Obituary of Estella Louise Birkenholtz

Estella L. Birkenholtz Newton Funeral services for Estella will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2009 at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, who have been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation with the family will be held from 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials in Estella's name are being designated to: Hospice of Jasper County or St. Luke Methodist Church. Estella L. Birkenholtz, 84, the daughter of Dave and Grace (Wharff) Aldridge, was born November 28, 1924 in New Virginia, Iowa. Her family moved to Newton, Iowa in 1925 where she attended Newton Schools, graduating from Newton High School with the Class of 1942. Following graduation she was employed as a secretary with the Maytag Company. On January 27, 1946, Estella was united in marriage with Francis Henry Birkenholtz in Newton. They made their home on a farm south of Newton for nineteen years. To this union was born two children, Stephen Lee and Nancy. She and Francis later moved into Newton where she worked for Farm Bureau Insurance until 1973 and Farm Credit Bank, retiring in 1983. She always enjoyed her experiences working with the farming community through her employment and made many good friends. Upon retirement she and Francis enjoyed spending winters in Arizona. She had devoted her life to her family and always felt fortunate that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were so close in miles and so close in her heart. She was active in her church, and enjoyed baking for her family and friends, working crossword puzzles, spending time with neighbors and dancing with her favorite partner of 63 years, Francis. She was a member of St. Luke Methodist Church, the Elks Ladies, Skiff Hospital Auxiliary, and past member of the Theta Chi Sorority. Estella died on Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, 2009 in the Monarch Wing of Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son Stephen Lee in 2008. Those left to honor Estella's memory include her husband Francis of Newton; daughter and son-in-law: Nancy and Bob LeBlanc of Newton; daughter-in-law Janna Beth Birkenholtz; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Emily and Mark Allen, Noah, Estella and Henry, and Abby and Brendan Lamont, all of Newton, Scott LeBlanc of North Carolina and Karin LeBlanc of Massachusetts, Todd and Jenny Birkenholtz, McKayla and Keller and Eric and Jill Birkenholtz, Brady and Breckan, all of Des Moines; her brother and sister-in-law, David and Joan Aldridge, sister and brother-in-law, Clarice and Robert Thompson and sister-in-law Dorothy Gardner, all of Newton; and her many nieces, nephews and friends.