Nellie Luhrs

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
NELLIE LUHRS

BORN
May 21, 1914
Hospers, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
May 28, 2011
Sanborn, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Friday, June 3, 2011
United Church of Primghar; Primghar, Iowa
Rev. Cory Flanigan ~ Officiating

MUSIC
“My God And I” “Beyond The Sunset”
Sung by: Rodd Holtkamp
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Beautiful Savior” “In The Garden”
“How Great Thou Art”
Organist: LaNan Eldridge

CASKET BEARERS
Brad Luhrs Chad Luhrs
Mike Luhrs Jolee Thurn
Susan Hall Jean O’Rourke

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Primghar, Iowa

Memorials may be directed towards the United Church of Primghar or Hospice Care

After the graveside service relatives and friends are
invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home of Primghar

NELLIE LUHRS


Nellie Luhrs, daughter of John and Jessie (Roos) Brink, was born May 21, 1914 in Hospers, Iowa. At the age of four, her mother died and Nellie and her sister, Jennie, went to live with their maternal grandmother, Jane Roos, while sister, Artie, went to live with an aunt in Hospers. At age 11, Nellie’s father remarried and she joined him and his new family (stepmother, Jennie, stepsisters, Annetta and Lena, and stepbrother, Cyril) on the family farm near Primghar. Nellie attended country school through 8th grade. Because of hard economic times resulting from the Depression; Nellie stayed home to help on the farm and worked as a hired girl in different homes rather than attend high school.
On September 12, 1934, Nellie was united in marriage to Benhard Riedemann. The couple worked on a family farm until less than one year later tragedy struck and Ben was killed in a farm accident. Nellie was six months pregnant at the time and gave birth to Bernita on October 4, 1935. In the years following, Nellie and Bernita relocated to Paullina and then Primghar where Nellie worked in a variety of jobs to support her and her daughter. In addition to working at the Claussen Bakery and Waldhelm Store for meager Depression era wages, Nellie was hired to work in homes for the elderly and those needing outside help. One of those jobs was caring for a recently widowed farmer, William (Bill) Luhrs, and his children, Arlys, Bill and Jim.
Over time, Nellie and Bill’s relationship grew and on December 19, 1945, the couple married. In 1958, the family moved into Primghar. Bill died on January 5, 1964. Since that time, Nellie resided in her own home in Primghar until Fall 2010. Overcoming a life filled with trials and hardship, Nellie was a positive, loving woman of God. She was very active in the United Church of Primghar, the Republican Party, Order of the Eastern Star, Highland Homemakers, and the O’Brien County Historical Society. Nellie volunteered with Hospice and thoroughly enjoyed her Card Club for many years.
Nellie passed away at the Prairie View Home in Sanborn, Iowa on May 28, 2011 at the age of 97 years. Grateful for having shared her life are her three children, Arlys, Bill and Jim, one sister, Jennie, 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her sister, Artie, two stepsisters, a stepbrother, daughter, Bernita Baumgart, granddaughter, Jeri Winn, and great granddaughter, Lindsey Luhrs. Nellie had the gift of serving others throughout her lifetime and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.