Mercedes Bowers

Funeral Service Saturday, October 8, 201110:30 AM Zion Lutheran Church Manning, Iowa Reverend Jonathan Conner, Officiating Congregational Hymns “How Great Thou Art” “Amazing Grace” “Nearer My God To Thee” Susan Lamb, Accompanist Urn Bearers Bill Strosahl     Gail Mumm Honorary Bearers Bary Kienast     Tim Kienast     Pastor Robert Riggert Stan Musfeldt     Dennis Dau     Rodney Hinners     Gaylin Ranniger Interment Manning Cemetery Manning, Iowa Memorial donations maybe directed to Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Arrangements entrusted to Johnson & Woodhouse Funeral Home.     Mercedes Wilhelmina Catherina, daughter of Claus and Margareta (Eckhoff) Strosahl, was born October 8, 1916 on a farm north west of Manning. She attended rural school Hayes #8 through the eighth grade. She was baptized and confirmed (1931) at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. At that time her father thought it was just too far to Manning for her to continue to high school. She ‘worked out’ in other farm homes helping with housework, farm work such as milking and chicken chores, cooking and caring for children.    On June 16, 1937, Mercedes was united in marriage with Clarence “Peg” Bowers at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. They were the parents of two children. Peg and Mercedes purchased the farm they were renting in 1954 and built a new house there in 1962. After retiring from farming, they remained in their home and rented out the land.    Mercedes was a homemaker and farm wife…something she thought she would never be. Mercedes had a large vegetable and flower garden and always did a lot of canning. She also did sewing and china painting.    Mercedes was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was very active in Braille work. Over the years she enjoyed her membership in the Tri-County Social Club and volunteering wherever needed. In later years she volunteered at the Hausbarn Heritage Park.    In 1997 her son Richard died and then she lived through the death of her husband in 2008 and daughter Kay in 2010. She was able to remain on the farm until she suffered some health problems in early 2011, when she moved to an assisted living facility in Loveland, Colorado near her granddaughters and their families. Mercedes transferred to Memory House in Colorado Springs the summer before her death there on September 19, 2011, at the age of 94 years, 11 months and 11 days.    Mercedes was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two children; and three brothers: one in infancy, John Strosahl and Claus Strosahl and sister Margot and husband Walter Carson.    She is survived by her two granddaughters Julie Kay and husband Matt Stock of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Niki and husband Mike O’Brien of Loveland, Colorado; daughter-in-law Jan Bowers of Loveland, Colorado; step-grandsons Keith and Kevin Hildreth of Colorado; great granddaughter Kathryn Mercedes O'Brien; sisters in law Dorothy and husband Ken Knudson of Manning and Joyce Strosahl of Yakima, Washintgon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.