Cletus Elsbernd

Cletus Elsbernd, age 94, of Calmar, Iowa, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at the Ossian Senior Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, IA, with Rev. Robert Gross presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from: 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Friday, September 16, 2016, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington Street, in Calmar, Iowa, and also after 9:30 a.m., at the church on Saturday morning. Cletus Joseph Elsbernd was born on November 4, 1921, the son of Frank and Ida (Heying) Elsbernd on the family farm near Calmar, IA. Cletus attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina and farmed with his family. Cletus met Georgina Humpal at a dance in Fort Atkinson and they were married on Tuesday, February 15, 1944, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville by Rev. J.P. Chihak. He and Georgina farmed south of Calmar until they bought their farm north of Calmar in 1950. Cletus farmed until he retired and moved into a home they built in 1988. Cletus enjoyed riding his bicycle around Calmar and on the Prairie Farmer Trail. He rode his bicycle to Cresco when he was in his early 90’s. He enjoyed golfing in his younger days, having coffee at the Train Station, driving around looking at crops and driving his restored 1941 Chevrolet car. Cletus enjoyed spending time with his family and the traditional Sunday night get-together at the house. He entered the Ossian Senior Hospice on January 6, 2016. Cletus was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church and the South Winneshiek Golf Course. Cletus is survived by his four sons: Robert (Michele) Elsbernd, Calmar, IA; William Elsbernd, Decorah, IA; Ron (Phyllis) Elsbernd, Calmar, IA; and Rick Elsbernd, Calmar, IA. One daughter: Diane (Jerry) Langreck, Calmar, IA. One daughter-in-law: Nancy Elsbernd Decorah, IA. Twelve grandchildren: Brandon (Denise) Elsbernd, Justin (Sue) Elsbernd, Kyle (Kristin) Elsbernd, Ryan (Cindy) Elsbernd, Matt (Melanie) Elsbernd, Theresa (Ryan) Otte, Brad (Kelly) Elsbernd, Alicia Elsbernd, Brian (Kelly) Cook, Chrissy (Chad Bakken) Langreck, Katie Elsbernd and Kylie Elsbernd. Twenty great grandchildren: Dylan, Hailey & Alexis Elsbernd, Olivia & Lauren Elsbernd, Lila & Jax Elsbernd, Sam & Lars Elsbernd, Nora & Aiden Elsbernd, William Otte, Peyton & Lane Elsbernd, Jacob & Brody Cook, Mathias, Zecheriah, Georgina & Kaia Bakken. Cletus was preceded in death by his parents: Frank and Ida (Heying) Elsbernd. His wife: Georgina on June 30, 2013. Two sons: Daniel in 1956 and Kenneth in 1993. Georgina’s birth parents: Charles and Anna Humpal and her foster parents: John and Mary Korbel. Three brothers: Myron Elsbernd, Linus (Ruth) Elsbernd and Romuald (Dorothy and Florine) Elsbernd. Sister: Virginia (Virgil) Humpal. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: George (Marge) Humpal, Leonard Humpal, Louis Humpal, William (Tillie) Korbel, Joseph Korbel, Mary (Ed) Praska, Bill (Regina) Riha, and Joe (Mae) Tuma.