Effie Christensen

Funeral services for Effie Christensen of Manning, Iowa, were held Monday, May 17, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Reverend Jonathan Conner officiated. Music was provided by the congregation with Carlys Stribe as accompanist. Casket Bearers were Allen Schreck, Tern Schreck, Steve Schreck, Phil Schreck, Josh Schreck, Paul Christensen and Chris Kemper. Honorary Casket Bearers were Lauri Sackett, Annette Schreck and Dana Christensen. Interment was in the Manning Cemetery.

Effie Lena, daughter of Friedrich and Annamaria Agusta (Thomssen) Friedrichsen, was born May 29, 1911, southeast of Manning in Carroll County, Iowa. She lived with her parents and seven brothers and five sisters on the farm where she was born. Effie attended a one room school, White Bear School, near her home, played with her siblings and helped with the farm work.

On June 14, 1933, Effie was united in marriage with Nelson Laverne Christensen at the Lutheran Parsonage at Carroll. Two children were born to this union. They lived near Atlantic, Gray and then Manning where they operated a dairy farm south of town. In 1956 they retired and moved to Gray. Effie worked for Audubon County School lunch program in Gray for ten years. She had also worked at Ocoma Foods in Carroll. Despite working outside the home, Effie was a great mother and enjoyed baking, especially her prize winning pies, and cooking for her family and friends.

Effie was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church near Gray and Trinity Lutheran Mission Aid. When Trinity closed, she transferred her membership to Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. She was also an active member of Gray Commercial Club, Gray Community Betterment Corporation and Know-Your-Neighbor Club. Effie enjoyed traveling, often to visit her daughter and son-in-law wherever they were stationed with the military, including a trip to Korea.

Effie's husband died in 1974 and she continued to live in their home in Gray. Later she moved to the Elm Crest Apartments in Manning and, when she was no longer able to live alone, became a resident of the Manning Plaza Nursing home in July of 2001. She died there on Friday, May 14, 2010, at the age of 98 years, 11 months and 15 days.

Preceding Effie in death are her parents; husband; five sisters: Emma Beese, Laura Lamp, Bertha Joens, Ella Stewart, and Selma Hacker; seven brothers: Freddie, in infancy, Eddie, Ferdinand, Henry, Grant, Harry and Raymond Friedrichsen; and five grandchildren: Gerald Schreck, Jr., Sheri Christensen, Chris Christensen, Baby Ray Christensen, and Kevin Schreck.

She is survived by her son Raymond Christensen and wife Adele of Manning and daughter Doris and husband Gerald Schreck of Templeton; ten grandchildren: Paul Christensen and wife Monica; Del Christensen and wife Deb; Lauri and husband Allen Sackett and Dana Christensen; Allen Schreck and wife Debbie; Tim Schreck and wife Laure; Stephen Schreck and wife Lori; Philip Schreck and wife Kristie; Annette Schreck; and John Schreck and wife Darnell; granddaughter-in-law Karen Schreck; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; other relatives and friends.

Arrangements entrusted to Ohde Funeral Home.