Grace Henrich

Grace Henrich, age 91, of Odebolt, IA, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, IA. Grace Agnes Gardner Henrich was born on January 12, 1922 to parents Jacob and Edith (Westendorf) Gardner in White Lake, South Dakota. When Grace was eight, she and her family moved to Odebolt, IA where she received her schooling and graduated from Odebolt High School in 1942. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church and active in the ladies guild.

As Grace would say, “ I saw this man in church and knew I wanted to meet him” (William Henrich); once she decided this was a good thing, she married him, on June 30, 1942 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt. They were blessed with four children: Renea, William, Theodore, and Jack. As a city girl transplanted to farm life, she had to learn how to cook and help with chores, including milking cows and thrashing hay. As Bill worked to build the farm, she worked hard to provide a loving home for her family. She was a life-long learner and set an excellent example for her children by purchasing National Geographic Magazine and encouraging them to achieve academic and athletic excellence. She appreciated the beauty of the farm landscape and took art classes to put her impressions onto canvas.

Grace loved to bake and was known for her excellent pies and cakes. Bill and Grace traveled throughout the country to visit children including California, Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii and Switzerland. When younger, Grace and Bill were excellent dancers and were seen weekly at Lakewood, Cobblestone and polka dancing at Schleswig. They were a very handsome couple while “cutting the rug”. Grace loved to play cards, especially Pitch and Euchre, also Crazy Eight with the kids. Her life’s work was to raise a good family and she treasured the time she had with them. She will be dearly missed by her husband Bill, her children and grandchildren, extended family and all those who knew and loved her.

Grace will be greatly missed by husband William Henrich of Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, IA ; daughter Renea Bradley of Wayzata, MN; sons: William Jr. of Ankeny, IA, Ted (Kathy) Henrich of Wall Lake, IA, and Jack (Marj) Henrich of Odebolt, IA; grandchildren: Dr. Jennifer Smith of Chapel Hill NC, Veronica Stewart (Randy) of Wilmington, OH, Mathew Henrich of Nevada, IA, Justin Henrich of Iowa City, IA, Jay Henrich (Marcy) of West Point, IA, Jacob Henrich of Denver, CO, and Jonathan Henrich of Odebolt, IA; great-grandchildren: Emelia Grace Stewart and Logan James Henrich; brother Robert (Mary Ann) Gardner of Nevada, IA; sister in laws: Phyllis Gardner of Odebolt, IA and Darlene Bird of Odebolt, IA; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Grace Henrich, age 91, of Odebolt, IA, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, IA. Grace Agnes Gardner Henrich was born on January 12, 1922 to parents Jacob and Edith (Westendorf) Gardner in White Lake, South Dakota. When Grace was eight, she and her family moved to Odebolt, IA where she received her schooling and graduated from Odebolt High School in 1942. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church and active in the ladies guild.