Effie Abben, 92, a Waterloo resident for nearly all of her life, died Tuesday afternoon, May 17, 2016, following a stroke at Friendship Village, where she had lived for the past five years.

Fffie was born Dec. 2, 1923, in Butler County, Iowa, to Dirk and Roelfke “Rose” Diddens Abben, one of five siblings. She moved with her family to Black Hawk County when she was seven years old and attended rural schools. She later moved to Waterloo, attending West Junior High and High School, graduating in June 1941.

She then joined the work force, being employed at Bishop’s Cafeteria, Howlett Portrait Studio and Hawkeye Photo over the next 11 years. In 1952, Effie began working at Rath Packing Company. She retired in 1985 after 33 years of service.

Effie and her sister traveled around the globe, seeing the sites of such places as Israel, the Holy Land, Egypt, the Scandinavian countries, Europe, and most of the United States. Her last trip was to Australia.

She involved herself in numerous volunteer activities, including YWCA, RSVP, Cedar Valley Hospice, Kearns Funeral Home, Ascension Lutheran Church, Black Hawk County election Office (voting procedures), Gallagher‑Bluedorn Center for the Performing Arts on the UNI campus and Waterloo Center for the Arts. In April 1994, she was presented the Mayors volunteer Award.

She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran church and then became a founding member and faithful worshipper at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Effie was preceded in death by her brother, Gephard; sisters, Minnie, Kathryn “Katie” and Johanna; four half-brothers, Dirk, Edward, Ben and Ralph; three half-sisters, Charlotte “Lottie”, Hattie, and Geraldine “Gerry”; three siblings in childhood; and her parents.

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.