Fae Katherine Hirsch (Philpott)

Fae Katherine Philpott Hirsch, 94, of Sioux City entered into heaven to be with her Lord on Sunday, May 11, 2008, in Sioux City.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Russell Senstad and David Zirpel officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .

Fae was born March 6, 1914, on a farm between Laurel and Belden, Neb., the daughter of Wren and Maude (Craig) Philpott. The family moved to Belden when she was a baby. Her dad operated a grain elevator and a theater. The next year, the family moved to a farm in Gregory, S.D. She did not start school until her sister was old enough to go to school with her since the walk was more than two miles through a pasture. The family later moved to another farm in Laurel, Neb., where she attended school until the eighth grade. In 1933, she graduated from high school in Hartington, Neb., then moved to Sioux City.

She met Harold Hirsch at a dance at the Roof Gardens and they were married on Sept. 28, 1934. The couple moved to Emerson, Neb., where they began their lifelong marriage of love. They joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in 1941, first going to St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for 20 years, active in LORL, Altar Guild, president of the Lutheran Service Auxiliary for two years and president of the Lutheran Women Missionary League for two years. She was referred to as the matriarch of the church.

The couple moved to Omaha for six years before returning home to Sioux City, where she worked at Coast-to-Coast for 20 years until she retired in 1987.

The couple loved to travel and had visited every state except Alaska. They loved to dance and spent many Fridays dancing together. She loved people and was known for giving out many hugs. She loved to bake and always made over 100 coffee cakes at Christmas, that she gave to her many friends. She was known for her fantastic pies and chocolate chip cookies. Everyone was a guest in her home and you could not leave until you had something to eat. She loved to play cards. Her friends say that she was a "bright and shining star" and there won't be a person who won't miss her. She loved Christ and he was always first in her life. She belonged to Lamplighters at its inception, Golden Agers, Nature Club, Red Hat Society and Senior Citizens, where she helped with Friday afternoon dances.

She will be remembered by her son, James Hirsch and his wife, Jan of Bloomington, Minn.; three grandchildren and their spouses, Linda and David Jessen of Sioux City, Russell and Vickie Hirsch of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Erik and Dina Hirsch of Redondo Beach, Calif.; six great-grandchildren, Josh and Jori Jessen of Sioux City, Krystal Smith and Brian Hirsch of Salt Lake City and Jordan and Michael Hirsch of Redondo Beach; a great-great-grandchild, Dylan Smith of Salt Lake City; a daughter-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her son, Gerald; her sister, Vera; two brothers, who died in infancy; a foster brother, Ernie Keltner; and her parents.

Memorials may be directed to Redeemer Lutheran Church.