She graduated from Waldorf College in 1952 and University of Northern Iowa in 1973.

Ellen was united in marriage to Howard G. McCutcheon on June 10, 1956 in Forest City, Iowa. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Goldfield, Iowa, for 75 years and taught elementary school at the Goldfield Community School for 28 years.

Ellen Jane McCutcheon died April 8, 2019. She was preceded in death by parents Burt and Ethel Kloster (Brooker), and husband of 45 years, Howard G. McCutcheon. She is survived by daughters Jayne Frederickson (Larry), Barbara Immele (Bruce), and Kathleen Snyder (Gary); 6 grandchildren; brothers Frank Kloster and Max Kloster and sister Kathleen Olson.

Memorial Service: Saturday, May 4, 3 pm, Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114 Street, Omaha, NE. There will also be a memorial service held in Goldfield sometime during the fourth week of July. Memorials may be directed to Endless Journey Hospice.

The couple lived on the family farm until 1972 when they moved into town (Goldfield). Ellen taught elementary school briefly in Eagle Grove but spent most of her teaching career in Goldfield where she taught for 28 years. In Goldfield, many of her students returned year after year for hugs from Mrs. McCutcheon!

A thrilling experience for Ellen early in her teaching career at Goldfield Community School was to serve as chaperone for the GHS girls basketball team and to be present through their journey to win the 1955 Iowa girls state basketball championships.

Ellen enjoyed expressing her creativity through sewing. After having children, she enjoyed making matching dresses for her “little girls”, teaching them how to sew when they got older, and eventually creating gifts her girls, grandchildren and friends. She was a lifelong avid reader and had a green thumb with houseplants.

Throughout her life, Ellen enjoyed sharing a cup of tea with friends, spending time with family and baking cookies for all occasions but especially for her grandchildren. In retirement, Ellen and Howard enjoyed many camping trips in what Howard called “Ellen’s Toy”.

The last years of her life were spent in Omaha, NE so she could be near her daughter, Jayne.