Ardith M. Koenig

Ardith M. Koenig, age 88 of Decorah, IA, died early Sunday morning, January 20, 2013 at Wellington Place in Decorah. Memorial Services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Joan A. Mau officiating. Visitation begins on Thursday at 10:00 A.M., one hour before services, at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Ardith Mae (Schultz) Koenig was born on April 7, 1924 in Castalia, Iowa, the daughter of Joe and Mae (Shelhamer) Schultz. She received her elementary education at a rural school near Castalia, IA and graduated in a class of 3 from Castalia High School in 1941. Ardith worked in retail sales for a short time before settling into the role of mother and home-maker. She was united in marriage to Verne George Koenig on September 2, 1942 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, IA. They had four children, Bonnie, Gary, Jody and Kelly. One of Ardith's main passions was Quilting. She made hundreds of quilts over the years and taught Quilting in adult education programs for a number of years. One of her quilts won the 1st Place Viewer's Choice Award at the Desert Lilly Quilters Quilt Show in Yuma, AZ in 2002. All of her children and grand-children are proud owners of one of Ardith's quilts. She was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 1958 and was very active in women's circles within the church. For many years, she was a volunteer at the Aase Haugen Home. Ardith was a great cook who loved to learn to prepare new food styles. Ham Balls were always a family favorite. She and her husband spent many winters in Yuma, AZ. Being married to a musician, she enjoyed many live old-time music events and acted as sales agent for her husband's tapes and CDs. Ardith was extremely proud of her family and was blessed to celebrate her 70th wedding anniversary with Verne and family on September 2, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Wes of Laguna Beach, CA. Ardith is survived by her husband, Verne G. Koenig of Decorah, IA, her daughter, Bonnie (Tom) Daleness of Franklin, WI; three sons: Gary (Peggy) Koenig of Broomfield, CO, Jody (special friend Kathleen) of Flower Mound, TX and Kelly (Karla) Koenig of Waunakee, WI; eight grandchildren: Corey (Jami) Daleness of Muskego, WI, Kevin (Christine) Daleness of Fox Point, WI, Angie (Ben) Fleckenstein of New Berlin, WI, Kristi (Kyle) Oakland of New Berlin, WI, Sarah (Brad) Cisco of Gilbert, AZ, Andre Koenig of Decorah, IA, Kelly (Abbey) Koenig II of Madison, WI, and Kari Koenig of Madison, WI; ten great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorna (Jess) Mooneyham of Yuma, AZ; and a large extended family.