Erlene M. Henrichs

Erlene M. Henrichs, 85, of Winterset, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 30, 2022 at home with family by her side. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., June 3, 2022 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. Family will greet friends one hour prior, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Erlene Marie (Poppinga) Henrichs was born June 1, 1936 at her paternal grandmother’s farmhouse in Pocahontas County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Louie and Marie (Hoefing) Poppinga. She was the oldest of four siblings. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lizard Township in Pocahontas County and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Gilmore City, Iowa. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse until she was 10 years old. Then, her family moved to Humboldt County. As a teenager, she was active in 4-H. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1954. She attended Iowa State Teachers’ College, receiving her 2-year teaching certificate. She returned to Pocahontas to teach elementary school. On May 31, 1958, she married August (Gus) Henrichs. They moved to Winterset, Iowa where Gus was working as a professional farm manager. Erlene taught for several years in the Winterset School District before becoming a mother to 3 daughters, Greta, Deanne, and Jennifer. Erlene remained active in education, frequently substituting and finally worked as a teaching associate for 21 years. She was active in her church, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. She loved to play Bridge, was devoted to gardening, and was always involved in her children’s lives. She was also an active member of Chapter AG PEO until her health prevented her from participating in meetings and activities. She is survived by her husband; her 3 daughters, Greta (Randy) Short of Council Bluffs, Deanne (Greg) Steffens of Casa Grande, Arizona, Jennifer (Andy) Mattes of Des Moines; her 3 granddaughters, Hannah (Ben) Bolte of Papillion, Nebraska, Sierra (Hank) Beauchamp of Mead, Washington, and Madison Short of Miami, Florida; her 3 great-grandchildren, Hallie and Brayden Bolte, and Adaline Beauchamp; her siblings, Lavonne (Paul) Bangasser of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Elaine Poppinga of Charles City, Iowa, and Rodney (Linda) Poppinga of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louie and Marie (Hoefing) Poppinga.