Marie (Rick) Henstorf

Marie Delores Richter Henstorf, daughter of Harriett (Niedecken) and Herbert Richter was born on May 8, 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and passed away on January 31, 2013. She was a high school graduate and attended the College of St. Benedicts in northern Minnesota. She was one of eight children.

Marie met Dr. Harold Henstorf while working in Oklahoma City, and they were married in Kansas City in August of 1946. Shortly after, they moved to Harold's hometown of Farragut, Iowa to open a medical practice with Dr. George Powell. Not long after they opened a medical office in Shenandoah, the young couple moved there. While living in Shenandoah, Marie was a devoted and caring wife and mother. She took an active part in her children's activities and was a gracious hostess to friends, community members, and even the Iowa Football team. She loved putting together parties of all kinds for many and various occasions. As her four children grew and became more involved in activities, so did Marie. She was an avid bridge player, talented crafter and potter, and excellent seamstress. She enjoyed many roles in the community theater under the direction of her dear friend Maribelle Read. In 1970 Harold, Marie, and son George moved to Columbia, MO where she enjoyed the events at the University of Missouri, golfing, continued playing bridge, and took several cooking classes to expand her culinary talents. Harold passed away in 1986, and Marie later moved to Fair Oaks, California to spend the next twelve years enjoying the California life with her brother Donald, sister Leone, sister Lucille and later sister Elaine. During these years she took up daily swimming activities, perfected her sewing skills with quilting wearable art from an intricate Seminole pattern. She exhibited these clever and colorful award winners in the Sacramento State Fair and generously donated many to local and well-known charities for fund raisers. She loved having her grandchildren visit her for extended periods during the summer.

In 2001 Marie bought a home in Farragut, Iowa coming full circle in her adult life. After an automobile accident, she spent the last five years of her life under the care of Elm Heights enjoying the people and various activities.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harold, her parents, and her four sisters and three brothers. Marie is survived by her four children, Kurt and wife Mims of Farragut, Iowa, Gretchen of Seattle, WA, Jan and wife Ronda of Pleasanton, CA, George and wife Rhonda of Columbia, MO; AFS son, Barbaros Aslanoglu from Turkey; eight grandchildren, Brian Henstorf and wife Jayna of Dallas TX, Kyle Henstorf of Lisbon, IA, Jessica Henstorf of San Francisco, CA, Jerry Henstorf of Des Moines, IA, Ryan Foster and fianc Susan England of Dayton, OH, Justin Foster and wife Lynsey of Columbia MO, Tyler Henstorf and wife Kaylan of Memphis MO, and Lael Agee of Seattle, WA. She also has one great grandchild, Kinley Henstorf of Lisbon, IA; other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be directed to either the Shenandoah Public Library, the Shenandoah Congregational United Church of Christ or to the Southwest Iowa Theatre Group.