Mildred Jeske

Mildred Elinor Jeske, 94, of Eldora, Iowa died Sunday March 29, 2009 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 10:00am on Wednesday, April 1 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora with Pastor David Splett officiating. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memory Gardens in Eldora. Visitation is from 5 pm – 7 pm on Tuesday at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.

Mildred was born March 23, 1915 on the family farm in Ellendale, North Dakota, the daughter of William and Edith (Turnwall) Durheim. She was a year old when her folks moved to Ismay, Montana. She received her education in a rural country school, and when she was nine she moved with her family to a farm in Leola, South Dakota. She graduated from Leola High School with the class of 1934.

Mildred came to Iowa in 1937 where she was united in marriage to Walter C. Jeske on December 13, 1938. They lived in Alden, Iowa the first 10 years of their marriage where Walter ran the Farm Bureau Gas Station. In 1949 they moved to Eldora where Walter worked at the Jeske Repair Shop in partnership with his brother, Oscar, until buying out his brother and continuing to operate the Repair Shop. Walter passed away on June 20, 1985 and Mildred continued to operate the Jeske Repair Shop with their only son, Lyle.

Mildred loved the outdoors and always had a large garden plus many flowers. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Mildred was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Fellowship Club and Ladies Aid. She also had taught Sunday School for many years.

She is survived by her only child, Lyle of Eldora; her granddaughter, Lisa of Minneapolis, Minnesota; brother, Ralph, of Walla Walla, Washington; and by many nieces and nephews who fondly knew her as “Aunt Mid”.   She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter; and sister, Ethelene Strong of Deer Park, Washington.