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Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst

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Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst

Birth	:	29 Nov 1895 Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	17 Nov 1996 Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Coon Rapids Cemetery, Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.8778000, -94.6678009
Description	:	Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - November 19, 1996 Deceased Name: Elizabeth Garst Elizabeth Garst, COON RAPIDS (AP) - Elizabeth Garst, who with her late husband, Roswell Garst, was the host for Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev at the Garsts' Coon Rapids farm in 1959, died at her home Sunday. She was 100. Elizabeth Garst was the last surviving member of Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Co., now part of the giant London-based ICI, founded in 1930. She accompanied her husband on many business trips throughout the world, but she wasn't along for... Read More	Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - November 19, 1996 Deceased Name: Elizabeth Garst Elizabeth Garst, COON RAPIDS (AP) - Elizabeth Garst, who with her late husband, Roswell Garst, was the host for Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev at the Garsts' Coon Rapids farm in 1959, died at her home Sunday. She was 100. Elizabeth Garst was the last surviving member of Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Co., now part of the giant London-based ICI, founded in 1930. She accompanied her husband on many business trips throughout the world, but she wasn't along for ornamentation. "The thing that's unique about her is that she really was my father's partner in business and life," her son David Garst said Sunday. During a trip to the Soviet Union, Elizabeth Garst invited Khrushchev and his wife, Nina, to visit the Coon Rapids farm. Khrushchev accepted and made a well-publicized tour of the farm Sept. 23, 1959. The visit helped thaw the Cold War, according to David Garst. "Elizabeth's contribution to world peace is immense. Her compassion and warm heart helped to melt the ice and fear caused by the Cold War. She, like Roswell, helped break down the Iron Curtain, open trade and improve relations with the U.S.S.R.," David Garst said. "She will be fondly remembered. Her death ends an era, a century of great change and much personal accomplishment." Last year, Khrushchev's son, Sergei, who was writing his father's memoirs and accompanied his parents on the 1959 trip, went to Coon Rapids to visit Elizabeth Garst. The memorial service will at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the American Legion Community Center in Coon Rapids. Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa ______________________________ Funeral services w ill be held today, Thursday, November 21 for Elizabeth Frances Garst, 100, who died in her sleep at her rural Coon Rapids farm home Sunday, November 17, 1996. Rev. Steve Hansen of the Coon Rapids United Methodist Church will officiate the 10:30 a.m. services from the American Legion Hall in Coon Rapids. Speakers will include John Chrystal, nephew and close family associate and A. Arthur Davis, Des Moines mayor and long time friend. Lula Games ill serve as pianist and Mary Bradford w ill be vocalist. Interment will be in Coon Rapids Cemetery. Serving as casket bearers will be grandchildren Jeanne Lindwall, John Kamps, Mary Bradford, Tom Kamps, Elizabeth Garst, Edward Garst, Sarah Garst, Kate Trampe, Rachel Garst, Jennifer Garst, Sam Garst, Sallee Haerr, James Garst, Tim Lee, and Amy Lee. Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst was born November 29, 1895 near Wyoming, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Mary Shimerda Henak. Elizabeth grew up on a farm near Wyoming and as a young girl attended Iowa State Normal School in Cedar Falls in 1908. She graduated from Wyoming High School in 1912 and Iowa State Teachers College (Junior College) in Cedar Falls in 1914. Elizabeth received her BA in history from State University of Iowa in 1919. Elizabeth was united in marriage with Roswell Garst on January 31, 1921. Five children were born to this union, Jane, Stephen, David, Antonia and Mary. On November 17,1996 Elizabeth died in her sleep at her rural Coon Rapids farm home at the age of 100, just 12 days from her 101st birthday. Elizabeth was the last survivor of the founders of the Garst & Thomas Hybrid Corn Co., founded in 1930. She paid the detasseling bill on the first field of hybrid seed corn the company raised. She earned this money by running a summer camp for city children, when her own children were young. Beside raising five children, Elizabeth accompanied her husband, Roswell, on sales meetings and entertained thousands of business associates. She also accompanied him on trips to the Soviet Union, Romania, Hungary and other countries in South America and the Caribbean, wherever their quest to