Baustian, Elsie Irene

Elsie Irene Baustian, 86, of Guernsey, died Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. today at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until time of service. Burial will be in Goldenrod Cemetery, Deep River.

Elsie Irene Baustian was born Jan. 23, 1924, in Wray, Colo., the daughter of Morris and Naomi Barber Sterrett. She was a 1941 graduate of Deep River High School. On March 20, 1946, she was united in marriage to Wayne Rolland Baustian. To this union three children were born: Steve, Patricia and David. Over the years Irene worked as a homemaker, at Johnson Grocery and Cox Dry Goods in Deep River, McClellan's in Cedar Rapids, Star Inn and Dickie's Prairie Home. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, golfing and dancing. She was a member of the Guernsey United Methodist Church and American Legion Auxiliary. At age 65, Irene received multiple bee stings which left her in a persistent vegetative state until Tuesday, March 23, 2010, when she passed away at the Marengo Memorial Hospital. 

She is survived by her daughter, Patty (Roger) Griffith of Malcom; a son, David Baustian of Guernsey; a brother, Max Sterrett of Phoenix, Ariz.; a sister, Helen Haines of Roseburg, Ore.; two grandchildren, Amy (Chad) Larson of Brooklyn and J.D. (Erica) Griffith of Malcom; and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Jackson Eichhorn.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne; a son, Steve; two brothers, Marvin and Donald Sterrett; and three sisters, Hazel Steffer, Juanita Baustian and Mary Elliott.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marengo Memorial Hospital.