Erma F Tiefel

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Dr.
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
507-388-2202

Erma Florentine Tiefel of Lake Crystal was called to her eternal home on January 3rd, 2012 at the age of 94.

Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2012 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at church on Monday. Burial will be held at a later date. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

She was born to Paul and Lydia (Schwarz) Engel at Lewisville, MN on October 8, 1917. She was baptized into the family of God by Rev. Louis J. Lemke at Fieldon Lutheran Church in Fieldon Township. Upon completion of her catechetical instruction in German she was also confirmed in the Lutheran faith by Rev. Lemke. Erma graduated from the high school department of Dr. Martin Luther College in 1935.

In June of 1937 she was united in marriage to Rev. Marcus Fleischer of Watertown, WI who served congregations in Red Granite, WI and Ripon, WI. Rev. Fleischer suffered from MS and upon his retirement from the ministry Erma tended faithfully to his needs until his death in 1944. She was also devoted to their sons Daniel, Paul, and Peter during this time.

Upon Rev. Fleischer's death, she moved to New Ulm, MN. In 1946 she was united in marriage to Rev. Waldemar Schuetze, a dear friend of Marcus Fleischer. Their marriage was blessed with four children " Ruth, Naomi, Mary, and Thomas. Together they served congregations in Belle Plaine, MN; Jamestown, ND; Roscoe, SD; Fond du Lac, WI; and Ketchikan, AK. Rev. Schuetze passed away in Minneapolis, MN in 1979.

In 1981 Erma was united in marriage to a widowed high school friend, Harold Riess, in a service officiated by her son, Rev. Daniel Fleischer. They lived in New Ulm for 7 years before Harold passed away in 1988. In New Ulm, Erma was an active Red Cross volunteer.

She later moved to Mankato. She became an active member of Immanuel congregation. In 2001 she married another widowed high school friend, Rev. Arnold Tiefel, in a service officiated by her son, Rev. Paul Fleischer. They lived together in an apartment attached to the home of Paul and Naomi Pfeiffer. Rev. Tiefel passed away in 2008.

Erma was very involved with her family and found time to be active in church activities in various ways. She served as church organist in a number of congregations. She also served as a personal caregiver, as well as working in a nursing home during her years in Fond du Lac. Her unique personality and faithful exercise of her faith in word and deed were recognized by her many friends and acquaintances. She was a prolific letter writer, and was not bashful to confess her faith. She enjoyed playing the piano. Despite failing eyesight, she played the piano by ear until the last days of her life.

Erma lived with her daughter Naomi in Lake Crystal for 12 years and died there peacefully, surrounded by members of her family.

In addition to her husbands she was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Lydia Engel, and by two brothers, Clemens and Donald.

Surviving and awaiting the glorious resurrection, which is the confident faith and hope of all who believe in the Lord Jesus, are one brother Delphin (Gertie) Engel, of Garfield, MN and two sisters, Alice (Darwin) Schleicher of Ripon, WI and Joyce (Larry) Weber of Good Thunder, MN; her children, Rev. Daniel (Barbara) Fleischer of Oakdale, MN, Rev. Paul (Laila) Fleischer of Cheyenne, WY, and Peter Fleischer of Lake Crystal, MN; Ruth (Karl) Mueller of Mankato, Naomi (Paul) Pfeiffer of Lake Crystal, Mary (Michael) Thom of New Ulm, and Rev. Thomas Schuetze of Coloma, MI. She is survived also by 22 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, and numerous nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred for the Peru mission of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mankato, MN, or to the Academic Building Fund or Student Aid fund of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, WI.