Mabel S. Greene

Mabel S. Greene was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, February 26, 1917, the daughter of Willy F. and Elizabeth Winter Scheel. She was received into God’s Kingdom of Grace through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, March 18, 1917, and confirmed in her Christian Faith June 8, 1930, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa. When she was two years of age the family moved to South Sioux City, Nebraska, where she was raised and received her education graduating from South Sioux City High School with the class of 1935. Following high school she was employed at S.S. Kresge in Sioux City. On June 29, 1937, Mabel was united in marriage with the Rev. Elmer E. Greene at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa. Their union was blessed with four children: Robert, Ruth, Marlene and Sheryl. Mabel spent her married life as a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She was a strong supporter of her husband’s ministry at St. John’s Lutheran, Buck Grove, Iowa, and Bethlehem Lutheran in Dow City, Iowa, from 1937-1941; Trinity Lutheran, Jefferson, Iowa, 1941-1943; Bethel Lutheran, Sutherland, Iowa, 1943-1951; Peace Lutheran, West Bend, Iowa, 1951-1957; and St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Mapleton, Iowa, 1957-1974 from which he retired. Following his retirement from St. Matthew’s, the Greene’s moved to Denison, Iowa, and Mabel continued to support her husband’s vacancy ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Charter Oak, Iowa, until he retired from there in 1989. In June of 1987, Rev. Greene and Mabel celebrated his 50th Anniversary in the ministry and their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Rev. Greene died July 26, 1990, and Mabel continued to reside in Denison. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison; Zion Ladies Aid; Zion Dorcas Society; Zion Fellowship Club; Lutheran Women Missionary League; Friday Club; Federated Women’s Club; Eventide Auxiliary and Crawford County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary where she was a past president and secretary. In her spare time she enjoyed volunteering, reading and doing crafts. Since 2008, Mabel had resided at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison and it was there her death occurred late Monday, May 30, 2011. At the time of her death she had been blessed with 94 years, 3 months and 4 days. Including her parents and husband, Mabel was also preceded in death by two brothers: Merle and Floyd Scheel; and two sisters, Esther Culley and Eunice Miller. Those remaining to cherish her memory include four children: the Rev. Robert Greene and wife, Jean of Georgetown, Texas; Ruth and husband, the Rev. William Couch of Knoxville, Tennessee; Marlene and husband, the Rev. Marvin Otto of Kingsport, Tennessee; and Sheryl and husband, the Rev. Walter Anderson of Hillsboro, Oregon; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; one sister: Alice Kruithoff of Sioux City, Iowa; two sisters-in-law: Audry Scheel Nathes of Holdrege, Nebraska and Ella Greene of Charles City, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2011, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiating. Music for the service included the congregational hymns of “Nearer My God to Thee”, “Jesus Lead Thou On”, “Take Thou My Hand and Lead Me” and “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” with Karen Kahl serving as organist. Pallbearers included Lawrence Greene, David Greene, Steven Greene, Kurt Otto, Mark Anderson and Aaron Anderson. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Following the interment all were invited to return to the church and join the family for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid and Zion Dorcas Society. Memorials have been established to Zion Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour and Eventide Lutheran Home. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa was in charge of arrangements