Louise Harmsen Smith

Louise Harmsen Smith 87, of Perry, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the Perry Health Care Center.Louise was born October 7, 1921, in Audubon, Iowa to Hans C. and Ana (Michaelson) Christensen. She lived in Walnut, Brayton, and Atlantic, Iowa before moving to Perry, Iowa. She married Martin C. Harmsen on August 22, 1937. He died November 9, 1982.Louise worked at the Atlantic, Iowa City Hall and Woodward State Hospital School in Woodward, Iowa where she was part of the foster grandparent program. Louise was known for oil painting, writing poetry, and being a great cook. However, nothing meant to her than being a mother and grandmother. She was a member of Perry, Iowa First Christian Church. Mrs. Harmsen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson, Tony Comer; four brothers, Laverne, Sidney, Raymond, Alfred; seven sisters, Violet, Viola, Elsie, Edna, Sophia, Esther, and Pearl. Survivors include two sons, Howard (Janice) Harmsen, St. Joseph, MO and Jerry (Geniveve) Harmsen, Windsor, MO; daughter, Marrietta (John) Comer, Perry, IA; brother, Arnold (Babe) Christensen, Huntington Beach, CA; sister, Mary Lewis, St. Joseph, MO; 5 grandchildren, Tami (Kevin) Viestenz, Overland Park, KS; Trisha (Michael) Viselli, St. Joseph, MO; Debbie Harmsen, Mount Victory, OH; Clint (Rebecca) Comer, Perry, IA; Shawna (Jim) Stucker, Bouton, IA; 11 great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends. Funeral Services for Louise were held 2:00 p.m. Saturday , May 16, at Hastings Funeral home in Perry with words of comfort by Dr. George Lair of First Christian Church. Burial was in Violet Hill Cemetery. Casket bearers were Tami Viestenz, Trisha Visellli, Debbie Harmsen, Clint Comer and Shawna Stucker.