Elvira Arens

Elvira (Mousel) Arens, 89 of Remsen, IA, died January  17, 2010 at the Happy Siesta Care Center, after a brief illness.
    Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Remsen.  Friends may call anytime after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010.  There will be a parish rosary at 4 p.m., and vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen.
    Elvira Mousel was born on the family farm near Alton, IA on January 3, 1921 to the late Frank and Mary Konz Mousel
    Elvira attended St. Mary’s School in Alton and was united in marriage to Kenneth Arens on November 25, 1941 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton.  The couple settled on the Arens family farm south of Remsen.
    After the sudden death of her husband on July 16, 1960, Elvira moved into the town of Remsen,  with her children.  She was employed at the Golden Pheasant in the 1960’s and Bob’s IGA/Majeres Foodtown  until her retirement in 1997.
    Elvira was devoted to her family.   She will always be remembered for her friendly smile behind the bakery counter at the grocery store, her love of the Christmas Season, and her amazing ability to bake and cook.  She enjoyed sharing all her cooking creations and loved company. She warmly welcomed all visitors into her home.  She especially enjoyed all the times the whole family was able to get together. 
    She was a member at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Remsen, and Christian Mothers.
    She is survived by her 13 children Larry and his wife Carolyn Arens, Mike Arens, Shirley and her husband Ray Harpenau, Janet and her husband Leon Fiedler, Joyce Arens, Rich and his wife Bonnie Arens, Mary Ann Arens all of Remsen, Patricia and her husband Richard Winokur of Pittsboro N.C., Lorna and her husband Jim Full, Marge and her husband Doug Harmelink of Omaha NE., Jack and his wife Patricia Arens of Thorton Co., Frank and his wife Linda Arens of Arvada, Co., and Kendra and her husband Joe Schroeder of Le Mars, IA.  36 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 41 great-grand children and one great great grandchild.  Two sisters Pearl and her husband Lee Jenness of Cherokee, IA, and Francie Mae Homan of Remsen.  Sister-in-laws, Helen Jaminet, Mary Loutsch, Jane and her husband Leander Konz, Doris Wurth, Doris Arens all of Remsen, Mary Ann Arens of LeMars, and Esther Konz of Alton, and numerous nieces and nephews.
    She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth, one grandson Russell Harpenau, one granddaughter Stacie Fiedler , four brothers and their wives Arnie and his wife Ann  Mousel, Ray and his wife Millie Mousel, Bud and his wife Gerry Mousel and Clarence and his wife Olie and Jen Mousel , three sisters and their husbands Evelyn and her husband Anthony Ney, Darlene and her husband Ray Streff, Irene and her husband Otto Pottebaum and in-laws Lyle Homan,  Oswald(Oz) Arens, Gene Loutsch, Ed Jaminet, Louis Wurth, Lawrence(Woody) and Valeria Alesch, Phyllis and her husband Stanley Englert, Jim Arens, and Leonard Konz.
    Casket Bearers will be Ken & Bryan Arens, Dean Harpenau, Heath Fiedler, Louis Winokur, Regi  Arens, Michael Harmelink, Zach Schroeder.
    Honorary Casket Bearers will be all the grandchildren.