Arline Edde

Arline Edde, age 87 of Decorah, died on Friday, January 2, 2009 at Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa following a long illness. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. at the V.F.W. Club, 104 State Street in Decorah. Private Family Inurnment will be at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of arrangements. Arline (Gilbertson) Edde was born April 8, 1921 in Decorah, IA, to Alfred and Isabelle (Bakken) Gilbertson. The family lived on a farm west of Decorah in Madison Township. Arline was baptized and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church. She graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1938. She then worked as a stenographer for the Winneshiek County Local Board of the Selective Service System in Decorah from November 1940 to April 1943. She was an expert typist and held the record for speed typing. Arline entered the U.S. Navy on May 3, 1943. During her service she became a Yeoman Second Class and was honorably discharged on January 15, 1946. She became a cosmetologist and worked with Ann Baker at Ann’s Beauty Shop in Decorah. Arline was united in marriage with Harry Eugene Edde on December 29, 1949 at home on her family farm in Madison Township. This union was blessed with one daughter, Patricia. After her marriage Arline worked for Charles Altfillisch in his architectural firm. Arline and Harry moved to California in 1954, and she held the position of office manager at several businesses. Harry died on January 18, 1994 and she moved back to Decorah in the summer of 1994. Arline became a resident of the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa on September 17, 2002. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry; her parents; two brothers, Orin Gilbertson and Vernon Gilbertson; and one sister, Olive Hotvedt. Arline is survived by her daughter, Patricia Edde of Decorah, Iowa; three sisters, Norma Rosendahl of Osage, IA, Margaret (George) Kruchek of Decorah and Inez Berge of Decorah; and one brother, Robert (Charleen) Gilbertson of Decorah. Memorials may be given to Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.