Loertscher, Lydia

Lydia Loertscher, 95, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at her home. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Goettsch Funeral Home, 306 E. First St., Anamosa, preceding memorial services at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Barb Krueger will officiate at the services. Internment will be at the Green Center Cemetery in rural Morley.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving are a son, Ken (Pam) of Carmel, Ind.; special family friend, Julie Draeger; two grandchildren, Ryan and Jamie Draeger of Marion; a sister, Helen Hirsch of Delavan, Wis.; and a brother, Emil (Gladys) Paur of Medford, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Paur of Medford, Wis.; her sister, Margaret Loertscher of Loyal, Wis.; her husband, m Herbert in March 2010; and a son, Craig in June 1999.

Lydia Paur was born April 5, 1918, in Medford, Wis., the daughter of John and Anna Widmer Paur. On Oct. 8, 1942, Lydia Paur and Herbert Loertscher were united in marriage in Wisconsin. They first lived together in northern Illinois where they farmed and began their family, eventually coming to make their home in the Iowa countryside near Morley. Almost 50 years ago, Lydia set about developing what she later lovingly and always with a twinkle in her eye and gratitude in her heart, called their “paradise.”

Lydia was remarkably creative and productive in her every interest - designing their home from the ground up, building much of the furniture within it, often including stained glass pieces she crafted herself. She was diminutive in size and from the earliest ages learned to design and tailor-make clothing for herself, later one-of-a kind sewn or quilted gifts for others. She was also an avid baseball and tennis fan and enjoyed traveling (Europe) and cooking for family dinners.

For all her talents, Lydia was also of a kind, unassuming and fun-loving nature. The warmer months would find her always outside. She loved to garden and spent her hours most contentedly in the lovely parklike setting she had created surrounding their home to welcome birds, other creatures and loved ones. For the thing she treasured most was the time she got to spend with them. She will be dearly missed by those who knew her.

Published in The Gazette Sept. 30, 2013.