Obituary of Rachel Mildred Kelchen

Rachel M. Kelchen, 96, of Worthington and formerly of Dyersville, Iowa died Sunday, February 15, 2015 at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade, Iowa. Friends may call from 4 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 4p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 19, 2015, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in St. Paul Cemetery, Worthington, Iowa. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate with her nephew, Deacon Joe Schockemoehl assisting. Rachel was born May 31, 1918 in Worthington, Iowa the daughter of Frank and Ida (Greif) Schockemoehl. She was a 1935 graduate of St. Paul High School and she attended summer school for two years at the University of Dubuque for a teaching certificate. Rachel taught grades one through eight for two years from 1936-1938 at rural Worthington timber school, south of Worthington. She married Raymond J. Kelchen on February 14, 1938 in Worthington, Iowa. Together they farmed until their retirement in 1968. Rachel was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening and in later years she enjoyed reading, family get-togethers and playing cards with her friends. She was a volunteer at the Dyer Doll House and secretary for Friends of the Library in Dyersville. Rachel was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish. Survivors include one daughter: Janice (Alfred) Meyers of Worthington, three grandchildren: Connie (Alan) Kramer, Paul (Mindy) Meyers both of Farley and Jane (Russ) Boffeli of Cascade, seven great grandchildren: Kyle, Madeline and Lauren Kramer, Chloe and Hunter Meyers, Lidia and Ben Boffeli, in-laws: Pat Holub of Central City, Mary Ostwinkle of Epworth, Ella Gross and Lucille Kelchen of Cascade, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ida Schockemoehl, her husband, Raymond on Dec. 3, 1990, two sons in infancy, siblings: Laura Schockemoehl, Marion (Nicholas) Radloff, Stella (Joseph) Comer, LaVerne (Stanley) Holub, Harold (Florence) Schockemoehl, Harriet (Samuel) Knepper, Grace (Marvin) Hirtz-Hinrichs, William (Magdalen) Schockemoehl.