Florence Schlake

Florence A. Schlake, 91, of Waukon, IA, died Sunday, July 14, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society in Postville, IA. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 17th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Lynn Noel officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Wednesday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Florence Annetta Schlake was born July 20, 1927, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Gilman and Annetta (Bakkum) Hanson. She lost her mother at a young age so her father became the central figure in her life. After graduating from Waukon High School in 1944, she attended Waukon junior college for one year. Florence then worked at the telephone office in Waukon. In 1949, she married Merle Schlake; to this union two children were born. Florence and Merle later divorced. They moved from Waukon to Postville, where she was a mother and homemaker. Later in life she worked various part-time jobs including: at the turkey plant, in the school lunchroom, babysitting, and catering.

After retiring in 1993, Florence moved to Waukon to share a home with her sister Harriet Hanson. Her joys in life were fishing, gardening and flowers, and gambling at the boat. She received blue ribbons for the flowers she took to the fair. Family and friends enjoyed her cooking for special occasions.

Florence is survived by her two children: Gwen (John) Foels of Postville, IA, and Randy (Barbara) Schlake of St. Charles, IL; five grandchildren: Koral (Brian) Harbaugh, Laurie (Jamie) Smith, Kathryn Schlake, Amy (David) Thomas, and Alexander Schlake; great-grandchildren: Mason and Peyton Smith and Pierce Harbaugh; two sisters: Harriet Hanson of Postville and Esther Peters of Cedar Falls, IA; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister Arlene Odegard; brother-in-law Robert Peters; and a great-grandson Collin Harbaugh.

Casketbearers are Koral Harbaugh, Laurie Smith, Pierce Harbaugh, Mason and Peyton Smith, Kathryn Schlake, Amy Thomas, and Alexander Schlake.