Ella Mae Staiert
July 7, 1925 — August 24, 2024
Ella Mae Staiert, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Leiting) Loeffelholz, was born on July 7, 1925, on her parents' family farm near Mt. Carmel, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School. She grew to adulthood on the family farm outside of Mt. Carmel.
Ella Mae met Walter Staiert at a dance in 1941. On October 10, 1945, on her parents' anniversary, she was united in marriage to Walter at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. To this union ten children were born: Ronald, Robert, Duane, Walt, Joseph, Ralph, Marie, Jim, Jeanne, and Joni. After their wedding, the couple made their home south of Maple River, Iowa, where they had a grain and dairy cow farming operation. In 1967, they purchased and moved to a farm and dairy operation southwest of Elk Horn, Iowa. In January 2007, Ella Mae and Walter moved into Harlan, Iowa.
Ella Mae was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother who was known to be an excellent cook and baker. Her kids and later her grandchildren would "fight" over her homemade pies, bread, cinnamon twist rolls and cookies. For many of the grandchildren, she was known as the "cookie Grandma". Ella Mae enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, dancing, and singing. She was a choir member at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and her love of singing continued through her later years when she joined the Goldenaires in Harlan, Iowa. Prior to the death of her husband, you would often find the two of them playing cards at their kitchen island. Ella Mae especially enjoyed the time she spent with family and was blessed with the opportunity to travel with family to such places as Spain, Hawaii, Washington DC, Branson Missouri, California, Las Vegas and Reno Nevada, and Florida.
Ella Mae was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan where she was a member of the Ladies Guild and was also an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
The last four years of her life, Ella Mae was a resident of Hansen House Senior Living and enjoyed the various activities as well as the creating of crafts with the staff and other residents. The staff provided excellent, loving care to Ella Mae by treating her like she was family.
Ella Mae died on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Hansen House Senior Living having attained the age of ninety-nine years, 1 month, and seventeen days. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 64 years, Walter, in 2009; son, Walt, in 2012; son, Joseph, and daughter, Joni, in infancy; her siblings: Neoma Ludwig; Walter Loeffelholz; Marguerite Broich; Mardella Baumhover; Joann Manemann, Alfred Loeffelholz and Mary Madelyn Loeffelholz in infancy.
She is survived by her children: Ronald Staiert and his wife Janice of Walnut, Iowa; Robert Staiert and his wife Linda of Topeka, Kansas; Duane Staiert and his wife Celine of Omaha, Nebraska; Ralph Staiert and his wife Wendy of Aitkin, Minnesota; Marie Lantz and her husband Don of St. Joseph, Missouri; Jim Staiert and his wife Ana of Kansas City, Missouri; Jeanne Eastman and her husband Mark of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter-in-law Laurie Staiert Westergaard and her husband John of Lake View, IA; nineteen grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; her siblings: Mary Ann Ragaller of Westside, Iowa; Paul Loeffelholz and his wife Kay of Bozeman, Montana; Ralph Loeffelholz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Don Loeffelholz and his wife Karen of Leawood, Kansas; her sisters-in-law Alice Staiert and Harriet Staiert; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends.
Ella Mae met Walter Staiert at a dance in 1941. On October 10, 1945, on her parents' anniversary, she was united in marriage to Walter at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. To this union ten children were born: Ronald, Robert, Duane, Walt, Joseph, Ralph, Marie, Jim, Jeanne, and Joni. After their wedding, the couple made their home south of Maple River, Iowa, where they had a grain and dairy cow farming operation. In 1967, they purchased and moved to a farm and dairy operation southwest of Elk Horn, Iowa. In January 2007, Ella Mae and Walter moved into Harlan, Iowa.
Ella Mae was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother who was known to be an excellent cook and baker. Her kids and later her grandchildren would "fight" over her homemade pies, bread, cinnamon twist rolls and cookies. For many of the grandchildren, she was known as the "cookie Grandma". Ella Mae enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, dancing, and singing. She was a choir member at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and her love of singing continued through her later years when she joined the Goldenaires in Harlan, Iowa. Prior to the death of her husband, you would often find the two of them playing cards at their kitchen island. Ella Mae especially enjoyed the time she spent with family and was blessed with the opportunity to travel with family to such places as Spain, Hawaii, Washington DC, Branson Missouri, California, Las Vegas and Reno Nevada, and Florida.
Ella Mae was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Harlan where she was a member of the Ladies Guild and was also an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
The last four years of her life, Ella Mae was a resident of Hansen House Senior Living and enjoyed the various activities as well as the creating of crafts with the staff and other residents. The staff provided excellent, loving care to Ella Mae by treating her like she was family.
Ella Mae died on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Hansen House Senior Living having attained the age of ninety-nine years, 1 month, and seventeen days. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 64 years, Walter, in 2009; son, Walt, in 2012; son, Joseph, and daughter, Joni, in infancy; her siblings: Neoma Ludwig; Walter Loeffelholz; Marguerite Broich; Mardella Baumhover; Joann Manemann, Alfred Loeffelholz and Mary Madelyn Loeffelholz in infancy.
She is survived by her children: Ronald Staiert and his wife Janice of Walnut, Iowa; Robert Staiert and his wife Linda of Topeka, Kansas; Duane Staiert and his wife Celine of Omaha, Nebraska; Ralph Staiert and his wife Wendy of Aitkin, Minnesota; Marie Lantz and her husband Don of St. Joseph, Missouri; Jim Staiert and his wife Ana of Kansas City, Missouri; Jeanne Eastman and her husband Mark of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter-in-law Laurie Staiert Westergaard and her husband John of Lake View, IA; nineteen grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; her siblings: Mary Ann Ragaller of Westside, Iowa; Paul Loeffelholz and his wife Kay of Bozeman, Montana; Ralph Loeffelholz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Don Loeffelholz and his wife Karen of Leawood, Kansas; her sisters-in-law Alice Staiert and Harriet Staiert; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends.
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