Zelma Letsch-Scardinia Obituary

Zelma W. Letsch Scardina March 9, 1907 - June 15, 2007. Zelma was born March 9, 1907 at Delta, Iowa, County of Keokuk (Sigourney), the youngest daughter of John and Lillie Warren, and died June 15, 2007 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was educated in Iowa Public Schools, graduated from William Penn College, Oskaloosa, Iowa, with an A.B. degree, attended the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and completed the Industrial Secretaries Course at the National School of the YWCA in New York City. She was employed as a social worker in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the Social Welfare League in Waterloo, Iowa, of which she later became Executive Director. She worked as Child Welfare Consultant for the Iowa Department of Child Welfare, whose task it was to coordinate the varied activities for children in southeastern Iowa. On August 27, 1937, Zelma married Fred C. Letsch and returned to Waterloo, Iowa where she lived until her husband's retirement, which brought them to Colorado Springs in 1949. While living in Iowa, Mrs. Letsch was vice president and secretary of the Iowa Tuberculosis Association, president of the Black Hawk County TB Association for several years, a member of the Quota Club and the Home Department of the Waterloo Women's Club. Mrs. Letsch was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs and was active in church circles, teaching the Mary-Martha Sunday School Class for 14 years. She was chairman of the Children's Division of Community Council, Vice President of the Mental Health Board, both local and state. She served several years on the Board of the YWCA, two terms as President. Zelma was a member of the B.O. Chapter P.E.O. In 1953, Zelma became a realtor and was associated with the Haley Reality Co. for 14 years and more recently, with Broker's Realty. In 1980, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Sunny Acres Corporation, serving 8 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Letsch, on March 27, 1980, and a step-daughter, Frances Parsons of Dunkerton, Iowa. Zelma is survived by a step-son, Dr. William R. Letsch and his wife Marjorie, of Escondido, California, and four step-grandchildren, and a cousin. She was formerly married to Thomas Scardina. A graveside service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, June 22, 2007, Forest Hill Cemetery, Oskaloosa, Iowa. She will be laid to rest in the Warren-Letsch family plot. A local memorial service will be at 1:00 pm, Monday, June 25, 2007 at the Medallion Retirement Community, 1719 E. Bijou St., Colorado Springs, CO.