Mildred Weddum

Mildred Elaine Lange Weddum was born November 3, 1927, the 8th child of 11, in the 2nd twin set of 3, to Peter and Dagmar Lange, in Sharon Township near Audubon Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church rural Kimballton. She attended Sharon #9 country school receiving an 8th grade certificate in 1941.

She met the love of her life while attending dances at Kimballton, where Folmer was the ticket taker. Folmer and Mildred were married April 10, 1949, in the annex to the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Three children were born to this marriage. They raised their children in Kimballton, Elk Horn and Atlantic. After the move to Atlantic the children finished their schooling in the Atlantic Schools.

As a young girl, she worked as a hired hand for farm wives who needed help by raising their children, cleaning, baking, canning, sewing or whatever needed done. She also worked at the Kimballton Bakery, frosting rolls by the handfuls, waiting on customers, and helping to deliver to nearby communities. Later, she worked spring and fall cleaning at the Salem Lutheran Retirement and Invalid Homes and candled eggs at Olsen's in Elk Horn. Folmer and Mildred moved to Atlantic in 1967 assisting his brother to open the Atlantic Locker. She then worked at the Atlantic School kitchen and cafeteria making and serving lunches from the Schuler gym. It was during this time she continued her education, receiving her GED in 1974. She worked at Heritage House as a CNA in the Health Center, then moved her great care giving to the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Mildred taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School to three year olds at Elk Horn Lutheran Church. She assisted gathering recipes for the original Elk Horn Cookbook, Circle #9. After moving to Atlantic, she continued being active in circles and decorated St. Paul's Lutheran Church as seasons changed for many years. She was an active member of CCMH Auxiliary for 2 years.

She began doing counted cross stitch, and finishing numerous pictures that were framed and displayed in her home. She was an excellent, compassionate, loving care giver in the raising of their children and to her husband for many years. As his health failed, she indulged herself with gardening and immaculate yard tending, winning her one of the first garden awards of Atlantic in 1999. Many people walked and drove past her home just to see what new ideas and plants she had each year, and of course to see "Elizabeth", her lemon magnolia tree. In her spare time she ironed for many doctors, lawyers and bankers. She loved cooking and baking the Danish dishes (main meals, desserts and cookies). Miss NiNi honored Mildred into her Baking Court in November 2013 for her Raspberry Shortbread cookies.

Time spent with her children, grandchildren, and now six great-grandchildren were precious times she held of great value. Love, laughter, having fun times with one another, her love of her Church and loving God were what she hoped everyone would see in her life, and not the Parkinson's that slowed her down from the life she desired to live.

Mildred joined Folmer, entering into her eternal home in heaven on January 2, 2017, at Atlantic Specialty in Atlantic, Iowa.

Preceding Mildred in death are her husband, Folmer; parents, Peter and Dagmar Lange; in-laws, Soren and Matilda Weddum; siblings and spouses, Selma (Harry) Walters, Elsie (Arnold) Bro, Edna (Edward) Jensen, Irma (Thomas) Madsen, Myrtle (Dale) Juelsgaard, Derward Hansen, Frank (Shirley) Lange, Emmert Lange and Kenneth Lange; five nephews and three nieces.

Those left to honor her memory are her children, Mark (Kathy) Weddum, Davenport, IA, LeAnn (Ernie) Hawthorne, Atlantic, IA and Dean (Karen) Weddum, Basehor, KS; her grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer) Hawthorne, Hobbs, NM, Nathan (Teresa) Weddum, Gilbert, AZ, Kaitlin (William) Cichy, Bella Vista, AR and Catherine (Joel) White, Harlan, IA; her great-grandchildren, Kyle, Ella, Annika, Macy, Marek, Uriah; her sisters, Darlene Hansen, Exira, IA and Dorothy Hansen, Kimballton IA; her sisters-in-law, Erma Lange, Atlantic, IA and Elizabeth Lange, Austin, TX; and her nephews, nieces, cousins and many many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 6, 2017, with a family visitation one hour prior the service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Private family interment will take place at Elk Horn Cemetery in Elk Horn, Iowa.