Bertha Mae Etzel
October 26, 1928 — September 2, 2016
Bertha M. Etzel, 87, died September 2, 2016, at Hallmar Care Center, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at Lafayette Cemetery, Alburnett, conducted by Pastor Jon Moss. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion.
Bert was born on the Etzel family farm, near Lafayette, Iowa, on October 26, 1928, in the same room where her father and all of her siblings were born.
Bert is survived by her brother, George Etzel of Rural Alburnett, Iowa, and a nephew Kerry Etzel of Coulter, Iowa. Also surviving are cousins and many friends.
Bert attended Lafayette No. 2, a rural one room school one mile from the Etzel farm, through 8th grade. She then graduated from Alburnett High School. Leaving the farm, she went to Cedar Rapids and started working in the insurance business, ending up at Mutual Fire and Auto for about 40 years.
Bert enjoyed traveling with relatives and friends, going on tours throughout the United States and Canada. Feeding the birds year round, watching the deer, turkeys and all the wildlife at Sugar Grove Farm gave her much pleasure. While caring for her mother, along with other family members, working in the garden and flower beds was pure joy to her. It was customary for anyone who happened to be working at the farm or for relatives or friends who stopped by, to stay and enjoy a meal or two. An excellent cook, Bert, her Mother and sister, Esther, could whip up a great meal on short notice, even taking it out to the fields as men were planting or harvesting crops.
Bert was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry Etzel and Sara Maier Etzel, Gus Johnson and Alice Johnson; parents, Ernest Etzel and Ina Johnson Etzel; brother, Harold; and sisters, Geraldine and Esther.
Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous,12007 190th Street, Monticello, Iowa 52310, in Bert’s memory.
Bert was born on the Etzel family farm, near Lafayette, Iowa, on October 26, 1928, in the same room where her father and all of her siblings were born.
Bert is survived by her brother, George Etzel of Rural Alburnett, Iowa, and a nephew Kerry Etzel of Coulter, Iowa. Also surviving are cousins and many friends.
Bert attended Lafayette No. 2, a rural one room school one mile from the Etzel farm, through 8th grade. She then graduated from Alburnett High School. Leaving the farm, she went to Cedar Rapids and started working in the insurance business, ending up at Mutual Fire and Auto for about 40 years.
Bert enjoyed traveling with relatives and friends, going on tours throughout the United States and Canada. Feeding the birds year round, watching the deer, turkeys and all the wildlife at Sugar Grove Farm gave her much pleasure. While caring for her mother, along with other family members, working in the garden and flower beds was pure joy to her. It was customary for anyone who happened to be working at the farm or for relatives or friends who stopped by, to stay and enjoy a meal or two. An excellent cook, Bert, her Mother and sister, Esther, could whip up a great meal on short notice, even taking it out to the fields as men were planting or harvesting crops.
Bert was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry Etzel and Sara Maier Etzel, Gus Johnson and Alice Johnson; parents, Ernest Etzel and Ina Johnson Etzel; brother, Harold; and sisters, Geraldine and Esther.
Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous,12007 190th Street, Monticello, Iowa 52310, in Bert’s memory.
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