Enola Kortlever

ENOLA VALORIS KORTLEVER was born on August 9, 1930 to John and Frieda (Bruns) Meinerts on the farm in Lyon County, IA, on the Iowa and Minnesota state line. In 1941, the family moved to a farm in Clinton Township, Rock County, MN. Enola attended country school and received her education through the eighth grade. On September 28, 1949 she was united in marriage to Alfred Top at the First Baptist Church in Luverne, MN. The couple lived on a farm south of Kanaranzi, MN. Alfred died as the result of Hodgkin's disease in November of 1952. Enola then moved to a house in Luverne where she took a job at the Luverne Community Hospital. In 1960, she went onto beauty school. Following her training, she then opened her own beauty shop on Main Street. On August 30, 1963 Enola was united in marriage to Gerald Kortlever at the First Presbyterian Church in Holland, MN. The couple made their home in Luverne where Gerald farmed. They moved for a short time to Holland where they farmed for three years prior to moving back to Luverne in 1968. During their time in Holland, Enola operated a beauty salon. Upon her return to Luverne, she resumed her business on Main Street. She later also co-owned Kay Vee Properties with her sister, Lyla. Enola retired in 1999. Gerald preceded her in death on July 8, 2007. Enola continued to reside in their home until Sunday, November 24, 2013 when she died there peacefully at the age of 83 years, 3 months and 15 days.

Enola attended the First Baptist Church in Luverne where she belonged to Senior Focus. She was a member of the VFW Women's Auxillary. She enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting, cooking and baking. The smell of apple pies, fresh baked bread, buns, cinnamon rolls and many other goodies filled her home. Her home also always had a pot of coffee on to welcome visitors. Enola's family was her pride and joy. They were most important to her and she loved the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Enola is lovingly remembered by her children, Gary Top and his wife Linda of Luverne, Lynette Gundrum and her husband Cameron of Sioux Falls, SD, and Fred Kortlever and his wife Mary of Hills, MN; seven grandchildren, Bradley (Marla) Top, Brian (Kristen) Top, Jennifer (Cameron) Godkin, Marie (Kurt) Edwards, Kathryn (Bob) Kortlever, Jared (Katrina) Kortlever, and Kirsten (Steven) Zingler; fourteen great-grandchildren, Brooke, Austin, Levi, Brycen, Ella, Lydia, Makayla, Chase, Tyler, Larissa, Alex, Abigail, Nicholas, and Zachary; her siblings, Lyla Mae VandenBerg of Luverne, John (Linda) Meinerts of Owatonna, MN, George (Sharon) Meinerts of Luverne, Louise Wylie of Chandler, AZ, Carl (Susie) Meinerts of Springtown, TX, and Allan (Evonne) Meinerts of Luverne; and other family. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Alfred Top and Gerald Kortlever; her parents; and her siblings, Lowell Meinerts and Claryce Phillipps.