Grace M. Akerson, 93, of Waterloo, Iowa, died at Covenant Medical Center on Monday, October 7, 2013 of natural causes.

Grace Mary Klassen was born August 28, 1920 in Dyersville, Iowa, the daughter of John and Ella Hittenmiller Klassen.

She married Allen G. Akerson on December 31, 1941 in Cheyenne, Wyoming; he died June 21, 1983. She graduated from Dyersville High School in 1938 and college in Dubuque.

Grace taught school in Dyersville and at St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Schools in Waterloo. She was a member of St. Edward Catholic Church.

She loved playing bridge, reading, and working crossword puzzles. Grace especially loved spending time with her grandkids and she was a wonderful cook.

She is survived by her son John (Mary Ellen) Akerson of Raymond, Iowa; son Arthur (Georjanne) Akerson of Waterloo, Iowa; daughter Alyce Esposito of Colorado Springs, Colorado; daughter Jean (Tony) Peters of Waterloo, Iowa; son-in-law Duane Jennings of Waterloo; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; and her sister Kathleen Hageman of Dubuque, Iowa.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Mary Ann Jennings, son James Akerson; twin daughters Elaine and Marie Akerson, sister Margaret Smith, brother-in-law Joseph Hageman, and grandson Bradley Peters.