Obituary of Mina L. Emde

Our beloved mother, Mina Emde, a long-time Iowa City resident, passed away in Fresno California on November 26, 2014, after an extended illness. She was born on February 17, 1935, in Farmington, Iowa to Glenn and Nellie Lowery. Her family, including three sisters and two brothers, later moved to Iowa City. She attended City High School, graduating in 1952. Mina married her high school sweetheart, John William Emde, on January 2, 1953, and enjoyed a devoted and loving 59 years of life together until his death in 2012. After working, while her husband attended the University of Iowa, she assumed her life-long role as homemaker for her husband and two sons, Richard born in 1956 and Jeffrey in 1957. Moving to Fresno, California in June 2013 to be near her sons and five grandchildren, she enjoyed the comfort of many friends and family during her valiant battle with cancer, until being reunited with her beloved husband. She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one daughter, and one great-granddaughter. Her loss is mourned by her siblings, Ruby Franke of West Branch, IA, Lonnie Lowery of Ramona, CA, Betty Hutmacher of Freeport, IL, Sarah Downing and husband Ray of Des Moines, IA, and Leroy Lowery and wife Sue of Portland, OR; sons Richard and wife Linda of Fresno, CA, Jeffrey and wife Alicia of Glendale, AZ; five grandchildren, Michael, Veronica, Valerie, Kristin, and Erik; four great-grandchildren, Cassidy, Matthew, Natalia, and Maksimus; and numerous friends and acquaintances. Our grief is tempered by the memory of a life well lived, with the loving and encouraging effect of our mother on all she came in contact with. A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 25, 2015, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Mina's family and her services.