Luella Elsbernd

     Luella Elsbernd, age 86, of Spillville, Iowa died on Friday, August 8, 2014 at Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa.     Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, with Rev. Donald Hawes presiding.  Burial is in the church cemetery.      Friends may call 3-8 p.m. Monday. There is a rosary at 4 p.m. and a scripture service at 8 p.m. Visitation also is after 10 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Balik Funeral Home in Spillville.      Luella Catherine Schmitt was born on December 14, 1927 to Frank X. and Anna (Hackman) Schmitt on the family farm near Fort Atkinson, IA. She attended St. John’s School in Fort Atkinson. On June 13, 1947 Luella married Jerome Elsbernd at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, IA. Together they operated a dairy, livestock and grain farm north of Spillville. In 1985 they retired to their home in Spillville. Luella was an active member of the St. Wenceslaus Parish Guild for nearly 60 years. During retirement she was a cook for a short time at St. Wenceslaus School. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and traveling throughout the United States and Europe. She especially enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be remembered for planning family gatherings, her sense of humor and outgoing personality.            Luella’s survivors include her children: Steve (Patricia) Elsbernd, Ridgeway, IA; Joan McIntire, Farmington, MN; Kay (Ed) Garbers, La Crosse, WI; Nancy (Donald) Brincks, Calmar, IA; Alan (Susan) Elsbernd, Calmar, IA; Darrel (Terri) Elsbernd, Rochester, MN. and Deb (Dean) Beckman, Winona, MN. Seventeen grandchildren: Darla Elsbernd, Anne (Scott) Wilson, Jay (Leslie), Katie & Erin Elsbernd; Bill (Jenny) & Joe Garbers; Brian (Charlotte) & Jeff (Sarah) Brincks; Glen (Elizabeth) Elsbernd; Scott, Darren, Daniel & Gerry Elsbernd; Aidan, Cale and Erica Beckman. Great grandchildren: Claire, Anthony, Blake, Kayla and Tyler. Sister, Elaine Kuennen, Ossian IA.; Brother, Elmer (Dorothy) Schmitt, Fort Atkinson, IA.; Sisters-in-law: Sister Ruth Elsbernd, Eldridge, IA; Colette Kuhn, Cresco, IA; and Gladys Elsbernd, Decorah, IA.      Luella was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome; son-in-law, Robert McIntire; parents, Frank X. and Anna (Hackman) Schmitt; father and mother-in-law, John and Martha (Kuennen) Elsbernd; brothers and sister: Leonard, Clarence (Evelyn) and Francis Schmitt and Mildred (Cletus) Uhlenhake; brothers and sister-in-law, Arnold (Helen), Roger and Joseph Elsbernd, and Anthony Kuhn.