January 5, 1932 - June 28, 2023
Eloise Christie was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She died at age 91 on June 28, 2023, at the Algona Good Samaritan Center. A funeral service was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on July 7 at the Algona Evangelical Free Church. Services will be livestreamed on Lentz Funeral Home’s website https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/eloise-christie. Burial will took place at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation was held on Thursday, July 6 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona.
Eloise Clara Hagglund was born to Eugene A. and Gladys (Drake) Hagglund on Jan. 5, 1932, in Shenandoah. It was in high school at age 15 that she met and began dating the love of her life, Roland “Keith” Christie. She affectionately referred to him as “Chris”, and Keith referred to her as “Ellie”. After graduating from Shenandoah High School, she attended Drake University and then returned to Shenandoah to work. On June 21, 1952, Eloise married Keith at the Shenandoah First Presbyterian Church and their loving marriage lasted for 71 years. Eloise and Keith often would say that she taught him to love music and he taught her to love sports.
Keith served in the U.S. Air Force for four years after graduating from Omaha University in Nebraska, so they moved several times in the early years of their marriage. This resulted in each of their four daughters being born in different states (Louisiana, Florida, Missouri and Iowa). In 1960, they brought their family to Algona as Keith took a job as an educator and coach for Algona Community Schools. Eloise stayed at home to raise their four daughters. During Keith’s coaching career, Eloise was a loyal supporter and attendant of the sporting events. Keith would lovingly say his biggest critic was Eloise with her “after the game critiques”. When Coach came home after sporting events she would often ask questions like “Why did you send that guy to third base……….?”
After her daughters were all in school, Eloise worked part time and later full time as secretary to the Curriculum Coordinator and Superintendent in the Algona Community School District for 27 years, retiring in 1994. During retirement, Keith and Eloise stayed very active in their church, traveled to different areas of the United States, volunteered and attended Algona Community School events and spent time with family and friends. Their main event of retirement was attending as many of their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s.activities as was possible.
Eloise touched many lives through her singing which she would often share at her church. She began singing in church choir from age 14 until she felt her voice had left her, though she continued directing music in her church. Eloise’s faith was a large part of who she was as a person. She was steadfast in her faith. She and Keith were longtime and active members at Evangelical Free Church in Algona.
She loved to entertain, and all felt welcomed by her. Eloise loved her garden and often shared her flowers with those she visited along with sweets from her kitchen. One of her gifts was sincere concern and care for people, and Eloise used that gift as a longtime volunteer as a member of the Kossuth Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.
Family was a focus for Eloise. There are so many lovely memories and maybe one of the most cherished is Eloise sitting with one of the littles in her lap while she reads to them. She loved babies and that love blossomed throughout the years with the addition of many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. As future generations became mothers or aunties the love of babies has been passed on.
Her family will remember her as poised and elegant, but also they will continue to laugh remembering her witty sense of humor and her uncontrollable laughter. Eloise was so loved. Eloise is survived by her husband, Keith, their four daughters and their families: Jamie and Cal Christensen of Emmetsburg; Kim and Tim Fyfe of Clear Lake; Lori Mineart of Des Moines and Julie and Mel Elsberry of Orange City; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and a nephew, Leif Hagglund of Bloomington, Ind. She was preceded in death by her parents, her only sibling, Leland and son-in-law, Tony Mineart.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to the Kossuth County C.A.R.E Team and the Algona Food Pantry.