Lena M. Erickson

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 23rd at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. A visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 22nd at Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Lena Martha, the daughter of Louis and Christina (Buhr) Schmadeke, was born April 1, 1917, in Readlyn, Iowa. She grew up in Sumner, Iowa. She attended Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA and Wartburg College in Waverly. She married Elmer Cole Erickson on May 20, 1944, in Sumner, Iowa. To this union they had a daughter Jane Christine. Lena worked as a teacher, in a one-room school house, in Bremer County, and as a 5th and 6th grade teacher in McIntire, IA. She co-owned and operated many businesses with her husband, Elmer: Erickson’s Grocery Store, McIntire, IA; Rose Distribution Co. (selling whole foods), Cedar Rapids, IA; and Coast To Coast Hardware Store, Winterset. They retired in 1977. Lena, a dedicated wife and mother, was always a constant source of encouragement. She was always willing to invest any amount of time necessary to resolve any task. She was also known for being a kind-hearted and generous person whom was always available and willing to listen. She loved the Lord, and it showed in her daily life, reading and studying the bible, and her membership at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. Lena had many interests. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and sewing. When Elmer was living they loved to go dancing, and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, traveling to many Scandinavian Countries. They’ve been to Hawaii on several occasions to attend Pearl Harbor Survivor Conventions, of which Elmer was a member. Lena loved to attend any and all family reunions, graduations, and weddings. After retirement, they enjoyed visiting her brother, Louis, at his home in Florida. In addition to her church membership, Lena was involved with the V.F.W. & Legion Auxiliary, Tops, Winterset Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul Comforters, and Christian Women’s Club. On Sunday morning, December 19, 2010, Lena died peacefully at Winterset Care Center South. She lived 93 years, 8 months, and 18 days. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Elmer in August 2000; and her siblings, John, Lavern, Ellen Whitcomb, Ralph and Louis. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Steve Wiggins of Winterset; three grandchildren, Paige Henry (husband, Randy) of Winterset, Matthew Wiggins of West Des Moines, and Brooke Harter (husband, Doug) of Indianapolis, IN; seven great-grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, & Emma Henry and Anna, Abigail, Olivia & Daniel Harter; 16 nieces and nephews.