Elsie Anderson

Elsie Anderson, 91, of Des Moines passed away peacefully on Friday, March 4, 2011. She was a former resident of West Bend.

Elsie was born April 23, 1919, to Henry Zinnel and Agnes Zinnel née Wichtendal, in West Bend, Iowa. She attended West Bend Public School through the ninth grade. On October 14, 1939, Elsie married Arthur Anderson at Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend. After their marriage, they moved to a farm near Art’s birthplace Buffalo, North Dakota, where Elsie gave birth to their son, Gene. Returning to Iowa after four years, Art farmed briefly near Plover, Iowa, before moving permanently to a farm close to West Bend. While there three daughters were added to the family: Joyce, Janet, and Marilyn.

Elsie was happiest being active and productive, whether it was milking cows, baking bread and pies on Saturday morning, leading the family as they walked the beans for weeds and thistles, sewing, and cleaning. In 1968, Art and Elsie sold their farm and moved to town. Finding herself suddenly with more free time, Elsie began her favorite hobby: quilting. Her beautiful quilts were graduation and wedding gifts for her children and grandchildren. In fact, her final little homemade gift was completed shortly before her passing, made especially for her most recent great-grandson, born early on March 1, 2011. She also volunteered delivering meals on wheels to shut-ins.

Elsie was a life-long member of Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend. She was baptized and confirmed in the church. Never too busy to help, she loved church work, especially being a part of LWML. She rarely missed an opportunity to be in a Bible study, where she could learn about God’s Word. She was never shy in sharing her faith, often reminding her children and grandchildren that she was praying for them.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Art, her husband of 45 years, her siblings Esther, Arnold, and Henry, Jr., and a granddaughter. Survivors are her children, Gene and wife Barbara, Richmond, Virginia; Joyce and husband Steve Brom, Ulysses, Kansas; Janet and husband Bruce Brock, Altoona, Iowa; Marilyn, Ankeny, Iowa; brother Raymond and Lorma Zinnel, West Bend, Iowa; sister Marcella and Fred Ruhnke, Fort Dodge, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

A service to celebrate Elsie’s life was held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home in Des Moines on Sunday, March 6, at 1:00 p.m., with Pastor Tim Braun conducting the service. Burial will be at the West Bend Cemetery at a later time.

Memorial contributions may be made to Peace Lutheran Church LWML.

www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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