Floyd Friedrich

Floyd A. Friedrich, age 88, of Elma passed away Monday, July 14, 2014 at his home with his family by his side. A Memorial Service was held Saturday, July 19 at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in rural Elma with Pastor Dan Christensen officiating. Burial was held at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Cemetery.
Online condolences for Floyd’s family may be left on the funeral home website at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Floyd August Ernst Friedrich was born February 6, 1926 (2/6/26), the eldest of three sons, to Daniel and Mabel (Lauck) Friedrich.  He was born and raised on the family farm in Howard County north of Elma. Floyd was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, where he was a life-long member.
It was at the Rainbow Hall in Riceville that he met his bride-to-be, Alberta Norman.  They joined their lives together June 7, 1949 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville. To this union were born four children: Connie Jean, Roger Lee, Julie Ann (deceased) and Carol Sue.
Floyd graduated from the eighth grade at Howard County #4 Country School near his home and worked on his parent’s farm until he was 18. He then went to work at Chamberlain’s in Waterloo where they made wringers for washing machines and later at Oliver Tractor Company in Charles City. In 1951 he and Alberta bought their farm north of Elma where he lived and farmed the rest of his life.
Floyd was a good steward of the land and made many improvements to the land and homestead over the next sixty years, including building a large part of their home and a complete workshop where he could fix almost anything. He had a farm pond dug when the old barn was demolished where he and Alberta could enjoy the wildlife that it attracted.
In the 1960s, Floyd started selling Vigortone Feeds which widened their circle of friends with other feed dealers and also started their love of traveling with them on the trips they won through the feed business. Floyd and Alberta traveled to over 15 countries, states and cities all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.  They always included stops at the relatives on those trips when possible. Another activity he took up at this time was flying airplanes. He got his pilot’s license and enjoyed giving family members rides over the Iowa countryside.
Floyd loved to fish with friends and grandkids in the pond on the farm. He converted the old chicken house into a woodworking shop where he made many cherished gifts for family members over the years. Floyd loved a good game of 500 or Euchre and could always somehow stretch his cards to make the bid.
Floyd was active in St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church all his life, from serving on the church council to every remodeling project that took place in the church over the years.
Floyd went to be with his Lord and Savior at his home with his wife of 65 years, Alberta, at his side. He is survived by Alberta, and their children, Connie (Tom) Buresh, Roger (Julie) Friedrich and Carol (Dennis) Krueger; their grandchildren, Brent (Rachael) Buresh, Karri (Dale) Rutledge, Amanda (Greg) Grimm, David Krueger, Michael Bosco (deceased), Nicolas (Vanessa) Peterson, Joseph Peterson, Kurt Krueger and Kelly Krueger; and their great-grandchildren, Madelyn Marquardt, Aubrey, Fiona and Brielle Buresh, Levi Peterson, Austin Rutledge, and Alexandria, Kinnick and Gavin Grimm.