Lucile Entsminger

Lucile B. Entsminger, age 87, of Preston, Iowa passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on March 20, 2015 at the Alverno Nursing Home in Clinton, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston. A visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Preston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa. Burial will take place at the Preston Cemetery following the service.
Lucile was born on April 18, 1927 on a farm outside of Preston, Iowa, the daughter of Roy and Anna (Matzen) Lewis. She attended Preston High School, and graduated with the Class of 1944. After high school, she attended one year of nursing school in Clinton, Iowa. At about age 15, Lucile noticed a handsome first basemen from Maquoketa at a baseball game. A few years later, a mutual friend introduced them and after a whirlwind, three-month courtship, Lucile married Kermit Entsminger on December 9, 1945 in Preston, Iowa. Lucile lived in Preston all her life except for the first two years of marriage and her final four years when she was a resident at the Alverno Nursing Home in Clinton. In addition to being a homemaker, Lucile and her husband owned and operated the Lewis Oil Company in Preston for over 30 years. She was an active member of the WELCA Women, and Mary’s Circle at St. John’s Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the Preston Women’s Club and the American Legion Auxiliary #602.
Lucile enjoyed cooking, camping, and attending church and school activities, never missing a game, play or concert in which her children participated. She always found time to help her children and grandchildren with their homework. Lucile was very artistic, often sketching little portraits on any scrap of paper that was at hand. Her children and grandchildren especially enjoyed her delicious cinnamon rolls and receiving her cards and long letters which always went down memory lane and included sage advice on how to live a good life. After her husband died, she did in-home care for her elderly neighbors until such time she herself needed such care. Lucile loved and often talked with her God and we know she is now resting with Him in heaven.
Lucile will be dearly missed by her four children, Arlen (Cathy) Entsminger of Aiken, South Carolina; Mark (Gwen) Entsminger of Hinsdale, Illinois; Gary (Irene) Entsminger of Miles, Iowa, and Gwen (Gary) Mootz of Phoenix, Arizona; thirteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Margaret Samson of Clinton, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband Kermit, her parents Roy and Anna, and two brothers, Henry and infant Robert. The family wishes to express a special thank you to her longtime in-home caregiver and steadfast friend, Judy Schaefer of Preston; our heartfelt appreciation to all her wonderful and compassionate caregivers at the Alverno; and our eternal gratefulness to Dr. James Cahill, her devoted and caring doctor for over 50 years.