Elgin Lafrenz

Elgin Bud Lafrenz, 95, of Marshalltown, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at Southridge Nursing and Rehab Center, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa .Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2015, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family. For condolences or questions please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bud and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. Elgin John Lafrenz was born on September 23, 1919, in Marshall County, Iowa. He was the son of Louie H. and Gertrude D. (Ehler) Lafrenz. He attended Laurel Consolidated School kindergarten thru 12th grade, graduating with the class of 1936. He lived east of Laurel until March of 1937, moved east of Haverhill until March of 1941, and then to the south edge of Laurel. Bud served our country honorably in the United States Army from 1944 until 1946 during WWII. Elgin earned Presidential Citation Unit Medal, Combat Infantry Medal, and the Bronze Star with 3 stars. He earned honors during the Battle of the Bulge, Crossing the Rhine River, and Central Germany Medals, and the French Croix de Guerre Fourrageree. He was a Sharp Shooter for MI Rifle, and a Marksman for Machine Gun, and 57 mm anti-tank driver; Bud was also recognized with European Campaign Medal and Ribbons, Victory Medal and Ribbons, good conduct Medal and Ribbons, German Occupations Medal and Ribbons, German Occupation Medal and Ribbons, WWII Commemorative Medal and Ribbons, and the final Ruptured Duck-Lapel Pin. He earned his T/5 rating for Jeep Driver, 57 mm snit tank truck Driver, 2 ton Truck Driver and Typist at Military Police Headquarters. On June 17, 1949, Bud was united in marriage to Margarete D. Bach and lived on the farm east of Laurel until retirement in 1981, and then moved to their home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Elgin and Marge were fortunate as they got to travel to every state in the United States, parts of Canada and Mexico, 3 Islands in Hawaii, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, and England. Elgin was very proud of two personal achievements: playing Van Meter High School in the Sectional Tournament against Bob Feller, Iowas Greatest Fastball Pitcher and playing in the Armys Softball Tournament at Soldiers Field, Bamberg , Germany, while 50,000 service members watched in Hitlers large stadium in 1945. Left to cherish Buds memory are his children: Kenneth and Shirley Lafrenz, Karla Lafrenz , Kristy and Matt Freese, all of Marshalltown, Iowa; grandchildren: Kendra (Troy Tinius) Lafrenz, Cody Freese, and Michael (Ashley Beaty) Freese, all of Marshalltown, Iowa. Siblings: Glenn (Nancy) Lafrenz and Betty Ann Allen; and many nieces and nephews. In death, Bud rejoins his parents, Louie and Gertrude; his wife, Marg; sisters, Bernice (Marvin) Ceaser, Esther Mae (Virgil) Strand; and brother-in-law, Ernie Allen.