Nellie M. Ickes - Age 94
     Nellie Mildred Ickes was born on September 29, 1916, to Marcus and Rachel (Hanson) Axland on a farm southeast of Irwin, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin. She attended school at Polk Township No. 2 and graduated from Harlan High School with the Class of 1935.
     On January 16, 1938, Nellie was united in marriage to Harold Ickes at the Lutheran parsonage in Irwin. Two children were born to this union: Allan and Marilyn. Harold and Nellie lived in Harlan and farmed in Astor, Kirkman, Irwin, and the Harlan area until 1954 when they moved to Irwin where Harold opened a pool hall.
     Nellie was deeply committed to her faith. She was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was active in the women’s organizations where she held many offices. She served on the church council and taught Sunday School and bible school for over thirty years. She also started the Junior Lutheran’s group. She was employed as the custodian for the church and did other cleaning jobs around Irwin for thirty-five years.
     Nellie enjoyed embroidering and making quilts. She loved spending time with family and friends, baking and cooking, and playing cards. Nellie was a positive, loving person who never knew a stranger.
     Nellie died on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-four years, seven months, and twenty-five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five sisters: Emelia Nelson, Elva Guth, Gladys Rogers, Mae Campbell, and Ola Sleister, an infant sister, and brothers Elmer and Henry Axland.
     She is survived by her son Allan Ickes and his wife Bonnie of Harlan, Iowa; daughter Marilyn and her husband Tom Larsen of Anita, Iowa; five grandchildren: Shawna and her husband Tyler Jacobsen of Centerville, Iowa, Sandra and her husband Larry Harmon of Temple, Texas, Carmen Ickes and her fiancé Eric Nelson of Harlan, Michael Larsen of Anita, and Steven Larsen and his wife Susie of Urbandale, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren: Sidney and Brenna Jacobsen, Brett and Christopher Harmon, and Jackson, Kate, and Lucas Larsen; many nieces and nephews, other family members and many friends.
     Pastor Ron Rasmussen officiated the 2:00 PM funeral service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Friday, May 27, 2011. Honorary casket bearers were Shawna Jacobsen, Sandra Harmon, Carmen Ickes, and Susan Larsen. Serving as casket bearers were Michael Larsen, Steven Larsen, Tyler Jacobsen, Larry Harmon, Eric Nelson, Kevin Erb, and Jeff Petersen. Interment was held at Danway Cemetery in rural Kirkman, Iowa.