Adele E. Graf (Gosse) Williams, 91, of Oelwein passed on 7/2/13.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 5 from 3:00 – 7:00 pm at Geilenfeld Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, July 6, 2013 at Geilenfeld Funeral Home, with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein.

Adele E. Graf (Gosse) Williams was born December 18, 1921 near Graf, Iowa.  Adele was the daughter of Elmer and Clara (May) Graf.  Her family moved to a farm near Hazleton.  Adele was the last sibling in her family to live the longest and was the oldest.  Adele graduated from Hazleton High School in 1940.  Adele attended Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein her entire life where she was baptized, confirmed and married.

Adele and Louie Gosse were married February, 1946.  Louis passed away September, 1977.  Adele then married Clarence Williams, October 18, 1997 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein.  Adele and Clarence enjoyed over 15 years together.

Adele enjoyed her garden at the farm and harvesting her produce for her family; she also sold garden produce and eggs to R & M Pastry Bakery and many Oelwein friends and family.  Adele was a good cook her entire life.  Food served to her family, as kids, had to be eaten or go without.  She made theme cakes for her children’s birthdays.  Adele was active and worked hard her entire life.  She was a member of Zion American Lutheran Church, participated in a church circle, serving on various committees and assisted in collection of clothes yearly for MHI and received an award from Governor Terry Brandstad thru the MHI volunteer program.  Adele was a 4-h leader of Sheryl’s 4-h club (Jefferson Good Luck), drove tractors for her late husband during planting and harvesting seasons of the crops.  She also raised/dressed her own chickens assisted (not a choice) by family members.  She enjoyed life on the farm, going for Sunday drives by packing a lunch for family picnics every Sunday.  In the winter, Sundays were still family time in which she made her favorite chicken dinners for her family.

Adele worked for a time in the catalog department of Montgomery Wards and also did waitress work at the Hotel Mealey, The Elks, Hickory Grove and Foursome Country Clubs.

After Adele retired, she taught herself how to knit, crochet and took ceramic classes, making beautiful blankets, wall hangings and decorations for family and friends.  Adele was always sewing and made most of her clothes and for her family.

Adele loved to dance, as she loved the barn dances in her younger years, the Coliseum, Gayla, Riviera and The Electric Park and Independence Senior Center.  Adele was a 40 year member of a local card club until age 89.  Adele also sold Luzier cosmetics for over 40 years which she really enjoyed giving her friends facials.

Adele and Clarence also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.  Each spring Adele looked forward to the drives to the farm to see all the baby calves.  Clarence was also a good cook for Adele during her illness.

Adele enjoyed her two grandsons, Learen (Melissa) and Dein both of Oelwein and the rest of her family.

Adele’s survivors, include her husband Clarence Williams, her children Sheryl Gosse (John Shaner); and Richard “Dick”(Dalene) Gosse and her two grandsons, Learen (Melissa) and Dein all of Oelwein; also extended family: Dan (Deb) Williams of Walker, Susan (Dave) Kroeker of Audubon and Bonnie Beck of Rowley, many step grand and great grand children, many nieces and nephews.

Adele was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Louis; 2 brothers, Don & Merlin Graf; a sister, Iola; and two nephews along with many cousins, aunts and uncles.

Memorials may be made to the family; or to Mercy Plus or Hospice thru Palmer Health in Oelwein.

The family would like to thank Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in West Union; Dr. Steve Greenwald, of Fayette, Dr. Daniel Leisinger of Oelwein, Mercy Living Plus and Palmer Health/Hospice in Oelwein and Tracy Minton and Sherry Peterson of Hazleton for all their excellent care of Adele over the past few years.