Luensmann, Elizabeth Jane 'Betty'

Elizabeth Jane “Betty” Luensmann, 83, of Manchester, was called home to be with her Savior on Friday, April 26, 2013. She had been a resident of the Good Neighbor Home for several years.

She was born Aug. 26, 1929, the daughter of Joseph and Dena (Nefzger) Dingbaum, in Petersburg. Elizabeth received her education in the Petersburg area. On April 27, 1948, Elizabeth was united in marriage to Robert C. Luensmann at Petersburg SS. Peter and Paul Church. Following their marriage they lived in Dyersville, and also farmed in the Sand Springs area for several years. They also farmed in Hopkinton, Masonville, and east of Delhi and, in 1958, moved to make their home in Manchester.

Betty was a housewife and a mother for many years; later in their marriage she took jobs outside the home at the English Grill and then for 20 years was employed at the Regional Medical Center in the dietary department. She retired in 2000.

Betty was known by many and loved by all with a great smile and laugh. She loved to play cards and bake. She will be missed by all who loved her.

Survivors include 11 children, Janet (Robert) Boots, Cedar Rapids, Marge (Bernard) Pasker, Manchester, Charles (Trish), Waterloo, Diane (Michael) Pasker, Mark (Robin) and Roger (Marsha) all of Manchester, Donald (Laurie), Aspinwall, Iowa, Peter (Micki), St. Louis, Mo., Lisa (Steve) Romesburg, Council Bluffs, Duane (Rina), Dyersville, and Gary (Jennifer), Longview, Texas; 25 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Rosemary Pasker, Manchester, and Luella (John) Pasker, Monticello; one brother, Irvin Dingbaum, Oelwein; three sisters-in-law, Jean Dingbaum, New Vienna, Elsie Dingbaum, Dyersville, and Rosanne (Howard) Werner, Worthington; and one brother-in-law, Rich Kluesner, Farley.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert “Bud” in 1980; one son, Joseph; brothers, Edwin, Vern and Leonard Dingbaum; sisters, Antoinette (Joe) Pasker and Henrietta Kluesner; and a niece, Rita Boge.

Online condolences may be left with

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester, with the Rev. Richard Gaul officiating. Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, with a 2 p.m. parish rosary and a 4 p.m. Scripture service, and also one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment: St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Manchester.

Published April 28, 2013, in The Gazette