Elwilda “El” Etchen

Elwilda “El” Elizabeth Bruns Etchen, 90, died peacefully Monday, March 6, 2023 at her home.

   A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 13, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Steve Bang officiating.  Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in Marion Center Cemetery, Latimer, Iowa.

  Memorials may be directed to the Etchen Scholarship at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 North 4th Street, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428 or MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, in the memory of El.

  Elwilda Elizabeth Fink was born May 10, 1932, in rural Latimer, the daughter of C.W. “Bill” and Elizabeth (Schermer) Fink.  Baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a graduate of Franklin Consolidated Community High School, Latimer.  After graduation, El was united in marriage to Max G. Bruns on March 3, 1956, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  

El was employed for many years at Farmers Hybrid in Hampton.  Later, she worked at Bruns Machine & Welding in Rowan.  After Max’s passing, she continued with Bruns Machine and Welding.

  On July 18, 1982, El was united in marriage to Carroll L. Etchen and moved to Crestview Farm, Clear Lake, where she continued her love for flowers and gardening. She spent many years providing blooming flowers at Zion Lutheran Church.  She also valued helping with many college scholarships for Zion Lutheran high school graduates.  El enjoyed many winters at their home in Port Richey, Fla. In 2013, they were awarded the “Prettiest Farm in Iowa” in Our Iowa Magazine.

El will be greatly missed by her husband, Carroll Etchen, of Clear Lake; step-daughter, Teri (Mark) Larson, of Ames; brother-in-law, Winferd Schramm, of Battle Creek, Iowa; sister-in-law, Elanor Fink, Latimer; friends, Chad (Nicole) Weidemann, of Lakeville, Minn. and their children, Jasmine, William and Gabrielle Weidemann; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

  El is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Max; and siblings, Verald Fink, Marvin Fink and Arnelda Schramm.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.