Obituary of Elmer John White

Elmer John White, 81, of Petersburg, Iowa died Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Continuing Care Hospital at St. Luke's Hospital following a farming accident. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 1, 2012, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville where a vigil service will be held at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 2, 2012, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Petersburg, with Rev. John O'Connor officiating and Rev. Herb Tegeler concelebrating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Elmer was born on May 8, 1930, on the farm in Worthington, son of Edward and Louise (Kirsch) White. He graduated from Worthington High School in 1947. He served state side in the Army during the Korean War. He married the love of his life, Mary Macke, on February 9, 1957, at St. Mary's in Bloomington, Wisconsin. Together they lived on a beautiful farm North of Earlville. Elmer and Mary dedicated their lives to the care of God's precious earth from 1957 until his accident. Farming was the second love of his life and he enjoyed going to the farm on a daily basis. Elmer served on various parish and school boards, including dedicating his time to Beckman, as Beckman High School's Endowment Fund President during the late 1970s. Elmer, along with a group of dedicated parents, raised a large sum of money to endow Beckman High School. The Beckman Endowment group felt it was important to continue to deliver a quality Catholic education to the children in Dyersville and the surrounding areas. Elmer enjoyed playing golf with his family and friends at the Lone Pine Country Club in Colesburg. For many years he played a friendly weekly game of euchre. Elmer sang in the parish choir and volunteered his time and talents to various parish endeavors. Elmer dedicated his life to God and his loving family. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Surviving are his wife, Mary; six children: Mary Beth (Brian) Shapcott of Iowa City, Mark (Sandi) White of Colesburg, Barb White (special friend Tom Kindred) of Dubuque and, Nancy (Roger) Burkle of Petersburg, Charlie (Jenny) White of Earlville, and Joe (Stacey) White of Dyersville; 11 grandchildren, Aaron, Lucas, Cassandra, and Samantha White of Colesburg, Lydia, Carter, and Mason White of Dyersville, Alexis, Elyse, Chase, and Adalyn White of Earlville; his four sisters, Lois Hosch of New Vienna, Janice Tegeler of Dyersville, Delores Runde, of Cuba City, WI, Ann (Wayne) Klaren of Cascade, and one brother, Harry (Mary Lou) White of Worthington. He was preceded in death by Baby Girl White and four angels that were prematurely taken into the arms of God; his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Earl and Mae (Smith) Macke, and brothers-in-law: George Hosch, Larry Tegeler, and Justin Runde.