Elsie Baerenwald

ELSIE BAERENWALD was born to Fritz 'Fred' and Martha (Schroeder) Heitritter on August 12, 1910 in Hull, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm in Sheridan Township near Boyden, Iowa and attended country school. She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Boyden and later confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran in Hull. She attended high school at Boyden High School. During high school, she enjoyed playing basketball. After her high school graduation in 1929, she received her teaching certificate and taught at the country school in Lyon County. On June 26, 1940, she was united in marriage to George Harold Baerenwald at St. John Lutheran Church in Boyden, Iowa. This union was blessed with two sons, Loren and Lyle. They resided on a farm near Boyden, Iowa and Elsie continued to teach at the country school. She later started taking night courses over a six-year period through Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree. During this time, she started teaching third grade in Boyden, Iowa. She continued to teach there until she retired after 36 plus years of teaching at the mandatory age of 65. George preceded her in death on October 24th, 1991. After his death, she remained in her home until 2002 when she moved into a four-plex. In 2007, she became a resident of Sunrise Village in Jasper, Minnesota. On July 26, 2011, she fractured her femur and was taken to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Then, on August 4, 2011, Elsie was admitted to the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone, Minnesota where she died on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 100 years, 11 months, and 29 days of age.

Elsie was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Boyden, Iowa where she was active in the Dorcas Circle, served as the Sunday School Superintendent, and taught Sunday School for many years. She was an avid reader, and she faithfully read her devotions every morning. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, playing golf, fishing, and maintaining her rose garden. Over the years, she always enjoyed having her grandchildren spend time with her at her home during the summer. She was also a Lawrence Welk fan. She was very particular on how she looked, and she liked to dress spiffy with high heels as well as get her hair done each week.

She is lovingly remembered by her son, Loren and his wife Sheryl Baerenwald of Jasper, Minnesota; six grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her son, Lyle and his wife Linda Baerenwald; three brothers, Jack, Arthur and Louis Heitritter and two sisters, Verna Baerenwald and Julia VanDiepen.