Catherine (Huinker) Moellers, 91

July 8, 1926 —

July 17, 2017

 

CRESCO -  Catherine Antonia (Huinker) Moellers completed her 91st year of commitment to marriage and family on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa, where she had resided for the last year-and-a-half. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 24, 2017 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Cresco, with Father Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at Heritage Events Center, Cresco. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the time of service Monday at the church. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting the family.Catherine was born July 8, 1926 at her home in Seneca, Wis. to William and Ida (Einck) Huinker, the sixth of 14 children. She was baptized at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seneca. Her family moved to a farm near Festina, Iowa and later to a farm near Ossian, Iowa. 

She attended school in Festina and later graduated as valedictorian at Ossian DeSales and was a power forward for the DeSales basketball team. She attended Cedar Falls Teachers College and taught in the rural schools near Festina.

She was often seen “trucking” down the road with neighbor boy and sweetheart, Rainey Moellers, who proposed by asking her, “Will you be my cook the rest of my life?” This question began their 59 years of life and farming partnership together. 

Ireaneus and Catherine were married on April 27, 1948 at St. Francis DeSales Church in Ossian. They farmed with his parents, Felix and Margaret, near Ossian until March 1951. Then they purchased a farm near Ridgeway, Iowa, where they made their home until they retired in November of 1990 and built a new home in Cresco. 

Catherine continued to bake her kolaches and cinnamon rolls and sent them out to the farm with Rainey. Her love of farming was evident up to the end of her days as she commented on the corn tasseling on the way to the Huinker family reunion just the prior week.

Catherine was active in The Altar and Rosary Society of St. Joseph Church, a Circle leader, the Winneshiek Farm Bureau Ladies and the Pork Board.

She not only was a great teacher, but was eager to learn anything new.

Catherine was an inspiration in that there was nothing new that she wouldn’t try. Over the years she took many classes and learned how to paint ceramics, stitch trapunto, paint on wood, decorate cakes, crochet, knit and enjoyed woodworking, gardening and quilting.

She loved the farm, tending to her chickens, turkeys, cows and pigs and her garden produce for freezing and canning. She shared her knowledge and skills as a 4-H leader many years. 

After her family was raised, she developed a love of quilting and purchased a longarm quilting machine and pieced and quilted many quilts for everyone.

Each child's family received a quilt, as well as each grandchild on their graduation from high school. As the great-grand babies arrived, there was a quilt waiting for every precious addition.

Catherine loved to play cards, especially euchre, and no matter the opponent, young or old, Grandma was “in it to win it!” 

She loved the farm and her family with a silent pride and a sternness that everyone understood.

She is survived by daugther, Karen (deceased) (John) Braden of Mason City, Iowa, and children, Jennifer (James) Dunne and Jeremy (Carrie) Braden, all of Ankeny and  Jonathon Braden (Krystal Overmyer) of Arlington, Va.; son, Ken (Deb) Moellers of Cresco, and children, Korey (Peggy) Moellers of Shawnee, Kan. and Jeremy (Kelly) Moellers and Ryan (Meagan)Moellers, all of Cresco; son, Jerry (Christine) Moellers of Ridgeway, and children, Sarah (Scott) Kach of Cresco,  Jessica Meyer (Mike) of Byron, Minn., Jolene (Josh) Langreck of Minneapolis and Jennifer (John) Fish of Waukon, Iowa; daughter, Connie (Jim) Zahasky of Cresco, and children, Amanda (Aaron) Davis,  Emily (Dustin) Kraft and  Tony (Abby) Zahasky,  all of Rochester, Minn.; daughter, Cynthia (Neil) Grube of Cresco, and children, Tressa (Ben) Gruenzner of Owatonna, Minn., Josh (Tiffany) Grube of  Buffalo, Minn. and Andy ( Terri) Grube of Urbandale, Iowa; Audrey (Mike) Nosbisch of Ridgeway, and children, Matthew (Erin) Nosbisch of Burlington, Iowa, Justin (Whitney) Nosbisch of Vinton, Iowa and  Zach (Erica) Nosbisch of Waukon; daughter, Janine (Bob) Sebastian of Preston, Minn., Jason (Amanda) Ward of Brooklyn Center, Minn., Brett (Tonya) Ward of St. Cloud, Minn. and Nicole Sebastian of Preston; daughter, Mary (Mark) Reicks of Cresco, and children, Eric (Ashley) Reicks, Bethany (Andy) Wurzer, Molly Reicks and Alexis Reicks, all of Cresco; and son, Kevin (Gayleen) Moellers of Ridgeway, and children, Tye (Torie) Moellers of Ridgeway, Nessa (Luke ) Stika of Cazenovia, Wis.,  Tara Moellers of Laurel, Iowa and Arley Moellers of Ridgeway.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ireaneus on Aug. 31, 2007; her daughter, Karen Braden on Dec. 7, 2013; a grandson, Nathan Moellers; a great-grandson, Chase Nosbisch; her parents; three brothers, Ralph, Charles and Donald Huinker; six sisters, Alice (Neal) Reicks, Lillian (Adrian) Hageman, Luella Reicks, Florence Huinker, Eunice (Darrell) Bushman and Ida Huinker; in-laws, Eugene Reicks, Rufus (Betty Lou) Moellers, Raphael (Esther) Moellers, Irene Moellers and Glenn Stuart.