Ila (Tanhoff) Alesch

Ila Leone Tanhoff Alesch, was born in Clay County on April 6, 1918 to Albert and Agnes Straight Marienau. She grew up on a farm near Langdon and attended grade school at Lake Center School, graduating from Terril High School. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Ila married Verday W. Tanhoff on January 21, 1940 in Estherville, Iowa. Their first home was in Spencer before moving to California for a few years while Verday worked in a shipyard. They returned to Iowa and lived in Everly. There they spent the majority of their 39 years together except for 18 months when they owned and operated a restaurant in Sutherland, Iowa. Ila and Verday had three children. Janice, Terry and Cheryl. She was a caring and loving mother and grandmother to 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. In the earlier years she helped Verday in the restaurant in Sutherland. She was a telephone operator at the United Telephone Office in Everly for many years until it switched over from manual to dial. She was also a sales clerk at the Women's Shop and then a waitress at the Hotel and White Marlin. She was also involved with Verday (Tanny) in the operation of the Western Club. Ila was active with the Clay County Democrats in the late 50's and 60's, at one time served as Clay County Chairman and also ran for Representative against Republican incumbent, Wiley Mayne. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, bowling, playing bingo and golfing. Ila and Verday took fishing trips to Minnesota and spent many summers at their cottage at Lost Island Lake. Her children and grandchildren were frequent visitors. It was a splendid family gathering place for picnics and reunions. In September of 1985, Ila married Arnold Alesch and they moved to Graettinger, Iowa. Following Arnold's death, she moved to Royal and resided there until moving to St. Luke Lutheran Home. Ila passed away at the St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer on November 1, 2007 at the age of 89. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Verday in 1979 and Arnold in 1992; her son, Terry in 1999. She is survived by her two daughters: Janice Englert of Spencer and Ron Englert of Royal, and Cheryl Doty and her husband, Bob of Colorado Springs, CO; 5 grandchildren: Valerie Trigger and her husband, Joel of Raymore, MO, Gregg Englert and his wife, Melanie of Omaha, NE, Rhonda Lawrence and her husband, Jeff of Denver, CO, Suzanne Baker of Madison, WI and Laura Nielsen and her husband, Jeff of Berthoud, CO; 6 great grandchildren: Chris and Ashley Trigger, Hunter and Sarah Englert and Allison and Mason Lawrence; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

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