Nan Grethen

March 22, 1919 - April 17, 2013

Nan Grethen, 94 of Mallard died Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at the Emmetsburg Care Center. Services will be held Monday 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mallard. The family will great friends immediately following the service at St. Mary's Fellowship Hall. There will be no public visitation. Harris Funeral Home of Mallard is in charge of arrangements. Nan E. Holmberg Grethen was born March 22, 1919 in Malmberg, Sweden to Lars and Emma Holmberg. When Nan was three years old her family came to the United States by ship. The family spent the first two weeks on Ellis Island under quarantine due to the illness of one of Nan's sisters. Once released from Ellis Island, Nan's family moved to Ruthven, Iowa to begin farming. Nan received her education there and graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class. Nan was joined in marriage to Walter Grethen on April 17, 1952. Nan and Walt farmed on the Plover corner of Hwy. 4 until retirement. They enjoyed traveling to Europe and to Sweden to see the house where Nan was born. They loved their trip to Alaska with their RV group and looked forward to their annual journey to Arizona where they wintered for 31 years. The couple made many trips to visit their children and grandchildren. Nan was the ultimate wife and mother, lovingly taking care of Walt and her children. She enjoyed sewing, knitting blankets for others and cooking. She taught all of her children to make Swedish pancakes. Nan's final years were lived out at the Emmetsburg Care Center in Emmetsburg, Iowa where she received loving and kind care. Nan, 94, went home to be with the Lord April 17, 2013. Survivors include Nan's husband of 61 years, Walter; five children: Judy (Ken) Dillon of White Bear Lake, MN, Pam (Gerry) Rolle of San Jose, CA, Mary (Larry) Grebe of Bremen, IN, Kay Perry of Hope, ID, and Pat Grethen of Carmel, IN; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and brother Henry (Lillian) Holmberg of Dayton, WA. Nan was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Leo Loomis and Mervin Iler, son Mike Iler, sisters Helga Murray, Thea Gustin and Linea McFarland, and brothers Rusty Holmberg and Sigvard Holmberg. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Palo Alto County.