Ruth Louise Hertel, 86, died August 1, 2010 in Jefferson, Iowa. The arrangements in Iowa consist of visitation with her family from 5:00 – 6:30pm Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa.
Services in Nebraska include visitation from 6:00 – 8:00pm Thursday August 5, 2010 at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, Nebraska, with funeral services at 11:00am Friday August 6, 2010 at United Church of Christ in Clay Center, Nebraska, with burial in the Clay Center Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Greene County [Iowa] Community Foundation, the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, NE, the Clay County [Nebraska] Historical Society, or the charity of your choice.
Halloween 1923 was a special day for Rena (Huxtable) Firme and Herbert Rudolf Firme as they welcomed their first of four children into this world. Ruth Louise, or simply Louise as she was always known, was anything but what the holiday would suggest. She was cheerful, pleasant, friendly, helpful and supportive of her family & friends. On the evening of Sunday August 1, 2010, she rejoined her parents.
Louise was born in rural Adams County and lived on farms in rural Adams and Clay Counties, Nebraska. She graduated from Sutton High school in 1941. Louise shared fond memories of her first job as the school cook for a one room rural school, and then moving to Clay Center to work at the Triple A office. She became acquainted with a great guy named William P. Hertel, Jr., or Billy as he was known. They married on February 23, 1945 at the Methodist church and made their home in Clay Center. The couple were dairy farmers along with a poultry flock. For years, the rhythmic sound of the egg washing machine resonated throughout the house, reminding us that it was the “egg money” that provided the groceries. Bill also was DeKalb seed dealer, which was responsible for introducing them to vacation trips, their first to Mackinac Island, MI. Traveling was just one of their great joys together.
Hertel Hardware also played a major part of Louise’s life. While the business was started in 1900 by Wm. Senior, it was not until he retired in 1966 that she started working daily in the Clay Center store. Shortly thereafter, she chose to become a florist. Setting a good example of the importance of education, Louise took the bus to Denver to attend florist school for a couple of weeks, which seemed like forever to her sons. She came back with enthusiasm and confidence, developing a thriving florist shop as part of Hertel Hardware. Louise & Bill enjoyed going to florist conventions, and especially enjoyed their special trip to the Floriade exhibition in the Netherlands. They retired and sold the store in 1987, handing over the keys on August 1st, 23 years ago. Leaving a small town family retail business that had been faithfully serving the community for all those years was a very emotional decision. Fortunately, they had good health and plenty of civic activities to pursue.
Louise was an adult life member of the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, which evolved from the Union Church as it was known, which was local merger of the Methodist and Congregational churches. She served on many committees and church groups through the years. She was a 50+ year member of PEO Chapter T in Clay Center, and later was a PEO member in Jefferson, Iowa. That sisterhood was especially important to her, an additional close bond that she shared with her daughters and daughter-in-law. But her love of groups didn’t stop there. Through the years, she was a member of Eastern Star, Extension Club, Garden club, Clay County Historical Society and D.A.R.
In 1999, Bill and Louise moved to a retirement apartment in Hastings, NE due to Bill’s failing health. Eventually, he needed hospitalization and later nursing home care; Aurora facilities were their choice. An example of her loyalty was daily visits to see Bill even though it was an 80 mile round trip for her. After all, they were a team. Everyone around C.C. knew that when Bill went to a meeting, he was likely volunteering “Louie” for a task. It helped that they had similar hobbies and interests! Bill died September 23, 2001. They had been married 56 wonderful years.
Louise had several other hobbies of interest: flower and vegetable gardening, cooking, bird watching, a sharp Canasta player, banner buggy spoon & stamp collecting. She loved all kinds of music. And yes, she was a true Nebraskan, wearing red often and faithfully following the Cornhuskers.
In 2003, Louise moved to Chandler, AZ to be near to her son David, and see his family grow up, which was a special treat to see that set of grandchildren more frequently than was possible during her working years. In 2007, she moved to Jefferson, Iowa as she and her family choose it as the best mix of living and health services, including independence. A stroke this past May resulted in her moving to a nursing home, where she drew her final breath.
Louise is survived by daughters Connie and husband LeRoy Garrels, Friend, NE; Mary and husband Michael Turner, Naperville, Illinois; sons Craig and wife Janie Hertel of Jefferson; and Dave and wife Tammie Hertel, Chandler, AZ. Nine grandchildren, Laura and husband Jason Pinkall, Jayson & wife Jill Garrels, Matthew and Daniel Turner, Nate and Stephanie Hertel, Michelle Hertel and Steven & Michael Mansfield. Two great grandchildren, Noah Pinkall and Sophia Garrels. Her brother Donovan of Ventura, CA , sister and brother-in-law Marietta and Kenny Ackermann of Lincoln, and sister-in-law Geraldine Firme of Haxtun Colorado, other relatives and a host of friends.
Other family preceeding her in death was her brother Harold Firme, sister-in-law Audrey Firme, brother-in-law and wife Roger & Eva Louise Hertel , and nephew James R. Hertel .
Visitation was Wednesday August 4th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Slininger-Rossow Funeral home in Jefferson as well as Thursday August 5th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel . Funeral was at 11:00 AM at the United Church of Christ in Clay Center. The family was honored that her nephew’s wife, the Reverend Kristi Firme officiated the service.
Memorials suggested to United Church of Christ in Clay Center or the Clay County (NE) Historical Society, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements were by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson, IA and McLaughlin Funeral Chapel of Clay Center, NE.
And finally, she inherited the love of genealogy from her mother. For fellow enthusiast, perhaps reading this obit decades from now, she had records tracing some of her ancestors back to England in the 1000’s and the Firme family name from Germany into the 1500’s. She will be laid to rest next to Bill in the third section of the Clay Center cemetery, “oh about a dozen rows from the road. You know, I think it was north and west of where the big old cottonwood tree used to be.” And for future florist trying to find her grave to decorate on Memorial Day weekend, the surname is carved appropriately on both sides of her gravestone.
