Elva Bertha Wolrab

Elva Bertha Wolrab

Mt. Vernon

Elva Bertha Wolrab, 98, a longtime resident of the Mount Vernon, Iowa community, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 28, 2025, surrounded by her family, at Legacy Senior Living in Iowa City, Iowa. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 600 5th Avenue SW, in Mount Vernon, where the family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the service time. A private family inurnment will take place at the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting Elva’s family.

Elva was born on October 25, 1926, in Lu Verne, Iowa, the daughter of Fredrick Herman and Martha Augusta (Behnkendorf) Hintz. She graduated from Lu Verne High School in 1944, and Des Moines School of Beauty in 1945. Elva moved to Mount Vernon in 1946, where she met Francis Wolrab. They married in 1947 and shared 71 years together. Francis passed away in 2018.

Elva is survived and lovingly remembered by her children, Vicky (Michael) Petruzziello, Jacklyn Moore, Gail Logan, Glen Wolrab and Jill (Bill) Clark; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews.

Elva was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Martha; five siblings, Lloyd, LeRoy, Lula, Elda and Edna; husband, Francis; one daughter, Janette Wolrab Blinks; one grandson, Thomas William Floyd; and a special cousin, Selma Behnkendorf Riedel.

Elva was a proud Iowa farm girl, who grew up in Kossuth County, Iowa, on a dairy farm that she lovingly called “the house on the hill.” There, the family would help their father prepare and deliver fresh milk to residents of Lu Verne in a two-wheeled wagon pulled by horses. Elva learned to tap dance at the age of 7, and in later years, gathered with family at barn dances, where her father played the violin.

As a homemaker, Elva cherished country living and raised six children, amongst flower and vegetable gardens, often canning vegetables to feed her family through the winter. Elva was noted for her cooking and baking. Her family especially loved her rice pudding, kolaches and rhubarb pie. Elva was a 4-H leader, devout member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and its women’s organization, the Priscilla Guild. After her children were raised, Elva worked at a local daycare and loved taking care of babies and toddlers. She also enjoyed the relationships she formed with their families. Elva was a wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She will be deeply missed.

The family would like to thank Legacy Senior Living for their loving care while Elva resided there, and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate assistance. A special thanks to Reverend Sean Hansen, Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, for his visits to Elva during her final days and hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Elva’s name may be made to: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 600 5th Avenue SW, Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314.

Please share a memory of Elva on her tribute wall at www.murdochfuneralhome.com, under obituaries.