Elaine C. Wempe

Catherine Elaine Wempe, daughter of Thomas L. Hart and Margaret Schall Hart, was born February 17, 1927, Havelock, Iowa, and died April 11, 2009 at Israel Family House Hospice in Ames, Iowa, at the age of 82 years, 1 month, and 24 days. A Vigil was held at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at Hastings Funeral Home, Perry. Mass of Christian Burial was 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry, Iowa. The Celebrant was Father David Polich, St. Patrick Catholic Chuch, Perry, Iowa; and the Con Celebrant was Father Tom Hart, St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, West Bend, Iowa. Music was by Jan Pattee. Lectors were Jim Beuter and Bob Rounds. Eucharistic Ministers were Dorothy Tiernan and Carole O'Hare. Honorary casket bearers were John Arndt and Tim Hart. Casket bearers were Mark Hart, Darrell Rude, Kenney George, Steve Umthun, Jeff Nelson, Dennis Hart, and Greg Umthun. Ushers were George McCarty and Don Meyer. Elaine went to school in Havelock, Pocahontas, and Gilmore City where she graduated in May of 1945. Elaine, as she was lovingly called, worked for the Pepsi Bottling Company. On June 15, 1948 she married Floyd John Wempe at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fort Dodge. Elaine was working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and when Floyd transferred with his job to Perry in 1950, she transferred also with the phone company where she worked until 1954. Floyd and Elaine were parents of five children: Jeanne, Margaret, Teresa, David and Donald. Elaine later worked for Fareway, Moews Seed Company, and in Dietary Services at the Woodward State Hospital School. For twenty years she did the bookkeeping for their business, Floyd's Service, Ltd. Her main love was her family. Elaine was a very faithful member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and Regina Guild. She enjoyed stamping, and being with the telephone retirees when they met. Elaine and Floyd were members of the Star Promenaders with their square dancing friends. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her infant son James Michael, husband Floyd, and brother Vincent Hart. She is survived by her daughters: Jeanne Stewart (Jim) of Ames, Margaret Meyers (Mark) of Ankeny, and Teresa Read Malchesky (Vic) of Colorado Springs, CO; sons: David Wempe Tyler (Minette) of Marshall, MN, and Donald Wempe of Huxley. Elaine is also survived by her grandchildren: Paul Stewart (Lauren), Matthew Stewart, Jenny Wise (Brian), Kim Meyers, and Paul Gene Tyler (Kim); great grandchildren: Hugh Stewart, Adrian Tyler and Gavin Tyler; brothers: Francis Hart of Gilmore City, and Edward Hart of Stockton, CA; sisters: Rachel Umthun (Virgil) of Eagle Grove, and Jeanette Arndt of Cherokee; sisters-in-law Wilma Hart, LaVon Rude (Glenn), Joan George (Bill); other relatives and many friends. Everyone was invited back to the St. Patrick School Gym for a time of lunch and fellowship following the burial in Violet Hill Cemetery.