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Erma Baumgartner
ERMA BAUMGARTNER
Dundee
Erma Mae Baumgartner, 99, formerly of Dundee, died Saturday, May 6, 2017, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home. Visitation: 3:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at St. John Lutheran Church, Dundee, with Pastor Ron Spears officiating. Burial: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.
Erma Mae Baumgartner was born April 19, 1918, the daughter of Edward and Opal (Heyer) Jennerjohn at Evergreen Hill Farm near Dundee. She was a 1935 graduate of Dundee High School and Gates Business College in Waterloo. On Sept. 14, 1938, Erma married Ronald W. Baumgartner at her parents' home near Dundee. The couple farmed near Dundee until 1949, when they moved to Cedar Falls for three years, returning to the farm in 1952. The couple retired in 1967 to Florida, where they built a home at Bonita Springs.
Erma was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Dundee and charter member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Bonita Springs. Erma was very active in women's ministry.
Erma enjoyed crocheting, growing flowers, especially orchids, and fishing. She was a talented seamstress; in 1951, a three-piece suit she constructed won first place at the National Cattle Congress and then went onto the Iowa State Fair. Erma's first love was the Lord, family, friends and grandchildren.
Survivors include her daughter, Gloria Noble of Dundee; daughter-in-law, Dianne Baumgartner (Ken Rayburn) of Manchester; granddaughters, Marilyn (Ron) Cunningham of Masonville, Brenda Popham of Lamont, Julie Noble of Strawberry Point, Drs. Cynthia (Bill) Hoover of Bettendorf, Roxanne (Dr. Chris) Anderson of Woodbine and Georgia (Jan) Moorman of Marion; 14 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Erma was preceded in death by husband, Ronald; her son, Rodney Baumgartner; son-in-law, Bill Noble; granddaughter, Ronda Chettinger; great-great-grandson, Will Cunningham; grandson-in-law, Rick Popham; and brother, John Jennerjohn.
Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church, Edgewood Convalescent Home, or Hospice of Comfort in memory of Erma.
Please share a memory of Erma at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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