Obituaries 22 December 2017

Betty Papenheim-Biwer dies at 85

Betty Papenheim-Biwer, age 85 of Granger, formerly of Elma, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at Bishop Drumm Retirement Home in Johnston. 
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, with Fathers Ken Glaser and Mark Murphy celebrating.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Elma. 
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma with a 4:30 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service.  Visitation will continue at the Funeral Home one hour prior to the funeral mass on Friday.  Prior to services in Elma, there will be a 9 a.m. Memorial Mass at Assumption Catholic Church in Granger.  Online condolences for Betty’s family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com.  Memorials may be directed to the family.
Elizabeth Esther “Betty” Papenheim-Biwer was born February 13, 1932 in New Hampton, IA to Raymond and Elizabeth (Schwickerath) Papenheim.  She was raised near North Washington on the family farm.  Betty attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Parochial school.  Upon completing her education, Betty went on to receive her degree in teaching from UNI.  Betty taught in several country schools as well as in Dumont, Elma and Cresco.  On June 22, 1955, she was united in marriage to Joe Biwer at Immaculate Conception Church in North Washington.  The couple made their home in Elma, later moving to Arizona, then to West Des Moines. 
Betty enjoyed reading, writing, playing cards, teaching, visiting with friends and family and betting on horses at the race track.  She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Elma and will be greatly missed.
Betty is survived by her sons; Mike (Mary Kay) Biwer of New Hampton, Tom Biwer of Madrid, IA and Jim Biwer of Dallas Center, Iowa; five grandchildren Beth (Curt) Wayne of Parkersburg, Jessica Biwer of Cedar Rapids, Adam Biwer of New Hampton, Amanda Miller of Ind. and Jacob (Katie) Biwer of West Des Moines, her brothers, Paul Papenheim of New Hampton, and Gary (Linda) Papenheim of Janesville; her sisters, Jane Phelps of Rochester, Minn., Mary (Rick) Schmidt of Farmington, Minn., Norma (Bill) Pauman of DePauw, Ind. and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Elizabeth; her step-mother, Hildegard (Orthaus) Papenheim; her husband, Joe Biwer and her brother, Merlin Papenheim; sisters, Barb Thoma, Phyllis Larsen and Carolyn Papenheim and daughter-in-law, Cindy Biwer.

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