116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Hand, Elsie G.
Elsie G. Hand, 100, of rural Tama, entered into eternal life Friday evening, May 6, 2011, at Carrington Place in Toledo, with her family at her side. Visitation will be held Monday, May 9, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church from 4 until 7 p.m. A public vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Tama. Interment will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown has been entrusted with her arrangements.
Elsie Genevieve Hand was born Jan. 3, 1911, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Louis J. and Clara (Gyorek) Rohach. When she was 5 years old, the family moved to Iowa and lived on various farms in Poweshiek and Tama counties. Elsie attended the rural schools. On Jan. 1, 1930, she was united in holy matrimony to Floyd L. “Bud” Hand. Following their marriage, the couple farmed in Poweshiek and Tama counties and raised their five children. Bud died unexpectedly on June 27, 1967, at the age of 59. Elsie continued to reside on their family farm until she entered the care center on May 2, 2011. Elsie was a faithful member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and CCW.
Elsie celebrated over 100 years of life. Most importantly, Elsie was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother and an excellent cook. She loved spending time with family and friends and making sure they never left her house hungry.
Surviving are her daughter, Mildred Dolezal of Tama; a son, LaVerne (Helen) Hand of Tama; a sister, Anna Zigmund of Clearwater Beach, Fla.; two daughters-in-law, Carlene Hand of Tama and Delores Hand of Tucson, Ariz.; 22 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
In eternal life, Elsie is reunited with her parents; husband, Bud; three sons, Floyd W., John and Franklin; three sisters, Clara (in infancy), Margaret Kunch and Mayme Zigmund; two brothers, Louis and Joe Rohach; one granddaughter; two great-granddaughters; and one great- great-granddaughter.
A memorial fund is being established.
Daily Newsletters