Elsa M. Schutt

Elsa Margareta Schutt, one of six children of Adolph and Minna Ernestine (Nagel) Kay, was born on June 17, 1917 in Mineola, Iowa. She grew up in the Mineola area and attended country school through the 8th grade. The Kay family were members of St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola where Elsa was baptized, attended Sunday school, and was confirmed.
Following school, Elsa worked for area farm families as a housekeeper and cared for their children. She attended Capitol Beauty School in Omaha, Nebraska and worked for a brief time as a beauty operator. She then worked for various Omaha restaurants.
Elsa and Alwin Peter Schutt were married on September 21, 1947 at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola. They made their home on several farms in Southwest Iowa where Elsa continued with restaurant work in the towns of Minden, Avoca and Shelby. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Karen, Alwin and Karla.
In 1977, Alwin and Elsa retired from farming and moved to Shelby in 1979. In 1981, they moved to Elsa's childhood home near Mineola to help care for her mother and the farm until her mother's death in 1985. Elsa and Alwin then made their home in Glenwood and in 1994 moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Elsa enjoyed handwork, crocheting and quilting and was a member of the Blue Bird Sewing Club in Mineola. She loved gardening and caring for her ducks, geese and chickens. Her granddaughters, Kenda, Emily and Miranda, brought much joy and delight to her life.
Elsa and Alwin were married almost 55 years when Alwin died on September 15, 2002. Elsa remained in their home and later moved to Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs. Elsa passed away on November 18, 2007, at the age of 90 years, 5 months, and 1 day.
Elsa was preceded in death by an infant brother Elmer Kay; her parents; husband Alwin; brothers Jochim Kay and his wife Luetta, Ervin Kay and his wife Darlene, Otto Kay; and sister Ellen Roenfeld and her husband Lee.
Elsa is survived by her children Karen Schutt of Blair, Nebraska, Alwin Schutt and his wife Cindy of Council Bluffs, and Karla Schulze of Fremont, Nebraska; grandchildren Kenda Harris, Emily Schulze, Miranda Schulze; and great grandchild Jayden Collins; sister-in-law Ethel Schutt of the Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs; other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Fund has been established.