Timmerman, Elna Mathilde

Elna Mathilde Timmerman, 95, went to meet her Lord on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at St. John Cemetery in Newhall. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Vinton.

Elna was born on a farm east of What Cheer, Iowa, on May 5, 1917, to R. Adolph and Emma (Rohrke) Mittelsted. The family moved to California for health reasons and lived there for several years. After returning to What Cheer, Elna was confirmed at St. Martins Evangelical Lutheran Church on June 7, 1931. She graduated from Tri-County High School in 1935. She married Walter Timmerman in What Cheer on June 30, 1935. They farmed near Gibson, Iowa, until 1941, when they bought a farm two and one half miles west of Newhall. That location was chosen primarily so that their growing family could attend St. John Lutheran School. Walter and Elna farmed there until their retirement. Elna spent most of her years as a housewife. After her children were grown, she worked at St. Luke's Hospital as a nurses' aide, for several years. Elna and Walter were active members of St. John Lutheran Church. She was named a “St. John Servant” in 1997 for her volunteer work at her church. All of their children graduated from St. John Lutheran School, now Central Lutheran School. After Walters' death in 1986, Elna remained on the farm until 1995, when she moved into the Lutheran Home Duplexes in Vinton.

Elna was known as an excellent cook. She not only grew much of the fruit and vegetables that went into her meals, but she tended her flower gardens as well to make their farmstead a showplace.

For years after becoming a grandmother, she lovingly welcomed her children, grandchildren and finally great-grandchildren into her home and lavished them with bountiful meals and baked goods. She also was a good seamstress, sewing many dresses for her daughters weddings. She also crocheted afghans for all of her children and grandchildren. She and Walter traveled extensively throughout 49 states - visiting children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren ranging from Washington state to Florida and from Massachusetts to California. Elna took great pride in all of the accomplishments of her family.

Survivors include a sister, Norma Schurmeier of Waterloo; her children, Louise Hansen of Alvaton, Ky., Caroline (John) Boll of Preston, Minn., Marie (Lloyd) Schwarting of Bloomington, Ill., Marty Timmerman of Vinton, and Paul (Mary Ann) Timmerman of East Worcester, N.Y.; a daughter-in-law, Eloise Timmerman of Fairfax; 15 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; three nieces; a nephew; two stepnephews; a stepnieces; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

Elna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter; her son, John; her granddaughter, Heidi Boll; and her son-in-law, Kenneth Hansen.

A memorial fund has been established for St. John Lutheran Church, Central Lutheran School, or a charity of the donors choice.

Condolences may be left at: .

Published in The Gazette Aug. 8, 2012.