Obituary of Edith Mary Polder

Edith is survived by her husband, Emmett, first cousins: Floyd House of Aberdeen, S.D., Mary M. Thacher of Stonington, CT, and Ann Lederer of Virginia; sisters-in-law: Wilma Brenne of River Forest, IL, and Ruth Whitaker of Allison, IA and nine nephews and nieces. Of all of James Dyer's descendants, only Ann Dyer Limback, Florence Ham and Edith Polder remained to live their lives in the town he founded. Edith, the daughter of George and Florence (Limback) Ham, was born in her family home in Dyersville on January 14, 1915. She attended Xavier grade and high school, graduating in 1932. Following graduation, she took courses at Iowa State Teachers College and Loras College. Edith taught third grade at Xavier Elementary School, one year at Columbus Rural School and five years at the Olberding Rural School. Edith was interested in music, nature study and conservation. She was a past member of the Dubuque Conservation Society, Iowa Ornithologists Union, American Wildlife Federation, the Dyersville Women's Club and the Dyersville Historical Society. She enjoyed listening to piano concertos, violin concertos, orchestras, and opera. Her other interests were literature and poetry which she sometimes recited in public appearances. After Edith's father's death in 1948, she acquired his agency with Aetna Insurance Co. and also served as Farm Loan correspondent for Equitable Life Insurance Society of New York and Mutual Benefit Insurance Co. of New Jersey. Following her mothers death she continued management and rental of the Ham farm which her grandfather Ham had purchased in 1875. Edith was a lady with good judgement, empathy and integrity. On August 22, 1940 she was united in marriage to Emmett Polderboer at St. Patrick's Rectory in Washington D.C. In 1950 the name Polderboer was reduced to Polder. After leaving Washington D.C. in 1941, she resided in Lansing, IA, for one year and in Marion for four years. She returned to Dyersville in 1946 and remained there until her final illness and then resided at Chateau Royal in Worthington. During her days of life, she witnessed great changes from the buggy whip to the micro-chip.