Ethel E. Abkes, 79, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, June 16, 2008, at home of natural causes.

She was born February 20, 1929, in rural Cedar Falls, daughter of Wesley and Ethel Garton Blum. She married Virgil Abkes on November 25, 1949, in Iowa Falls. He preceded her in death on August 20, 1983.

She was employed in the food service department at the University of Northern Iowa from 1966 to 1999. She was a warder with Order of the Eastern Star, Cedar Falls Chapter No. and also volunteered with Sartori Memorial Hospital.

Survived by: a daughter, Vicki (David) Combs of Cedar Falls; three sons, Clayton of Colorado, Douglas (Ione) of Waterloo, and Bruce (Tracie) of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Robert Blum of Waterloo and Roger (Ruth) Blum of Veradale, Washington.

Preceded in death by: her parents; her husband; three brothers, Wesley Blum, Jr., Harold Blum, and William Blum; and a sister, Caroline Johnson.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, with burial in Fairview Cemetery. Public visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home and for one hour before services Friday at the church.

Memorials: may be directed to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or the church.

Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com [1].

Copyright Waterloo Courier, June 19, 2008, page A11.