Elaine Mae Gehring

FAYETTE — Elaine Mae Gehring, 92 of Fayette, formerly of Luana, passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 at Gundersen Palmer Hospital in West Union.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe as the officiant. Visitation will be held from from 10 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the funeral. A burial will follow the luncheon at Wagner Township Cemetery in St. Olaf.

She was born March 24, 1931 to Clifford and Bertha (Sonstegard) Walter in Wagner Township, rural Luana. When Elaine was born, there was so much snow accumulated the doctor had to go over the fences to reach the house. She attended Eno Grade School in Wagner Township and graduated as the salutatorian with the class of 1949 from Elkader High School.

Elaine met Lowell Gehring at a dance in Guttenberg and on June 30, 1949 they were married. Four children were born to this union, Diane, Carolyn, Roger and Denise. They later divorced. Throughout the years Elaine did bookkeeping for their business, Lowell’s Electric in Luana, was a waitress and worked at the ASC office in Elkader. Elaine was talented and created many sewing projects including dolls and different crafts and also did quilting with the church group. She loved to fish and even took a tour to Canada to throw her line in. Elaine enjoyed playing cards, traveling, dancing and loved to decorate her home. She was always ready to have fun and participated in many family pranks! Telling jokes and witty responses were among her specialties. Her laughter will be remembered for many generations.

Surviving Elaine are her children, Carolyn (Jon) Chapman of Elgin, Roger (Sandy) Gehring of Strasburg, Colo. and Denise (Loren) Walch of Postville; her sisters, Marge Walter of Jacksonville, Fla. and Jean Hofer of Luana; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding Elaine in death were her parents, Clifford and Bertha Walter; brothers, Bill Walter and Duane Walter and one daughter, Diane Gohl.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial to St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, Iowa.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with services.