Probituary: Armella Zweibohmer

Armella passed away October 2, 2017 , at the age of 91. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family, friends, and loved ones.

Armella Zweibohmer, 87 and loving life! Interviewed by granddaughter Mary Jane Wenthold

Armella’s life in Northeast Iowa has been blessed by children and family! With 11 siblings and nine children of her own, she has 29 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren in her loving bunch!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A mom, I always wanted a bunch of kids. Growing up I was the oldest of 12 children so there were babies around all of the time. It’s amazing all of my siblings are still living, I am 87 years old and my youngest siblings are 66 years old.

What do/did you do?

I love babies and always wanted to be a mom. I was 19 years old when I married the neighbor boy, Gustave Zweibohmer, in October of 1945. We had nine children together and their names are James, Mary Jane, Ron, Dale, Karen, LouAnn, Jean, Michelle and Joan. We raised our kids on a farm. I gardened, sewed, and the kids were in 4-H.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

My cell phone, water, and some kind of food.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.

I love people and have to be around people.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Banana or apple

Name one thing you could not live without.

A picture of my husband Gus.

Multiple choice: tell us about…

Your first job: At the age of 16 I was hired by the Swenson family of Clermont to take care of their baby, cook and clean. When I wasn’t working for the Swenson’s I worked seasonally at Decorah Produce picking chickens.

Your favorite memory: In 1944 when my neighbor, Gus, was honorably discharged from World War II. We had kept in touch over the three years he had been away in the service. Gus came home and found me out in the field picking corn; it was there he proposed.