Agnes Elaine Gottman, affectionately known as Elaine to her friends and family, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on February 19, 2024, at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield. Born on March 19, 1930, in the picturesque farmlands of Keota, Iowa, Elaine was the daughter of Ralph L. and Muriel (Fleig) Augustine.
Elaine’s formative years were spent on her family’s farm in the Valley area, south of Keota, where she developed a deep appreciation for the simplicity and beauty of rural life. The family later moved to a farm north of Batavia, where she continued to grow and flourish. She attended Hickory Ridge School and graduated from Batavia High School in 1948, Elaine ventured to Fairfield, where she began her career at Browns Shoe Fit, demonstrating a keen eye for detail and an unwavering work ethic.
Elaine’s heart found its match when she married the love of her life, Russell Hugo Gottman, on June 3, 1954, in a beautiful ceremony at the Batavia Methodist Church. The couple settled in Batavia and joyfully welcomed their children into the world. Elaine embraced motherhood with grace, maintaining her role in bookkeeping for Browns while nurturing her growing family. Her home was always filled with the bounty of her large garden, her canning jars preserving the taste of summer for the colder months.
As her children embarked on their own educational journeys, Elaine joined the team at Cardinal School as a cook, briefly working at Winfrey’s in Fairfield as well. Her love for knowledge was evident in her passion for reading and her enjoyment of crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Elaine was also a talented embroiderer, but it was the time spent with her family that she treasured above all else.
A pillar of her community, Elaine was an active and devoted member of the Batavia Methodist Church. Her faith was a guiding light throughout her life, and she lived her beliefs through her actions and her unwavering support for her family and friends.
Elaine’s legacy is carried on by her loving daughters, Cassandra Bloomquist (Michael), Brenda Morgan (Kevin), and Rebecca McDowell (Lonnie); her adoring grandchildren, Stephanie Ferrell (Mike), Stacie Warren (Michael), Scott Morgan, and Natalie Morgan (Mark); and her darling great-grandchildren, Ava, Bode, Charlie, and Oliver. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Stoner; her nephews, Mike and Jon Augustine and Doug Merritt; her niece, Tammy Arnold; and a host of other relatives and friends who will continue to feel her influence in their lives.
Elaine was reunited in death with her beloved husband, Russell, who preceded her in December 2023. She was also predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Ivan and Allan Augustine; and her sister, Ilene Merritt.
A graveside service to honor and celebrate Elaine’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Batavia Cemetery. Pastor Danny Cary will offer words of comfort and commemoration. Friends and family are invited to share memories and expressions of sympathy at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Memorials in Elaine’s honor to the Batavia Library or Cardinal A Club may be brought to the graveside service or mailed to the family at 412 North Vine Street, Agency, IA 52530.
