Edna, the daughter of Henry W. and Marie (Schellhorn) Meier, was born March 10, 1908 at her parent’s farm, near Tripoli, in Bremer County, Iowa. She was baptized in 1908 and confirmed in 1922 at St. John Lutheran Church (Crane Creek), rural Tripoli, Iowa. She attended Fremont Township country school until the eighth grade. She then attended sewing school in Waverly, Iowa and became an accomplished seamstress. Edna was united in marriage with Harold Kuethe on March 13, 1930. Harold preceded her in death in 1965. Edna and Harold farmed in Fremont Township until 1942, when they moved to the town of Tripoli. Edna was a cook for the Tripoli Schools for thirteen years and also worked in the Tripoli Canning Factory.
Edna’s death occurred Thursday, July 23, 2009 at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner, Iowa, after a short illness. She was one hundred and one years old. Edna was a sixty-seven year member of Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli and was active in the Ladies Aid, serving as an officer often. She was an avid quilter for the church and enjoyed the companionship of her fellow quilters. She was active in the Music Mothers group when her children were in school. Edna enjoyed gardening, traveling, cooking and baking, playing cards, as well as sewing.
Edna is survived by two daughters, Gladys Rettig of Tripoli; and Alice (Mel) Olson of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Rochelle Kuethe and son-in-law, Leo Sauerbrei, both of Tripoli; eight grandchildren, Dr. Richard (Anita) Rettig of Tripoli; Dan (Kelly Kolkmeier) Sauerbrei of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Joan (Dr. Bill) Rettig-Hickey of Madison, Wisconsin; Denise (Dave) Strudthoff of Stoddard, Wisconsin; Perry Sauerbrei of Tripoli; Laurie Martin of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Mike (Audrey) Kuethe of Lakeville, Minnesota; and Dr. Michael (Pam) Olson of Green Bay, Wisconsin; nine great grandchildren, Garrett, Taylor, Jesse, Niki, Cari, Emily, Josh, Aaron, and Ian; and four great-great grandchildren, Max, Mariah, Hailee, and Reece.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; one son, Wendall Kuethe; one daughter, Donna Sauerbrei; one grandson, Jonathan Martin; her parents; three sisters, Martha Holm, Olga Tonne, and Clara Platte; one brother, Lorenz Meier; and a son-in-law, G.R. Rettig.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 27, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church, Tripoli, Iowa conducted by Rev. Miles Renaas. Internment will be held at Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Tripoli. Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2009 at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and one hour before services at Grace Lutheran Church on Monday.
