Nevva Hjortshoj, 100, of Monroe died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Nelson Manor in Newton. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Monroe United Methodist Church with burial following at Silent City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the church. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Monroe United Methodist Church or the Monroe Public Library. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
Nevva Lillian Hjortshoj was born March 22, 1914, in Atlantic, the sixth child of Raymond and Lillian Potts Odem. She graduated from Wiota High School in 1931. After further education, she taught at a rural school, Grove #6 in Cass County and later was the office assistant for the Cass County Farm Bureau Office. On Oct. 4, 1938, she married Gunnar Hjortshoj at her parent’s home southeast of Atlantic. Gunnar and Nevva farmed at Anita for seven years before moving to a farm west of Monroe. They farmed there for 31 years before moving to Monroe. Nevva was a member of the United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and helped to create the junior high youth group at the church. She was a member of the Cass County 4-H Girls committee, and a 4-H leader in Jasper County. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, Monroe Mothers Club, Monroe Woman’s Club and Jasper County Historical Society. She was happy to be a Kiwanis Queen and she and Gunnar hosted the annual picnics for many years. She loved her family and delighted in the great-grandchildren’s visits. She was always interested in and inquired often about their activities. She was an excellent cook, often serving lunch or dinner on short notice to the many visitors to the farm. She always looked forward to visits from friends. Gunnar and Nevva spent several winters in Apache Junction, Ariz. Nevva moved to Newton Village when she was 90 and enjoyed the many activities provided at the assisted living facility. She made many friends at the Village and was very appreciative of the staff and the care she received. In April, 2010, she fell and broke a leg and has resided at Nelson Manor in Newton since her fall and thankful for the loving and caring staff at Nelson Manor.
She is survived by her daughter Carol Ann (Larry) Diekema; three sons, Paul (June) and Darrell (Karlin) of Monroe and John (Sharon) of Huxley; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons. Nevva was proceeded in death by her husband, Gunnar in December 1988; parents; four brothers, Ralph, Lloyd, Wayne and Claire Odem; two sisters, Doris Stoodt and Norma Tanner; and one grandson, Shawn Hjortshoj.