Elsie M. Albertson's Obituary
Elsie M. (Gardner) Albertson, age 96, of Centerville, Iowa, died Monday, August 15, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville, Iowa. She was born the daughter of the late Thadeous Gardner and the late Orillia (Romp) Gardner on September 14, 1908 in Albia, Iowa. Elsie attended a rural one-room school near Albia, Iowa and graduated from the eighth grade in 1924, Albia High School in 1928, a 1960 graduate of Centerville Community College, and a 1966 graduate of Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She taught school for 30 years in Moulton-Udell, Lincoln Rural Education teacher, Iconium K-8 Education teacher, all located in Appanoose County; Hilton K-8 Education teacher, Egypt K-8 Education teacher, and Fairview K-8 Education teacher, all located in Monroe County. On April 22, 1931, Elsie was united in marriage to Clinton Albertson at the Methodist Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa and they farmed in Monroe County. She and her husband were members of the United Brethren Church where they attended church regularly. After her husband's death in 1980, she joined the Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville, Iowa. She was always active in church work at the United Brethren Church in Albia, Iowa and the Numa Christian Church in Numa, Iowa. Elsie was a member of the Appanoose County Farm Bureau, B.P.W., Retired Teachers, 18-80 Club, Women's Club, and Saddle Club. In 1978, Elsie was honored by the B.P.W. as Merit Mother of the Year. Elsie enjoyed day trips with the 18-80 Club. Elsie enjoyed her retirement and loved to tend to her yard and flowers and kept busy with crocheting and craft work. Elsie was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Clinton, on January 18, 1980; her daughter, Darlene Stansberry, on January 20, 2005; brothers Harold and Walter Gardner, and an infant brother; and a sister Edith Hackett. She is survived by: daughter, Lois Lynch and her husband, George Stuart, of Bloomfield, Iowa; son, Robert Albertson and his wife, Sondra, of Bellevue, Nebraska; son-in-law, Dan Stansberry, of Bettendorf, Iowa; sister Edna Bell of Indianola, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 1:00 PM at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with Pastor Kay Singley officiating. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 till 8:00 PM. Memorials can be made to the Elsie Albertson Scholarship Fund at Moulton-Udell High School, Moulton, Iowa and can be left at or mailed to the To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elsie M. (Gardner) Albertson please visit our Sympathy Store.
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