Hilda (Taylor) Souer

Hilda Ann Taylor Souer passed away on August 12, 2018 at Keokuk County Hospital.  Hilda was born to Dewey Otis and Floy Dickson Taylor on November 22, 1926 near Delta, Iowa.  She married James Andrew Souer on June 22, 1949. Jim preceded her in death on March 29 1996.   She graduated from Sigourney High School in 1945.  She spent all her years on the family farm north of Delta except for a short time at William Penn College in Oskaloosa and Iowa State University.   She was active in her community and was most proud of the KIDS (Kids in Delta are Special) program started with Jim at the Delta Christian Church in 1980’s.   She also started the Catacomb Shop out of the church and helped many families with a hand up not a hand out by making low or no cost clothing and other items available when needed.   She was the local news correspondent for the Patriot Chronicle, Sigourney News Review, Ottumwa Courier, and the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  She worked for the Keokuk County Extension Service as the Youth coordinator making certain the 4-H program and members benefited from her knowledge for about 20 years.   She spent many years as a judge for the 4-H Expo after retiring and was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame at the Iowa State Fair in 2002.  When anyone would ask about her devotion to the 4-H program her reply was that she” bled green”.  Other community activities she was involved in included Warren Township Farm Bureau activities, Women’s Club; Garden Club; CWF; Coordinator for blood drives and community wide Halloween and other holiday parties.

She and Jim were blessed with three girls; Ellen (Ron, deceased in 2010) Wagler and Nancy Souer of Delta and Elaine (Galen) Heisdorffer of Ottumwa.  Their grandchildren include Ross Heisdorffer (deceased in 1995) Eric (Jesi) Heisdorffer of Ottumwa; Brian Wagler of Delta; Christine Wagler (John Hatley) of Oskaloosa; Debra Potter of Beacon; Cathy (Gary) Cochenour of Arbela, MO; and Donna (Austin) Brown of What Cheer as well as great-grandchildren Blake & Brooke Brown; April, Lily and Kaitlyn Potter; Maci Hatley and Gary Cochenour.

Funeral Service- Thursday, 10:30 a.m. at the Delta Christian Church
Visitation - Wednesday, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Holm Funeral Home
Burial - Spingfield Cemetery near Delta

The family has asked  memorials go to Delta Christian Church or Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Keokuk County.