Esther Gosnell

Funeral Services: Monday, May 7, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Open Viewing: Sunday, May 6th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle.

Family Visitation: Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle.

Memorials: To the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Esther Elizabeth Gosnell was born September 26, 1911, in Adair County, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Emma (Queck) Freeman. She passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle at the age of 100.

Esther attended school and graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1929. She taught country school after graduation and later owned and operated a cafe in Lenox, Iowa. On August 18, 1942, she was united in marriage to Walter Schroder in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. To this union one son, Norbert was born. Walter and Esther lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming while Walter was in the service. She worked at other cafes in the area and the Good Samaritan Center. Walter passed away in 1964. On June 2, 1974, she was united in marriage to John Gosnell in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. John passed away in 1988.

Esther enjoyed camping with her nieces and nephews, gardening, flowers, knitting, crocheting, crocheting covered hangers for family and friends and quilting with the women of the church. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also had a love for chocolate. She was a lifelong member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church and an honorary member of the women's circle.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and brother, Elton Freeman.

She is survived by her son, Norbert Schroder and wife Cheryl of Eureka Springs, Arkansas; two granddaughters, Heather Johnson and husband Marc and Brandie Perry and husband Shane; six great grandchildren, Trevor and Connor Johnson and Beck, Jones, Ella Kate and Sagar Perry; sister-in-law, Dorothy Freeman of Fontanelle; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.