Elaine Zobel

Elaine Zobel

1922 – 2024

IDA GROVE - Elaine Zobel passed away peacefully with her grandson Joel by her side, on Saturday morning Dec. 28, 2024, at the Northfield Minnesota Hospital. She lived 102 years, seven months and 22 days.

Services were held Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minnesota with burial at Lake Howard, Minnesota.

Elaine Dora DePauw was born May 6, 1922, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Howard and Alma (Dunst) DePauw. In 1940,  she graduated from Washington High School and went on to attend Rasmussen Business College. Following her education, she worked as a secretary at West Publishing and Telex Communications. On Valentine’s Day 1946, Elaine married Stanford Clyde Splettstoeszer and they made their home in Howard Lake, Minnesota. Elaine worked as the Howard Lake City Clerk, for the City Attorney, and for an implement dealer before the family moved to Litchfield, Minnesota. In Litchfield, Elaine worked for Farm Bureau, a local accountant, and for the Litchfield elementary and junior high schools. Stanford and Elaine enjoyed life together for 38 years before his death in 1984.

On Nov. 16, 1985, Elaine married Wilton Hendrickson and they made their home in Rosemount, Minnesota. Wilton passed away in 2000. In 2001, Elaine moved to Northfield where she and her daughter Diane purchased a twin home together (so they could keep an eye on each other!) In 2001, Elaine met Milton Zobel in Texas. They married on May 13, 2003. They lived in Ida Grove and also enjoyed the cabin at Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack, Minnesota. Milton passed away in 2008. Although she greatly missed her family in Mora, Minnesota, Elaine remained at home in Northfield until her death.

Elaine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, NARVE, and LWML. She had the eye of an artist and enjoyed china painting with a kiln, lapidary, polka music, traveling, square dancing, and she loved German food. For nearly 35 years, she was a snowbird, spending winters in Florida and Texas. She always looked forward to her Sunday evening phone conversations with her grandson Joel. Elaine was still driving at her 100th birthday party.

Survivors include her children Richard (Dee) Splettstoeszer of Mora and Diane Splettstoeszer of Northfield; three grandchildren Beth Rodenborg of Mora, Joel Splettstoeszer of Circle Pines, Jill Erickson of Plymouth; two great-granddaughters Haley Rodenborg (Andrew) and Hannah Splettstoeszer (Damon); five great-great-grandchildren Chase, Gracelyn, Ava, Daxton, and River Rikki; other relatives, many friends and her fur babies she loved seeing everyday Pipsqueak and Moose. Other survivors include a step-daughter Carol Hanson, a sister-in-law Marlene Zobel, and a brother-in-law Victor Zobel all of Ida Grove.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Stanford, Wilton, and Milton, her granddaughter Brenda, her grandson Jeff, her grandsons-in-law Brian Rodenborg and Blake Erickson, and her sister Shirley.