Elsie Gingerich

Funeral services for Elsie V. Gingerich, 98, of Kalona, will be held Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Sunnyside Conservative Church in Kalona with Pastor Floyd Helmuth and Chaplain John King officiating.  Burial will follow at the East Union Cemetery in rural Kalona. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 14 from 4 – 7 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Sunnyside Conservative Church. Elsie V. Gingerich died Monday, June 12, 2017 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Elsie Viola Gingerich was born June 26, 1918 in rural Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of Jephthah "Jeff" and Ida (Yoder) Gingerich. She was baptized when she was 17 years old at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church. She attended rural school at Lincoln #6 and later attended Eastern Mennonite College for one year and graduated in Christian Education. Elsie was a charter member of the Sunnyside Mennonite Church. She did housecleaning and then moved to Nashwauk, Minnesota in 1950. She was actively involved in the church plant there and teaching Bible School for many years. She was a school cook for 20 years and enjoyed decorating birthday cakes for the students.

Survivors include three nephews: Ken (Leona) Gingerich of New Mexico, Larry (Fran) Gingerich of Indiana, Jim (Cindy) Gingerich of Indiana, a number of great nieces and nephews, five cousins: Monroe (Emma Jean) Miller of Kalona, Cora Frey of Newton, KS, Clifford (Mary) Gingerich of Rochester, MN, Alice Hochstedler of Kalona, and Ella June (Eldon) Miller of Rowdy, KY.

Preceding Elsie in death were three sisters: Mabel Gingerich, Mary Miller and Arvilla Waidelich, one brother Chester and Barbara Gingerich, two brothers-in-law, Omar Miller and Marvin Waidelich and a nephew Ron Gingerich.