Emilie S. Zehr, 73 a resident of Bondurant, Iowa, died peacefully on Thursday Aug. 1, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minn. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her passing, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with the Rosary, immediately after at St. Mary’s Catholic Church 460 NW Washington Ave. Elkhart, Iowa. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday Sept. 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at a later date in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
Emilie Susanna Noel was born Jan. 22, 1951, in Clinton; the eldest of LaVern Martin and Elsbeth Emma (Schmahl) Noel. She graduated from North Scott High School in Eldridge and Wartburg College in Waverly. She went on to earn a masters of arts degree in microbiology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., and the Ph.D. degree in immunobiology from Iowa State University in Ames.
Emilie married Douglas Ray Zehr on Aug. 25, 1973, at St. Ann’s Church in Long Grove. She retired on Feb. 1, 2016, from the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. She had worked in various scientific research labs as a technician or microbiologist for over 38 years. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included shopping, reading, cheering for Iowa state University, judging 4-H projects, and traveling.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Doug; children: Elizabeth (Brian) Wilkinson, Elkhart; Jacob Zehr, Hawley, Minn.; five loving grandchildren: Kelsi, Tyler and Rylie Wilkinson and Lucy and Leia Zehr; by her siblings: Ken (Kathie) Noel, Fruitland; Diane Noel, Port Byron, Ill.; Noreen (Bob) Warren, Long Grove; Barb (Pete) Hyde, Eldridge; Ed Noel, Long Grove; Dean Noel, Davenport; Fran (Sam) Lisle, Fairview, Texas; brother-in-law Tom Toohey, Davenport; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Emilie was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Carey Toohey; and her brother-in-law, Scott Eyre.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home in Ames and online condolences may be left for Emilie’s family at www.adamssoderstrum.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Hope Lodge, 411 Second Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901 or the Hematology Department at Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
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