Erna Fels

ERNA N. FELS

Middle Amana

Erna N. Fels, 96, of Middle Amana, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at Colonial Manor in Middle Amana following a short illness. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Middle Amana Church with Elder Peter Hoehnle officiating. Burial will be at Homestead Cemetery. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the church. A memorial fund has been established.

Erna is survived by three children, Larry Fels, Lake Forest, Calif., Allen (Shelley) Fels, Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Sharon (David) Phillips, Bettendorf; six grandchildren, Lara Fels, Sarah (Adam) Anderson, Brittany (Jason) Stilwagner, Alexa Fels, Chris (Jamie) Phillips and Danny Phillips; nine great-grandchildren, Parker, Boden and Aiden Anderson, Kennedy Stilwagner, Everett Fels and Avery, Carson, Cooper and Landon Phillips; a sister-in-law, Wilma Neumann; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin H. Fels, in 2000; three sisters, Marie Pfisterer, Hattie Mantz and Rosa Mantz; five brothers, twins Gustav and Carl, twins Paul and Robert (in infancy) and Willie Neumann.

Erna Lillian Neumann was born Jan. 4, 1920, in West Amana, Iowa, the daughter of Arno and Rosa Schoenfelder Neumann. She graduated from Amana High School. She also attended Cedar Rapids Business College. She married Martin H. Fels on Oct. 19, 1940, in Homestead. She worked at the Amana Society main office, taught preschool and was a bookkeeper at Swartzendruber Lumber and Construction and at the Amana Heritage Society. Her interests lay in flower gardening, reading, traveling, music, needlework, genealogy and translating hymns.

The family expresses sincere appreciation to the staff at Lakeview Village, Colonial Manor and Essence of Life Hospice for their love and excellent care.

Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhome.com.