Thelma Elizabeth Elsner

Thelma Elizabeth Elsner DEWITT, Iowa #45;- Thelma E. (Mrs. Clarence) Elsner, 87, DeWitt, Iowa, died Monday morning, June 21, 2010 at The Alverno, Clinton, Iowa. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2010, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt, with the Rev. Fr. Paul Connolly officiating. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Mark Varner, Nick Meyer, Mike Varner, Daryl Eichelberger, Rich Hansen and David McDonald. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Church Cemetery. Visitation will be at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt, from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 24, 2010 with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy memorials may be made to St. Joseph Church, a Hospice of your choice or the American Cancer Society. Nelson Funeral Home, DeWitt, in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Elsner, the former Thelma Elizabeth Steines was born July 18, 1922 in Spragueville, Iowa. Although Thelma had an 8th grade education, she was a lifelong learner. On August 8, 1940, Thelma was united in marriage to Clarence Charles Elsner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maquoketa, Iowa. The couple resided mostly in rural areas of Jackson and...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

inton Counties, raising their seven children. They later moved to DeWitt. Clarence preceded Thelma in death November 3, 1975. She later did some volunteer work in the community. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt, and the Altar and Rosary Society. Thelma was a loving gardener, baker and seamstress, sewing all of her children's clothing. She put her heart into everything she did, making sure she did it correctly. Thelma was proud of being able to provide for her family through canning and preserving food. Her recollection of names and dates was amazing. She cherished the time spent with her family and many friends. Surviving are her children, Madonna Varner of Maquoketa, Leonard Elsner and wife, Linda, of Calamus, Irma Meyer and husband, Fred, of Maquoketa, Bill Elsner and wife, Shirley, of Stetsonville, Wisconsin, Mary Eichelberger and husband, Roger, of Muscatine, Carolyn Kay Hansen and husband, Duane, of Moweaqua, Illinois, Jean Todtz of Clinton; 27 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; six great great-grandchildren; three brothers, Ralph Steines of Wheatland, Loren Steines and wife, Darlene, of Alpha, Illinois, William Butch Steines of Dixon; and two sisters, Doris Ihrig and husband, Dale, of Maquoketa, and Junice Nelson of Stockbridge, Georgia. Preceding Thelma in death in addition to her husband were her parents, a son-in-law, Melvin Todtz, twin infant great-grandchildren Meredith and Jacob Meyer, four brothers, Delbert, Eldred, Leroy Red and Robert Steines, and a sister, Alice DeVoss.