Esther Marie (Hueneke) Baasch

Esther Marie (Hueneke) Baasch was born February 15, 1927 near Springbrook, Iowa, the daughter of Dietrich F. Hueneke and Elsa (Reeg) Hueneke. She was united in marriage to Vernon George Baasch in St. Donatus, Iowa on October 10, 1948. He died on September 11, 2000. Esther passed away Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Jackson County Regional Hospital, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Esther worked at Bellevue Hospital and Dubuque Finley Hospital prior to her marriage. At age 42, she earned her CNA certificate and worked at the Jackson County Public Hospital in Maquoketa, IA in Obstretrics, where Esther loved taking care of the mothers and newborn babies.
Esther was a homemaker and loving Mom. She was actively involved in farming with her husband and children. She was a great cook, especially making her famous pies and cookies, and enjoyed sewing, quilting (which she learned from her mother) and cross-stitching, making many special occasion gifts.
Esther and Vernon traveled through-out the states visiting friends and relatives in states including California, Nebraska and New York. They also traveled to Germany several times visiting Hueneke and Baasch cousins and to England to visit Vernon's sister, Gertrude and husband Jim Brennan.
Esther was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston, IA, WELCA Martha Circle, Farm Bureau Homemakers, American Legion Auxiliary & Past Presidents, Isaac Walton League and a 4-H leader.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston, IA, St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Donatus, IA or to the family to establish a memorial at a future date.
She will be missed but remembered by her children Dianne Baasch, New York, NY, Debra (Dean) Guyette, Davenport, IA, Denise (Dan) Sullivan, Skokie, IL and Dwight Baasch, Miles, IA; four granddaughters, Sara (Jeremy) Mangrich, Jessica (Jacob) Kaemmer, Cristina Maio and Carolyn Sullivan; and two great-grandchildren, Noah and Ava Mangrich. She is also survived by her brother, Richard (Elaine) Hueneke, Bellevue, IA and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Dean, her parents, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gertrude and Jim Brennan.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston with Reverend Greg Geier officiating. Burial will be in the Miles City Cemetery, Miles, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the Church.
P.S. Esther was born 87 years ago. (One score equals 20 years.) So four score and seven years ago was the start of her life. Inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is the following: Four score and seven years ago our fathers and mothers brought forth near Springbrook, Iowa, a new female, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all Iowans are created equal. Her name is Esther Marie Amelia Hueneke and she will set a new, higher standard for generations to follow.

P.P.S. Abraham Lincoln just notified us that she made it to heaven fine.