Elsie E. Ahders

Rock Rapids, Iowa Elsie Ahders, age 89 of Overland Park, KS, formerly of Rock Rapids, IA died on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Garden Terrace Nursing Home in Overland Park, KS. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8, 2013 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Dan Kordahl officiating. Private family inurnment will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Family will be receiving guests one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA. Elsie was born on May 26, 1923 on a farm near Lewis, Iowa, one of three children born to Charles and Erna Anderson. She attended country school and after graduating from Griswold High School she completed her teaching degree at Westmar College in Le Mars, IA. She taught country school near Rock Rapids, IA before she and Arnold Ahders were married on October 22, 1944. Arnold and Elsie farmed near Rock Rapids where they raised five children: Arnold, Jr., Robert, Richard, Douglas and Kathryn. They retired to Rock Rapids in 1976. Elsie was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church teaching Sunday School and singing in the Church Choir. She was also active in the Historical Society, the American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW Auxilary. She enjoyed ceramics, bowling and quilting. She is survived by her children, Arnold, Jr., Robert, Richard and Kathryn; 6 grandchildren, David and Danny Van Roekel, Tim Ahders, Jill Calhoun, and Matt and Cody Meinking; and 5 great-grandchildren, Austin and Aiden Van Roekel, Kira and Emily Van Roekel, and Jack Ahders. Preceding her death were her parents; her husband, Arnold; son, Douglas; and brother Andrew Anderson.