Edna Mitzel

A PRIVATE Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at 1:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manilla, Iowa. Interment will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery near Manilla.
The mass will be live-streamed on our Ohde Funeral Home Facebook page. The live-stream will start at 1:00 p.m. so please refresh your page at that time if you do not see the video.

Edna Anna (Grau) Mitzel was born on May 7, 1921, in Lincoln Township, Audubon County, Iowa. Her parents were Hugo August and Anna Margretha (Waller) Grau. Her siblings included Walter, Amanda, Bernice, Hugo Jr., and Ralph. The family moved to Manilla in 1924 and she attended the Manilla school until the middle of her junior year when the family moved to Bayard for six weeks. Then because of her dad's next railroad assignment, the family moved to Earling; where Edna graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School in 1939. After getting engaged to Francis Joseph Mitzel, she joined the Catholic faith. The couple was married on November 27, 1940, at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church and two daughters, Janet and Karen, were born to this union. The family had moved to Manilla shortly before Karen's birth in 1945 and that's where Edna lived the rest of her life. Francis passed away on September 11, 1977.
Edna started to work in the Manilla school's hot lunch program in 1956, became the head cook in 1974, and continued to work there until 1986 when she retired. She cooked and served thousands of meals during her 29 ½ tenure at school. On many Wednesdays during that time, she was at school at 5:15 a.m. to start making her delicious cinnamon rolls! Because she knew so many of the student athletes, she was a great fan of the Manilla Hawks and Hawkettes and she attended most of their home games for many years. She also enjoyed her hobbies of ceramics and embroidery, plus attending the meetings of the American Legion Auxiliary and past A.L.A. Presidents, V.F.W. Auxiliary, Sacred Heart Alter Society, Catholic Daughters, Klondike, Nishna Valley Club, and Golden Opportunity Club. During retirement she also enjoyed spending more time with her family, bowling, going on trips, dining out, and playing cards. Edna moved into the Manilla Manor on May 12, 2016, just a few days after her 95th birthday. She has resided at the Manor since that time.
Edna passed away at the Manilla Manor on January 3, 2021, at the age of 99 years, seven months and 27 days.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Francis Mitzel; special friend of over 20 years, Virgil Boyens; siblings and their spouses, Walter (Helen) Grau, Amanda (Walt) Martens, Bernice (Ancel) Crouch, Hugo (Jan) Grau, and Ralph (Theresa) Grau; her daughter, Karen Lampman; son-in-law, Jim Goeser; grandson, Chris Goeser; great-granddaughter, Alexi Goeser; and step-great-granddaughter, Katie Kernes.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Goeser of Harlan; son-in-law, Ralph Lampman of Arcadia; three grandchildren, Cari (Glenn) Kernes of Overland Park, Kansas, Jay (Mary Beth) Goeser of Norwalk and Jeff (Chris) Goeser of Elkhorn, Nebraska; seven great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandson; six great-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Her contagious smile and big hugs will be missed by all!
Memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Alzheimer's Association or for wishes of the family.