Mildred Lofte died Friday, April 04, 2008 at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa. She was 89 years of age.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 7th at the Stavanger Lutheran Church, south of Ossian, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Schmitz Funeral Home in Ossian and on Monday one hour prior to services at the church.
Mildred Catherine Mundt was born on June 27, 1918 at rural Castalia, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Rosa (Meyer) Mundt. She was baptized and confirmed in her faith in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia. Mildred received her education in Ossian, graduating from the Ossian High School and went to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls to get a teaching certificate. Following her education, she worked as a telephone operator for a short time and then worked in the Ossian office of Interstate Power Company.
On October 4, 1944, Mildred was united in marriage to Vernon Lofte at the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia. They made their home on a farm in the Ossian area. After her son started school, she started working at Interstate Power again. Mildred and Vernon stayed on the farm until they moved into Ossian in 1984.
Mildred was an exceptional person who was diverse in the things she was able to do. She had a garden and canned many of the products for her family, she was a fabulous cook and a good seamstress. She liked to quilt and do embroidery, and did almost everything for her family and church. Mildred was active in her church, belonged to WELCA and held several of its offices. She taught Sunday school and was later Sunday School Superintendent. In earlier years, she and Vernon enjoyed going to dances and listening to the music of the big bands. She was a member of the Luren Auxiliary and most of all she enjoyed the socializing that went along with all of the things she was involved in.
Mildred is survived by one son, Adrian (Mary Eileen) Lofte of Ossian, three granddaughters: Abigail, Lydia and Eleanor; one sister: Marvel Ode of Lanesboro, MN and two brothers-in-law, James Kallevang of Cresco, IA and Clarion (Lorna) Lofte of Altoona, IA and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vernon in 2006, three brothers: Glen, Lloyd and Leslie Mundt; and two sisters: Viola Birdsell and Ruth Kallevang.