Elizabeth Block

Elizabeth Alice Block, 82, of Reinbeck , Iowa , formerly of rural Lincoln , Iowa , died Saturday, November 1, 2008, at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Reinbeck, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M., Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck, with Reverend Joel Love officiating. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery in Reinbeck. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 4, 2008, from 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. A memorial fund has been established.

Elizabeth Alice (Hinson) Block was born March 22, 1926, in rural Reinbeck, Grundy County , Iowa , the daughter of Dala (Staker) Hulme and Leland Hinson. Elizabeth was raised by Lillian and Julius Staker on their farm in the Amity Church area. She attended rural country school in Tama County . On August 22, 1945, Elizabeth was united in marriage to Leo J. Block. In 1947 Liz and Leo moved to a farm near Lincoln where they lived for fifty-seven years. In 2004 Liz moved to Reinbeck and lived at the Four Seasons Apartments. Her husband Leo died on April 20, 2007, and she continued to live at the apartment until becoming ill this September. Liz then moved to Parkview Manor in Reinbeck where she died on November 1, 2008.

Liz loved living on the farm, growing and tending her flowers and was a fabulous cook. Her grandson and great-grandchildren were the center of her life. Liz’s childhood was full with having six uncles (Fred, Roy, Irwin, Harold, Alvin, and Louis) four aunts, (Mable, Edna, Elma and Alice) and her cousin Roma Jean. There were numerous stories of dances and parties held in the family barn with live bands performing and of rearranging the furniture in the house for a party. Her future husband was a neighbor boy who worked for her grandfather occasionally and was a friend of the family. Leo Block and Liz married in 1945. In 1947 they moved to a farm by Lincoln , Iowa , where they lived for 57 years, then moving to Reinbeck , Iowa . In 2007 Leo passed away and Liz continued living in Reinbeck until moving to Parkview Manor Nursing home where she lived for one month before dying of cancer.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce and her husband Tracy Crocker of Plymouth, Minnesota; her son, Kent and his wife Shelly Block of Cedar Falls, Iowa; her grandson, Jurgen and his wife Sarah Block, and two very special great-grandchildren, Elle Catherine and Ryder Leo Block of Grundy Center, Iowa; one brother, Willard “Willie” Hulme of Waterloo, Iowa; two aunts, Alice Lorenz and Ella Staker, both of Reinbeck; one brother-in-law, LeRoy Block and his wife Alberta of Reinbeck; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Leo J. Block; grandparents, Lillian and Julius Staker; her parents, Dala Hulme and Leland Hinson; her step-father, Wilmer Hulme; one brother, Louis Hulme; one sister, Gleva Kreman; a special cousin, Roma Jean Mooty; and many aunts and uncles.