Esther E. Konz

Esther E. Konz, 93 years old, of Alton, IA, died Thursday, May 28, 2015, at Orange City Area Health Systems Hospital in Orange City, IA.  
           
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 1, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton with Rev. Terry Roder and Rev. James Tigges officiating and Deacon Dan Goebel assisting.  Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alton.  Visitation will be anytime after 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2015.  There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. & a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
           
Esther was born June 26, 1921, at Remsen, IA, the daughter of Jim & Mollie (Kennedy) Arens.  Esther was raised and educated in the Remsen area and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School graduating in 1939.  On Sept. 23, 1941 she married Leonard Konz at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen.  They farmed both south and east of Alton until 1965 when they moved into Alton.  She started to clean houses and then became a bartender at Bud’s Tavern, Black Knight Lounge, Seekers Lounge, The Still and The Double D up until 10 years ago.  Leonard died June 30, 2005. 
Esther was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, St. Mary’s Guild and Catholic Daughters of America.  She enjoyed bowling, playing cards especially every Monday with her sisters, Bingo, fishing, gambling, going to her grandchildren’s activities, spending time with family and friends.  She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.    
Survivors include: her three children, Gary (Karen) Konz of LeMars, IA, Tony (Kelly) Konz, Deb (Dennis) Schmit both of Alton;  Grandchildren, Jason (Gina) Konz of Victoria, MN, Jodi Konz of LeMars, IA, Laura (Josh) Sievers of Rock Rapids, IA, Jeff Konz of Ankeny, IA, Chris Gianopoulos of Boyden, IA, Marisa Konz  of Alton, IA, Megan (Lucas) Kline of St. Joseph, MO, Shane Schmit of North Liberty, IA, Austin Schmit of Alton, IA, Melissa Schmit of Alton, IA; six great-grandchildren, Jacob, Alyssa & Madeline Konz, Owen, Marshall & Grant Sievers; two sisters, Doris Wurth and Jane (Leander) Konz both of Remsen, IA; one sister-in-law, Mary Ann Arens of LeMars, IA.
Preceded by: her parents, daughter, Marilyn Konz, Brothers, Oswald (Doris) Arens, Kenny (Elvira) Arens, Jim Arens; Sisters, Valeria (Lawrence) Alesch, Phyllis (Stan) Englert, Helen (Ed) Jaminet, Mary (Gene) Loutsch; brothers-in-law, Louis Wurth, Magnus, LeRoy and Lester Konz; sisters-in-law, Loretta Klein, Verena Pottebaum, Marian Kinney and Rose Wolf.
Casket Bearers will be her grandsons, Jacob, Shane, Austin, Lucas, Jason, Jeff, Josh, Chris.
Honorary Bearers will be the rest of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.