Luetta Jean (Hansel) Maehl
Luetta Jean (Hansel) Maehl
Elkader
Luetta Jean (Hansel) Maehl, daughter of Frederick Hansel and Cora Dell (Hyde) Hansel, was born Oct. 28, 1928, at Osterdock, Iowa. She was baptized in 1946 by Reverend Paul Kitterer and in 1948 affirmed her baptismal faith in Confirmation at Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church in Elkader, Iowa. She was a graduate of Elkader High School in 1946.
Jean was united in marriage to John Carl Maehl on Jan. 26, 1948. Two children were born to this union – John Frederick and Eric Ross. They farmed the home farm near Elkader for many years, retiring in 1985. The farm received the Century Farm award and has now been in the family for 138 years. In 1987, they moved to Elkader to make their home. Jean moved to Grand Living independent living in Cedar Rapids in 2019 to be near her son John and daughter-in-law, Nancy.
Jean enjoyed her family and friends. Her quick wit kept those around her smiling, and she had a way of getting things accomplished in the blink of an eye! She also was an avid reader and a great cook, seamstress, crafter, quilter, basket maker, and cross stitcher. She loved sitting at her jigsaw puzzle table many hours daily in later years. Jean volunteered many years at the Carter House Museum and the Elkader Library.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Carl, on Dec. 27, 2012; her parents, three brothers and three sisters. Jean is survived by her sons, John F. (Nancy) of Cedar Rapids and Eric R. (Cheri) Maehl of Fort Dodge; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Bob) Tischer, John “Javan” (Charity) Maehl, Kristen (Chris) Freitag, and Ryan (Rachel) Maehl; and 12 great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Zatyk and Gage Holub (sons of Jennifer), Grace, John “Dawson” VIII and Kennedy Maehl (children of John “Javan”), Samuel and Jacob Freitag (sons of Kristen), and Lainey, Lyndey, Brody and Blakely Maehl (children of Ryan).
Services are at Peace United Church of Christ, Elkader, Sunday, April 23, 1 p.m. Visitation, 2 p.m. Memorial Service. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home at Elkader is assisting with services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Elkader Public Library, P.O. Box 310, Elkader, IA 52043.
