Delphine "Gussie" Molony
October 11, 1924 — March 29, 2014
Delphine Estelle Molony "Gussie" was born on October 11, 1924 to John and Ida (Wilke) Zimmer in Buck Grove, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. She attended country school in Buck Grove. She drove her siblings to high school in a Model A Ford and graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic School.
Gussie was married to August Kaufman in 1944 and lived on a farm north of Harlan. They had four children born to them: Julienne, Keith, John (who died in 1989 at the age of thirty-three years), and Kevin. She enjoyed being a farm wife.
She began working as a waitress and bartender at the Evergreen Inn in Harlan gaining the experience needed to become a business owner. She owned and operated the Chicken Hut Restaurant for twelve years before selling that business. She owned and managed Gussie's Place in Harlan with her husband, Joe Molony, whom she married on February 22, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She sold Gussie's Place in 1999 and worked part-time for her son, Keith, who owns the Westside. Gussie was the first woman ever elected President of the Iowa Beverage Association.
Gussie loved the outdoors and nature and all the activities that go with it. She was a trap shooter and went hunting for deer, quail, pheasants, and turkeys and loved to fish for catfish in the Nishnabotna and Missouri Rivers. She even took a fishing trip to Homer, Alaska.
Her travels took her to Rome, Egypt, Hawaii, Rio, and Spain where she rode a camel. She went on a shopping trip to New York City with her special friend Arlene Josefson of Red Oak, Iowa. They even took in a fashion show. In 2002, she attended the Kentucky Derby. She liked to ride her own quarter horse and rode in the Sidney, Iowa Rodeo. Pocket billiards was another of her favorite past times and in addition to playing, she would travel with her son Keith to various tournaments. Her favorite pool player was "Denver" Danny Madina.
Gussie had a passion for helping people and was always willing to lend a hand. She kept on the move until her health forced her to slow down. She was a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Home when she died on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the age of eighty-nine years, five months, and eighteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, son John, sisters Marie Freund and Helen Freund, and brothers Arthur and John Zimmer.
She is survived by her children: Julienne and her husband Gene Wiig of Kirkman, Iowa, Keith Kaufman and his wife Cindi of Harlan, Iowa, and Kevin Kaufman and his wife Janet; nine grandchildren: Rodney, Jr., Amanda, Jared, Kaizer, Kassie, Colby, Jacqueline, and Emily; one great-grandson, Caydon; other family members and a multitude of people whose lives she touched in some way.
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Gussie was married to August Kaufman in 1944 and lived on a farm north of Harlan. They had four children born to them: Julienne, Keith, John (who died in 1989 at the age of thirty-three years), and Kevin. She enjoyed being a farm wife.
She began working as a waitress and bartender at the Evergreen Inn in Harlan gaining the experience needed to become a business owner. She owned and operated the Chicken Hut Restaurant for twelve years before selling that business. She owned and managed Gussie's Place in Harlan with her husband, Joe Molony, whom she married on February 22, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She sold Gussie's Place in 1999 and worked part-time for her son, Keith, who owns the Westside. Gussie was the first woman ever elected President of the Iowa Beverage Association.
Gussie loved the outdoors and nature and all the activities that go with it. She was a trap shooter and went hunting for deer, quail, pheasants, and turkeys and loved to fish for catfish in the Nishnabotna and Missouri Rivers. She even took a fishing trip to Homer, Alaska.
Her travels took her to Rome, Egypt, Hawaii, Rio, and Spain where she rode a camel. She went on a shopping trip to New York City with her special friend Arlene Josefson of Red Oak, Iowa. They even took in a fashion show. In 2002, she attended the Kentucky Derby. She liked to ride her own quarter horse and rode in the Sidney, Iowa Rodeo. Pocket billiards was another of her favorite past times and in addition to playing, she would travel with her son Keith to various tournaments. Her favorite pool player was "Denver" Danny Madina.
Gussie had a passion for helping people and was always willing to lend a hand. She kept on the move until her health forced her to slow down. She was a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Home when she died on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the age of eighty-nine years, five months, and eighteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, son John, sisters Marie Freund and Helen Freund, and brothers Arthur and John Zimmer.
She is survived by her children: Julienne and her husband Gene Wiig of Kirkman, Iowa, Keith Kaufman and his wife Cindi of Harlan, Iowa, and Kevin Kaufman and his wife Janet; nine grandchildren: Rodney, Jr., Amanda, Jared, Kaizer, Kassie, Colby, Jacqueline, and Emily; one great-grandson, Caydon; other family members and a multitude of people whose lives she touched in some way.
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