Florence Albright

Florence Albright, age 98, of Ossian, Iowa, died on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 20, 2010, at the Ossian Lutheran Church with Lay Pastor Roy Christophersen presiding. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Castalia, IA. Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday and after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Ossian Lutheran Church in Ossian, Iowa. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of arrangements. Florence Eugenia (Pufahl) Albright was born on August 19, 1912, the daughter of Emil and Carrie (Biggs) Pufahl, in rural Rossville, IA. Florence attended school in Rossville. She married Blake Albright on June 6, 1928, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Together they lived in Castalia and operated the Albright Oil Company. Florence worked alongside her husband, pumping gas and doing the books for the business. After Florence’s husband, Blake died in 1955; she continued to operate the station, even after a devastating fire in 1964 that took the life of her grandson and his first cousin. She rebuilt the business and operated it with loyal help until she retired. Florence enjoyed being outdoors; walking and enjoying the birds, animals and nature. She always mended, sewed and patched clothing for herself and her family. Over the years, music was really Florence’s life. She taught piano lessons and served as the lifelong pianist at the Castalia United Brethren Church (Methodist) where she was very active. Florence moved to Ossian in 1997, where she enjoyed being close to her family. She was a member of the Decorah Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star #73. Florence is survived by her two daughters: Patricia Koenig, Janesville, IA, and Pam (Dave) Breitsprecher, Ossian, IA. Six grandchildren: Darwin (Mona) Koenig, Ankeny, IA; Cindy (Tom) Gardner, Cedar Rapids, IA; Donna Balk, Waterloo, IA; Paul (Heather) Koenig, Colfax, IA; Shawn (Hope) Breitsprecher, Ossian, IA, and Troy (Marion) Breitsprecher, Klagenfurt, Austria. Twelve great grandchildren: John Gardner, David (Mary Jo) Gardner, Brad (Amy) Gardner; Angelyn, Joshua & Heather Balk; Hillarie, Harrison & Holister Koenig; Dalton, Cole and Kaleb Breitsprecher. Seven great great grandchildren: Jack, Grace, Blake, Penelope & Elizabeth Gardner; and Logan & Aiden Balk. One sister-in-law: Jean Pufahl. Florence was preceded in death by her parents: Emil and Carrie (Biggs) Pufahl. Her husband: Blake Albright in 1955. Her grandson: Randy Koenig in 1964. Her son-in-law: Merlin Koenig in 1980. Two brothers: Kenneth and Paul Pufahl.