Obituary for Elsie Pauline Sanford
Elsie Pauline Sanford, age 96, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2018, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton, Iowa.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Msgr. Kenneth A. Seifried will officiate; committal will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2018 at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Elsie Pauline Sanford, the daughter of Frank and Margaret (Meier) Steinbach, was born on June 26, 1921, in Danbury, IA. Elsie was raised in Danbury and graduated from Danbury Catholic School with the class of 1939.
In 1940, Elsie met the love of her life Thomas Sanford in Danbury when they went on a drive through Danbury in his 1931 model A coupe. In the words of Tom, “I asked her if she wanted to go for a drive, she said yes and she got in and never got out”. On January 15, 1944, the couple were married in Harrisburg, PA. The couple made their home in Mapleton, IA, and Elsie and Tom were blessed with 5 children, sons Jerry, Larry, Thomas, Robert and a daughter Alice.
Elsie was a wonderful homemaker. Her talent in cooking and baking was noted by her delectable lemon meringue and sour cream raisin pies. She was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, where she served as a guild leader. Elsie enjoyed going snowbirding in Arizona for years with Tom. She like going square dancing, canning, and took trips to Alaska and New York. Elsie was an accomplished seamstress who loved to upcycle towels, P.J.’s, and other fabrics into Barbie and doll clothes for her granddaughters. The classic sock monkey was always a favorite among her grandchildren along with a delicious cookies.
A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Elsie will be missed for her generosity, kindness, and joyful smile that could fill a room.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 74 years Tom Sanford of Mapleton, IA; children Jerry (Rosie) Sanford of Sioux City, IA, Larry (Tammy) Sanford of Bronson, IA; son-in-law Larry Kluver of Mapleton, IA; daughters-in-law Sharon L. Sanford of Las Vegas, NV, Sharon R. Sanford of Sioux City, IA, and Ruth Hintz of Boise, ID; 19 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren; brother Raymond “Pete” (Marsha) Steinbach of Bull Head City, AZ; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Margaret Steinbach; brother Leonard “Doc” Steinbach; sister Veronica Reid; Sons Robert and Thomas Sanford; and daughter Alice Kluver.
The Sanford family would like to express their deepest gratitude for the excellent care that Elsie received from Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton and Burgess Hospice Care of Onawa. Your compassion and the attention given to Elsie and her family during her stay will always be remembered thank you.
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A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Msgr. Kenneth A. Seifried will officiate; committal will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2018 at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Elsie Pauline Sanford, the daughter of Frank and Margaret (Meier) Steinbach, was born on June 26, 1921, in Danbury, IA. Elsie was raised in Danbury and graduated from Danbury Catholic School with the class of 1939.
In 1940, Elsie met the love of her life Thomas Sanford in Danbury when they went on a drive through Danbury in his 1931 model A coupe. In the words of Tom, “I asked her if she wanted to go for a drive, she said yes and she got in and never got out”. On January 15, 1944, the couple were married in Harrisburg, PA. The couple made their home in Mapleton, IA, and Elsie and Tom were blessed with 5 children, sons Jerry, Larry, Thomas, Robert and a daughter Alice.
Elsie was a wonderful homemaker. Her talent in cooking and baking was noted by her delectable lemon meringue and sour cream raisin pies. She was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, where she served as a guild leader. Elsie enjoyed going snowbirding in Arizona for years with Tom. She like going square dancing, canning, and took trips to Alaska and New York. Elsie was an accomplished seamstress who loved to upcycle towels, P.J.’s, and other fabrics into Barbie and doll clothes for her granddaughters. The classic sock monkey was always a favorite among her grandchildren along with a delicious cookies.
A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Elsie will be missed for her generosity, kindness, and joyful smile that could fill a room.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 74 years Tom Sanford of Mapleton, IA; children Jerry (Rosie) Sanford of Sioux City, IA, Larry (Tammy) Sanford of Bronson, IA; son-in-law Larry Kluver of Mapleton, IA; daughters-in-law Sharon L. Sanford of Las Vegas, NV, Sharon R. Sanford of Sioux City, IA, and Ruth Hintz of Boise, ID; 19 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren; brother Raymond “Pete” (Marsha) Steinbach of Bull Head City, AZ; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Margaret Steinbach; brother Leonard “Doc” Steinbach; sister Veronica Reid; Sons Robert and Thomas Sanford; and daughter Alice Kluver.
The Sanford family would like to express their deepest gratitude for the excellent care that Elsie received from Maple Heights Nursing Home of Mapleton and Burgess Hospice Care of Onawa. Your compassion and the attention given to Elsie and her family during her stay will always be remembered thank you.
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
19
Jan
5:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home - Mapleton
210 South 5th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Rosary 5:00 p.m.
Funeral Service
Saturday
20
Jan
10:30 AM
St. Mary's Catholic Church Mapleton
201 N 8th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
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