August 26, 1925 - July 15, 2024
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday July 20, 2024, at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore. Burial will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 19 at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Whittemore with a Rosary beginning at 3:45 p.m.
Caroline was born Aug. 26, 1925, to John and Mary (Origer) Kirsch in Ottosen. She passed away on Monday, July 15 at the age of 98 at Good Samaritan Society where she was a resident since 2019.
She worked in the munitions plant in Des Moines and for attorneys in Algona before her marriage to Gerald Elbert on June 24, 1947, in Eagle Grove. They loved to dance and especially enjoyed square dancing. They farmed just west of Whittemore until his death in 1986. Caroline loved playing cards, especially 500 and bridge. She was a member of Catholic Daughter’s of America, St. Michael’s Parish in Whittemore and St Michael’s Rosary Society. She was a person of great faith and instilled that in her family. With her sister-in-law, Coletta Mullin, they would spend most Sunday’s visiting family and friends in the nursing home.
Caroline is survived by her children Gordon (Kim) Elbert of Blairsburg; Sandra Dippel of Omaha, Neb.; Patricia Smith of Goodyear, Ariz.; Jane Studer of Fort Dodge and Ronald Elbert of Ames. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gerald on Sept. 8, 1986; sons-in-law Herman Dippel and Norman Smith. Brothers Peter and Lawrence Kirsch; sisters Rosalia Borman and Agnes Eischen. Sisters-in-law Regina Kirsch and Herlinda Kirsch. Brother and sisters-in-law Patrick and Luella Murphy, Ray and Alma Abbas, Leonard and Millie Elbert, Francis and Coletta Mullin and Edmund and Mary Elbert.
“On earth she toiled, in Heaven she rests, God bless you Mom as you were one of the best.”
Online condolences may be sent to oakcrestfuneralservices.com.