Marie Niichel

Marie Niichel, age 97 of Ashton, Iowa died Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. on Friday, August 11, 2006 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Ashton, with Father Clair L. Boes officiating. Burial will follow in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery of Ashton. Visitation will be from 4 until 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 10th, with the family present during that time at the St. Marys Catholic Church in Ashton. There will be a rosary at 4:00 PM and Parish Wake Service at 7:30 PM. Marie Magdalena (Johannes) Niichel was born on March 25, 1909, the daughter of Peter and Etta (Wallrich) Johannes in Ashton, Iowa. She attended and graduated from the St. Josephs Catholic school in Ashton. On August 3, 1929, she was united in marriage to John Niichel in Ashton. The couple farmed in the Ashton area for a number of years. Marie was a member of the St. Marys Catholic Church, where she served on the Womens Guild and the Catholic Daughters of America. She was also very active at the Senior Citizens. Marie enjoyed working on the Genealogy in her family, quilting, crocheting, playing cards and gardening. Marie is survived by three children: Glen Niichel of Grandview, WA; Letha Gacke of Sibley and Jeanne Frick of Ashton; sixteen grandchildren, forty-one great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara Seivert of Ashton and Cecilia Johannes of Country View Manor in Sibley; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John in 1986; daughter Marlene in infancy; son, Merlyn and his wife Adella Niichel; two sons-in-law: Ronald Gacke and Mike Frick; four sisters; one brother; and two grandsons, Douglas Gacke and Patrick Michael Frick.