Mathilde Johanna Maria Imhof Esser

Mathilde Johanna Maria

Imhof Esser

North Liberty

Mathilde Johanna Maria Imhof Esser, 90, of North Liberty/Davenport, passed Jan. 7, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, with her family by her side.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Jan. 21, at Coralville United Methodist Church, 806 13th Ave., Coralville, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., with services starting at 11 a.m. Mathilde will be laid to rest at Ridgewood Cemetery, North Liberty at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in care of the family. To view full obituary and share a thought, memory or condolences, with her family please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website at www.gayandciha.com.

Mathilde Johanna Maria Imhof was born Sept. 29, 1932, in Mannheim, Germany. She was the youngest daughter of Heinrich and Johannna (Gackle) Imhof. She had two older brothers, Karl and Heinrich Imhof. Mathilde married Hubert Esser in Mannheim on March 13, 1959, they shared a wonderful life together.

Mathilde was a caring daughter, a loving wife, an understanding mother, a supportive grandmother and a generous Teacher. She was hopeful and positive and a lot of people know her as “Oma”. Hilde/Oma was beloved by all. She had the warmest smile, a playful and adventurous spirit, she was up for anything and her love for her family had no bounds. She loved to teach, bake and cook, craft and scrapbook, paint and play games, kayak, canoe and travel; destinations included the Southwest, Japan, Chesapeake Bay, Canada, Puerto Rico, France and Mexico. She truly touched everyone she met and was a pillar in the community and throughout her life. She was an inspiration and supporter and loved to make other people happy. Her favorite thing was to laugh and be with her family.

Mathilde is survived by her children, Susanne (Thomas) Marier, Hubert (Eriko) Esser and Marianne (Mike) Hartman; and her grandchildren, Robert (Brooke) Marier, and Hannah Marier; Adina (Braden), Monika and Ken Esser; Caroline (Dillon) Hartman, Gabrielle, Cassidy and Atticus Hartman; relatives in Germany, Thomas Alles, Peter and Klaus Imhof, Ulrike Esser-Schoch; and by her close friends, Brenda Spencer, Diana Swanson, Waltraud Martens and Marilyn Jensen.

The family would like to thank the staff at Lantern Park Specialty Care and University of Iowa Hospital ER and Medical ICU teams for the love and compassion they showed Mathilde and family.