Elmira J. Morkin

Funeral services will be held for Elmira Morkin on Wednesday, January 5, 2005, 10:30 a.m., at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt with Father John McGuirk presiding, Melinda Bengford, cantor, and Athlyn Black, organist. Honorary pallbearers include the following: John Hoefling, Donovan Determann, Doug Hoefling, and Todd Gronemeyer. Active pallbearers will include: Dean Dozier, William Dotson, Shawn Strubbe, Larry Swartz, Justin Albrant, and Jeff Black. Burial will be at St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery in Odebolt, under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, January 4th, at Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Odebolt with rosary at 7:00 and vigil service at 7:30.

Elmira J. Morkin, age 85, of Armstrong, Iowa, and formerly of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2005, at Lakeside Lutheran Care Center in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Elmira Josephine Haselhoff was born April 18, 1919, in Highland, Wisconsin, the daughter of Bernard A. and Mary Sampers (Determann) Haselhoff. As a toddler they moved to Odebolt where Elmira attended St. Martin’s Elementary School, graduating from Odebolt High School in 1936.

After graduating, Elmira worked at Adams Ranch as a cook where she met William P. Morkin who was working as a chauffer at the ranch. On May 6, 1943, Elmira was united in marriage to Bill in Sioux City, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Thomas, Kathleen, and Mary Beth. After their marriage, they moved to Waterloo where Bill worked for John Deere, returning to Odebolt in 1944. Elmira stayed home caring for her family until the children were older and then worked at St. Martin’s School as a cook. After Bill passed away June 28, 1965, she was employed at the U.S. Post Office in Odebolt, Lawrence Friday’s Dry Cleaners, Colonial Manor Nursing Home as a cook, and proudly was the owner of The Sewing Basket, retiring in 1985. She lived in the same house in Odebolt for over sixty years.

Elmira was an avid quilter and was well known for her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, and pies. She enjoyed playing cards and going fishing. Raising her children, seeing them educated, and being a constant presence in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest accomplishments. In 1998 she moved to Armstrong to be closer to family due to her declining health. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt and past president of Ladies Society.

Survivors include her children: Tom Morkin and his wife Jacque of Marshalltown, IA, Kathy Morkin of Armstrong, IA, and Mary Kies and her husband Doug of Paullina, IA; five grandchildren: Cassondra (Dean) Dozier of Jefferson, IA, Karen Morkin of Des Moines, IA, Danelle (Shawn) Strubbe of Paullina, Nicole (Justin) Albrant of Emmetsburg, IA, and William Dotson of Ames, IA; two great-grandchildren Ethan Strubbe and Kaydence Albrant. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Esther Determann of Ida Grove, IA, many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; brother Alvin Haselhoff; two sisters: Mary Hoefling Keiser and an infant sister Kathleen Haselhoff; half brothers: Vincent Determann and Joseph Determann; and half sisters, Helena Bengford and Celesta Shaw.