Alice Francis Hummel

Alice Francis Hummel, 93, of Chaska, MN, formerly of Clear Lake and Waukon, IA, died Thursday, July 23, 2009, at her daughter's home in Chaska. Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family for 1 hour before the service at the funeral home on Sunday.


Alice Francis (Kessel) Hummel was born on July 8, 1916 in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Harry and Anna (Jensen Ofstad) Kessel. She grew up in Waukon, attending St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Waukon Schools. On November 10, 1935 she married Daryl Hummel in Silvas, IL. They lived in La Porte City, IA for a time and then settled in Clear Lake, IA, where for many years she helped Daryl with the Water Tower Paint and Repair Company. For the past 10 years, Alice has lived with her daughter in Chaska, MN.

While living in Clear Lake, Alice was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, where along with other things, she was involved in ladies circle, altar guild and Bible study. Alice was an avid reader and enjoyed following her favorite TV soap operas. She was accomplished at handiwork and spent many hours quilting, crocheting and knitting.

Survivors include her 2 daughters, Sondra (Howard) Cole of Ft. Myers, FL and Dawn (Craige) Iwaszko of Chaska, MN; six grandchildren, Christy, Shelly, Josh, Jackie, Joy and Jocelyn; four great-grandchildren, Alex, Tiffany, Jackie and Aris; two brothers, Francis "Butch" (Loraine) Kessel of Waukon, IA and Harry Jr. (Eileen) Kessel of La Crosse, WI; a sister, Lillian (Paul) Gruhn of Cedar Rapids, IA; and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Kessel of La Crosse, WI. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Daryl, who died in 1976; and a brother, Donald Kessel.