Elna J. Tompkins

Elna J. Tompkins

Marion

Elna J. (Rostenbach) Tompkins of Marion and formerly of Washington and Mt. Pleasant, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2025 at Unity Point/St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids after a short illness. She was 91.

Elna was born at home in Scott County, Iowa on April 23, 1933. She was the youngest of four children of William Gustav and Mary Ann (Feuerbach) Rostenbach.

She attended rural schools until it was time to go to the big city where she graduated from Davenport Central High School, Class of 1951. After High School, she put her bookkeeping, clerical, and general organizational skills to good use in the insurance industry.

Her sister, and her future husband’s sister, played matchmaker and she met Henry Edgar “Hank” Tompkins on a blind date in 1956. They were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport on June 2, 1957 and remained married until his passing 65 years later on November 30, 2022 in Washington.

She and Hank had four children: Dan, Nancy, Jane, and Bruce.

In 1959, they purchased the Burd Shoe Store in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and operated it together as Tompkins Family Shoe Store until 1990.

She was involved in a variety of activities over the years including being a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Mariners group at the First Presbyterian Church, Sewing Club, bowling league, hospital auxiliary volunteer, substitute paperboy when her kids were sick and much more. Elna was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant. When the couple moved to Washington, Elna transferred her membership to the United Presbyterian Church of Washington

She learned about sports, especially football and basketball, to be able to watch and enjoy the games with Hank when they were first married and she became an even more avid fan over time.

She and Hank took the family on many vacations over the years, eventually visiting all 50 states. She especially loved Alaska. After retirement, they made several trips to Europe as well.

Her main priorities were her husband, kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, granddogs, and an “occasional” visit to a garage sale. Later, when she was not able to get out and hit a few garage sales, she stayed in and played bingo with her friends at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington or at The Villages in Marion.

She enjoyed all sorts of sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and making a wide variety of plastic canvas items and wash cloths for her family and friends. Her house was never without some home-baked goodie, usually chocolate or rice crispy bars.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children Dan (Becky) Tompkins of Storm Lake, Jane (Chris McKenna) Tompkins of Cedar Rapids, and Bruce Tompkins of Marion; Grandchildren Clinton Knapp, Emily (Harley) Laue, Andrew Knapp, Kelsey (Garrett) Feddersen, Meredith (Mike Buse) Tompkins, Claire Tompkins, Josie Tompkins, and Jonah Tompkins; Great-grandchildren Ellie Laue, Trixie Laue, Briar Feddersen, Ivy Feddersen, Thomas Buse, and David Buse; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Elna was preceded in death by her husband Hank, her parents, her siblings (Delmar, Lois, and Wesley), and her daughter Nancy.

The funeral service for Elna will be 10:30 AM on Monday, February 3, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church, 902 South Walnut Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend Trey Hegar, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 7 PM on Sunday, February 2, at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The family will not be present on Sunday. The family will greet friends 1 hour prior to the funeral service on Monday at the church.

Those considering an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers may direct memorials to the First Presbyterian Church. On line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com.