Sadie McFarland

Sadie McFarland, age 89 of New Hampton, Iowa died Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at her home. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 17, 2012, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Pastor Glenn Smith officiating. Carol Anderson will be the organist accompanying the congregation singing, 'My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less', 'Amazing Grace' and 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus'. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with Neil Whitney, Tommy Babcock, Brett Crawford, Dick Crawford, Bob Munson and Jeff Munson as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Cory Troyna, Ryan Troyna and Heather Uhlenhopp. Friends may greet the family 3 - 7 p.m. Friday, November 16, 2012, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Sadie Luella McFarland was born February 16, 1923, on a rural farm home West of Jacksonville five corners in Chickasaw County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Arthur Edwin and Ida (Olson) Cutsforth. She was baptized and confirmed at the Saude Lutheran Church in rural Lawler. She received her schooling at the Jacksonville Country School #13, which was near her family’s home. While attending high school Sadie and her only sister Lola, rented a second floor room from a family in town. She was a 1941 graduate of the New Hampton High School. Sadie's mother always called her 'Dolly'. Her father had a sister named Sadie Luella who died as a young child and she was named after her, thus they called her 'Dolly'. Following her graduation she worked as a clerk and bookkeeper for J.C. Ruggles Grocery Stores. Later for Sandusky Jewelry Store prior to working in the County Treasurer and County Auditor offices. She also became Deputy Auditor and Deputy Treasurer and received her appointment as acting Chickasaw County Treasurer, a position she held for 38 years, until retiring in 1987. Sadie married Donald W. Gilbert of Cresco, Iowa on January 19, 1944, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. On June 22, 1944, he entered the European Theatre of operations in the 15th Air Force. He was shot down August 7, 1944, as a B-24 Pilot over the Palista Oil Fields in Romania. They were married only a short time and Sadie became a widow. Sadie had known Dan W. McFarland most of her life. His family lived on the neighboring farm where Sadie grew up. Dan was deployed for four years during World War II, and on his return asked the love of his life, Sadie Cutsforth to be his wife. He told his children in later years, 'I always knew she was the one'. They were united in marriage September 14, 1946, at the Saude Lutheran Church, rural Lawler, Iowa. Dan drove truck and worked with Pete Winters hauling cattle. Sadie was 34 and Dan was 40 when they welcomed their first daughter Debra and just three years later, Diana joined their family. They loved to dance and traveled near and far to enjoy them. After 29 years of marriage Dan died suddenly of a heart attack. Sadie again was a young widow with teenage daughters to raise. Having two husbands that served in the military, Sadie was a very active member of the Legion Auxiliary, holding every office over 67 years of membership. She also was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Hampton as well as the Ladies Aid. In 1997, Sadie was honored by the Republican Party for being a committed lifelong Republican. They recognized her accomplishments in the County Courthouse and in 1941 being instrumental in organizing the Chickasaw County Republican Women. She was the Second District Republican Women Secretary. She also was the first Vice President of the Iowa County Treasurer Association. She had also served on the Republican Central Committee and many other civic organizations. After her retirement in 1987, Sadie became active volunteering with her church, Redeemer Lutheran, the Senior Center and nearly 20 years at the Carnegie Cultural Center. Her daily routine also included being part of the 'Lunch Ladies'. The group would meet every weekday for lunch and 'therapy', sometimes lasting until 3:00 p.m. The love of her life was always her children and grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and will be remembered for her smile and bright attitude and determination dealing with adversity in her life. Sadie is survived by her two daughters, Debra (Denton) Uhlenhopp of Aplington, Iowa and Diana (Joe) Gebel of Lawler, Iowa; three grandchildren, Cory (Jenny) Troyna of Aplington, Ryan (Heather) Troyna of Waterloo and Heather Uhlenhopp of Waterloo; 5 great grandchldren, Carly Troyna, Carson Troyna, Ciara Troyna, Carissa Troyna and Kaydence Troyna; 5 step-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Don; her second husband, Dan on March 9, 1975; one sister, Lola Munson Ptacek.