Ethel Isabelle Mack

Ethel Isabelle Mack, the daughter of Charles M. and Gertrude Marie (Nelsen) Lambert, was born February 5, 1918, at her parents’ home in southern Audubon County near Oakfield, Iowa and died July 30, 2016, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 98 years, 5 months, and 25 days.
Ethel was baptized and confirmed at the Oak Hill Lutheran Church west of Brayton, Iowa and attended rural Audubon County schools.
On October 3, 1934, she was united in marriage to Floyd William Mack at her parent’s home near Brayton, Iowa. They were blessed with three children Don, Betty, and Martha. Ethel and Floyd worked side by side operating a farm with Floyd’s parents. In 1950 Ethel and Floyd purchased a farm in Viola Township. They grew row crops and raised livestock. Ethel raised chickens selling the eggs and dressed chickens. She always had a large vegetable garden and enjoyed canning the produce. They retired from farming in 1981 and moved into Audubon. Floyd died on September 1, 1991. Ethel lived at home until she moved to the Friendship Home in November of 2015.
Ethel was the oldest member of the Ross Calvary United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Mary/Martha Circle and was a member of the Widow’s Club where she had served as secretary. Ethel was an accomplished seamstress and made clothes for herself and the grandchildren and later made doll clothes for the great grandchildren. During retirement she spent many wonderful hours tying quilts with her sister Erma. Ethel made quilts and decorated dish towels for all the family members. She enjoyed baking and was well known for her “pink” coffee cookies. Ethel always had the coffee pot on and always had plenty of food to entertain dinner guest. She enjoyed playing cards and going out to eat with her many friends. In her later years she enjoyed working her word puzzles and coloring. But most of all she loved being with her family especially the grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was her husband Floyd W. Mack; her grand-sons-in-law Brian Dent and Kevin Luczycki; her parents; her sister Erma and husband Emil Haeflinger; her sisters-in-law Gertrude and husband Everett Pencook, Ione and husband Carl McPherson, and Ruby and husband John Olsen.
Survivors include her children Don and wife Carma Mack, Betty and husband Gary Wegner all of Audubon, Iowa, and Martha and husband Larry Salton of Ruthven, Iowa; her grandchildren Amy and husband Tim Schaer of Omaha, Nebraska, Jody Davis and fiancé Kirk Blodgett of Clarks, Nebraska, Trisha and husband Sasson Valadez of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Shelly and husband Jeff Christensen of Atlantic, Iowa, Julie and husband Lynn Zajicek of Panora, Iowa, Sherrie and husband Dennis Kinser of Omaha, Nebraska, Laurie Wegner of Woodland Park, Colorado, Cindy Luczycki of Templeton, Iowa, Angela and husband Brandon Arbogast of Omaha, Nebraska, Paul and wife Sheila Salton of Spencer, Iowa, Kristen and husband Trevor Miller of Elk Horn, Iowa, Greg and wife Erin Salton of Omaha, Nebraska, and Sara and husband Travis Simpson of Grimes, Iowa; her great grandchildren Sean and wife Stephanie Davis and Allison Davis and special friend Bryan Guines all of Omaha, Nebraska, Dylan Christensen and fiancée Catie Schmitz of Atlantic, Iowa, Tyler Christensen and special friend Laeni Pelzer of Pella, Iowa, Michael and wife Sara Dent of Des Moines, Iowa, Grant Zajicek of Panora, Iowa, Garrett Arbogast of Omaha, Nebraska, Matthew Salton, Marissa Salton, Mitchell Salton, and Mallory Salton all of Spencer, Iowa, Riley Miller, Dalton Miller, and Dawson Miller all of Elk Horn, Iowa, Cole Salton, Kenna Salton and Kara Salton all of Omaha, Nebraska, and Lilah Simpson of Grimes, Iowa; her step great grandchildren Alex Valadez, Michael Valadez, and Daniel and wife Shannon Valadez all of Omaha, Nebraska, her great great grandchildren Ella Elizabeth Dent of Des Moines, Iowa and; her step great great grandchildren Brooklyn Valadez, Aiden Valadez, and Mason Valadez all of Omaha, Nebraska, and Gaige Valadez of Arlington, Washington; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steve Daiker on Thursday, August 4, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at the Ross Calvary United Methodist Church in Ross, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Julie Zajicek, Sherrie Kinser, Laurie Wegner, Cindy Luczycki, Angela Arbogast, Amy Schaer, Jody Davis, Trisha Valadez, Shelly Christensen, Kristen Miller, and Sara Simpson. The casket bearers will be Greg Salton, Paul Salton, Dylan Christensen, Tyler Christensen, Sean Davis, Michael Dent, Grant Zajicek, and Garrett Arbogast. The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening August 3, 2016, at 5:00 P.M at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.