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Photo of Elma I. (Odland) Lynch

Elma I. (Odland) Lynch

3/5/1924 - 9/20/2021


Obituary


Elma I. (Odland) Lynch, 97 of Clarion passed away Monday, September 20, 2021 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.

Funeral services for Elma Lynch will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Elma Lynch will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Friday.

Elma Irene Odland was born March 5, 1924 to Earl and Clara (Stenson) Odland. She grew up on the family farm in Lake Township in Wright County, attending country schools through the 8th grade before attending and graduating from Clarion High School.

Following high school, Elma attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for a year, before attending business school in Omaha. She took a job in the accounting department of the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, where she worked for more than 10 years.

Elma returned to the Clarion area, and she was united in marriage to Lowell Edward Lynch on June 26, 1965 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion. The couple made their home in town for a while before moving to the Lynch family farm northwest of Clarion where they farmed for decades.

Elma was a lifelong Lutheran, having been a longtime member of Holmes Lutheran Church and later, First Lutheran Church in Clarion.

Elma was a fantastic cook and baker, she enjoyed many of the recipes taught to her by her mother, including German chocolate cake and various rolls and other baked items. She was also an avid Bridge player, served as 4-H Leader and often volunteered, first, with Molly’s school activities, and later with Meals on Wheels.

Elma will be remembered for being dedicated, hardworking and friendly.

Elma is survived by her daughter, Molly Lynch and her husband, Jerry Abell of Eagan, Minnesota; brother Earl “Bud” Odland of Holmes; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Elma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lowell in 2020, and sisters Segnora Wheeler in 1994 and Norine Odland in 2002.