Dewitt Obits

Elsie K. Menzel of Lincoln

Elsie K. Menzel, 91, of Lincoln passed away at 12:57 p.m. Saturday (July 20, 2013) at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.

Elsie was born Oct. 30, 1921, daughter of William August and Katherine Amelia Horn Komnick in Emden. She was united in marriage to Julian Menzel in Elkhart on Nov. 9, 1947. He preceded her in death Aug. 29, 2010.

Elsie attended Emden elementary and high school, graduating from Hartsburg High School and Lincoln College. She worked as a secretary to a county judge and several local attorneys, as well as probation officer and a number of years in admissions at Lincoln College. Elsie served on the Foundation Board of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Community Concert Board, St. John UCC council and various community organizations. She was a member of the St. John United Church of Christ, American Legion Auxiliary and Nature Conservancy as well as several local organizations.

Survivors to Elsie include her brother, Thomas E. (Dorothy) Komnick, Emden; nephews and nieces,  Richard A. Smith, Dunedin, Fla.; David (Linda) Smith, Clearwater, Fla.; Lee (Mari Anne) Komnick, Lincoln; Katharine S. (Andrew) Frontiero, Dunedin, Fla.; Barbara J. Smith, Chattanooga, Tenn.; David (Patricia) Menzel, Springfield; Harry Earle (Jean) Menzel, Kankakee; Michael (Marsha) Menzel, Williamsville; and Scott (Wendy) Menzel, Louisville, Ky.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marjorie A. Smith.

The service for Elsie will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Jan Johnson and the Rev. Richard Reinwald officiating. A burial will follow the service at Elkhart Cemetery, Elkhart. A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln, and an hour before the service on Wednesday.

She preferred flowers or donations be made to St. Jude Midwest Affiliate in Peoria or to the St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln.