Ella Mae Staiert

Ella Mae Staiert, daughter of
Joseph and Catherine (Leiting) Loeffelholz,
was born on July 7, 1925,
on her parents’ family farm near Mt.
Carmel, Iowa. She was baptized and
confirmed at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Catholic Church and attended Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School.
She grew to adulthood on the family
farm outside of Mt. Carmel.
Ella Mae met Walter Staiert at a
dance in 1941. On October 10, 1945,
on her parents’ anniversary, she was
united in marriage to Walter at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. To this
union ten children were born: Ronald, Robert, Duane, Walt, Joseph, Ralph, Marie,
Jim, Jeanne, and Joni. After their wedding, the couple made their home south
of Maple River, Iowa, where they had a grain and dairy cow farming operation.
In 1967, they purchased and moved to a farm and dairy operation southwest of
Elk Horn, Iowa. In January 2007, Ella Mae and Walter moved into Harlan, Iowa.
Ella Mae was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother who was
known to be an excellent cook and baker. Her kids and later her grandchildren
would “fight” over her homemade pies, bread, cinnamon twist rolls and cookies.
For many of the grandchildren, she was known as the “cookie Grandma”. Ella
Mae enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, dancing, and singing. She was a
choir member at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and her love of singing
continued through her later years when she joined the Goldenaires in Harlan,
Iowa. Prior to the death of her husband, you would often find the two of them
playing cards at their kitchen island. Ella Mae especially enjoyed the time she
spent with family and was blessed with the opportunity to travel with family to
such places as Spain, Hawaii, Washington DC, Branson Missouri, California, Las
Vegas and Reno Nevada, and Florida.
Ella Mae was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan where she
was a member of the Ladies Guild and was also an Extraordinary Minister of Holy
Communion.
The last four years of her life, Ella Mae was a resident of Hansen House Senior
Living and enjoyed the various activities as well as the creating of crafts with the
staff and other residents. The staff provided excellent, loving care to Ella Mae by
treating her like she was family.
Ella Mae died on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Hansen House Senior Living
having attained the age of ninety-nine years, 1 month, and seventeen days. She
is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 64 years, Walter, in 2009; son,
Walt, in 2012; son, Joseph, and daughter, Joni, in infancy; her siblings: Neoma
Ludwig; Walter Loeffelholz; Marguerite Broich; Mardella Baumhover; Joann
Manemann, Alfred Loeffelholz and Mary Madelyn Loeffelholz in infancy.
She is survived by her children: Ronald Staiert and his wife Janice of Walnut,
Iowa; Robert Staiert and his wife Linda of Topeka, Kansas; Duane Staiert and
his wife Celine of Omaha, Nebraska; Ralph Staiert and his wife Wendy of Aitkin,
Minnesota; Marie Lantz and her husband Don of St. Joseph, Missouri; Jim Staiert
and his wife Ana of Kansas City, Missouri; Jeanne Eastman and her husband
Mark of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter-in-law Laurie Staiert Westergaard and her
husband John of Lake View, IA; nineteen grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren
and 2 great-great grandchildren; her siblings: Mary Ann Ragaller of Westside,
Iowa; Paul Loeffelholz and his wife Kay of Bozeman, Montana; Ralph Loeffelholz
of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Don Loeffelholz and his wife Karen of Leawood, Kansas;
her sisters-in-law Alice Staiert and Harriet Staiert; nieces; nephews; other family
members and friends.
An 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial was officiated by Rev. Clement Owusu
and Rev. Wayne Gubbels at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa on
Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Amy Rieger, Susan Petersen, Krista Wenzel, Sheila Gudenrath, Ashley Wiederin,
Sarah Borchers, Geena Staiert, Rachel Miller, Angie Staiert, and Julie
Elings served as honorary casket bearers. Mike Staiert, Richard Staiert, Mark
Staiert, Matt Staiert, Connor
Eastman, Scott Staiert, Mick
Wiederin, Cody Wiederin,
and John Staiert served as
casket bearers. A burial was
held at Harlan Cemetery in
Harlan, Iowa following the
service.
Pauley Jones Funeral
Home was in charge of the
arrangements