Person:Agnes Lotza (1)

From the June 8, 1994, edition of the Postville (IA) Herald-Leader

Agnes K. Lestina

Agnes Katherine Lestina, daughter of Joseph W. and Anna M. (Moses) Lotza, was born January 23, 1908. Agnes died Friday, June 3, 1994, at the Great River Care Center, McGregor. She was 86 years old.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. She received her education in the rural Vlazny School. On April 29, 1930, she was united in marriage to Benjamin A. Lestina at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona. From the time they were married, the couple lived on a farm in Giard Township (Cooper Valley). In 1971, they moved to Monona where she resided until her health failed in 1991. In 1991, she became a resident of the Great River Care Center, McGregor. Agnes was a housewife and also sold Avon for a number of years. She loved her family, friends, flowers, gardening, playing cards and crocheting.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ben, in 1983; one son, Benjie, in 1987; brothers Joseph and Sylvester Lotza and one sister, Mary Fett.

Survivors include two sons, Donald Lestina and his wife Tillie, and Wayne Lestina and his wife Linda Lou, all of Monona; daughter-in-law Gina Peterson of Oelwein; six grandchildren, Connie Schlein and Pauline Dettman, both of Monona, Marsha Jahnke of Decorah, Scott Lestina of Arizona, Kim Lestina of Coralville and Sheryl Traetow of Cedar Falls; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Rita Hartong of Waukon and Alberta Berthoud of East Moline; nieces, nephews and many friends.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 6, 1944, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona. Father John Moran officiated. Pallbearers were Douglas Schlein, Lawrence Lotza, Richard Lorenz, James Lorenz, LeRoy Thompson, James Tayek, Robert Tayek and Norbert Holly. Burial was in St. Patrick's Cemetery. Schultz's Funeral Home of Monona was in charge of arrangements