help the world took them. When Elizabeth married, she was a teacher and went back to school each summer to perfect her skills. She taught her children and friends what she felt important in living throughout her life. It was Elizabeth who invited Nikita Khrushchev and his wife Nina to visit the Garst farm in 1959. This broke a precedent which brought wives of Soviet and American leaders into the political arena of international diplomacy. Her contribution to world peace was immense. Her compassion and warm heart helped to melt the ice and fear caused by the Cold War. She, like Roswell, helped break down the Iron Curtain, open trade and improve relations with the USSR. Elizabeth was a unique person. She always treated everyone with respect, whether a head of state or a man on the street. With Elizabeth, no one was a stranger. No one was an enemy. All were friends. She felt all people had something to contribute to mankind. This approach brought out the best in all she touched. As a result of her own energy, Elizabeth was one of the most widely known Iowa women in the world. She entertained in her home literally thousands of people, farmers, agriculturalists, educators, business and political leaders and many others. When they did not journey to the Garst farm in Coon Rapids, she visited them, not as a tourist, but as an ambassador of goodwill in support of her husband, family and country's best interest. Elizabeth was also a strong and lifetime supporter of women's causes. She was a charter member of the Coon Rapids Garden Club and the Coon Rapids Chapter of the Federated Women's Club of America, having joined in the mid-1920s in Des Moines. She also was an active supporter of ERA, Planned Parenthood and in the early days was one of only five board members of Iowa Children's Homes. As a lifetime supporter of human rights and civil liberties, even before most of us were here, Elizabeth helped in getting women the right to vote. Through her work and example, racial and religious bigotry have been substantially reduced. Elizabeth was always modest about her accomplishments. She was once nominated for an award and she said "I don't think I qualify. There are many women who have done more and are more deserving than I." She will be fondly remembered. Her death ends an era, a century of great change and much personal accomplishment. It is now time to celebrate her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roswell on November 5, 1977, by a brother Fred R. Henak and a sister Blanche Whitford. Survivors include her children: Jane Kamps and her husband, Clancy of Linden, Ca.; Stephen and his wife, Mary of Coon Rapids; David Garst of Coon Rapids; Antonia Lee and her husband Harold of London, England; and Mary Garst of Berkeley, Ca. Other survivors include her fifteen grandchildren: Jeanne Lindwall of Evanston, Il; John Kamps of Tempe, Az.; Mary Bradford of Castro Valley, Ca.; Tom Kamps of Linden, Ca.; her namesake Elizabeth Garst of Adel; Edward Garst of Coon Rapids; Sarah Garst of West Des Moines; Kate and Steve Trampe of Seattle, Wa.; Rachel Garst of Zapota, Guatemala; Jennifer Garst of Lansing, Mi.; Sam and Chris Garst of Plymouth, Mn.; Sallee and Richard Haerr of Fairfield; James Garst of Imlay, Nv.; Timothy Lee of Coon Rapids; Amy Lee of Jamaica Plain, Ma.; and ten greatgrandchildren. Also surviving are thirteen nieces and nephews: Robert and Millie Henak of Coon Rapids; Richard and Karen Henak of Flagstaff, Az.; Jerry and Janet Henak of Tonica, II.; Tom Whitford of Cedar Falls; Virginia and Bill Davis of Omaha, Ne.; John Chrystal of Des Moines; Tom and Anjean Chrystal of Scranton; Wilma Garst of Mt. Vernon; Perry and Patricia Garst of Quinton, Ok.; Ned and Nancy Garst of Rockford, II.; Rosemary and Colin Campbell of Hanover, NH.; Barbara Fell of Rockford, II.; Roger and Joyce Garst of Northbrook, II.; and all their children and grandchildren, as well as many cousins and other relative

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst's memorial?
Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst's memorial is located at: Coon Rapids Cemetery, Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA.
When did Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst death?
Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst death on 17 Nov 1996 in Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Elizabeth Frances Henak Garst's memorial?
Latitude: 41.8778000
Longitude: -94.6678009

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Roswell Garst

(1898 - 1977)

Siblings

Children

(1922 - 2017)

(1924 - 2004)

(1926 - 2006)

(1936 - 2020)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Union Township Cemetery
Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8781013, -94.6389008

2. Oak Hill Cemetery
Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9053001, -94.7200012

3. Orange Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8163986, -94.6844025

4. Old Carrollton Cemetery
Carrollton, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9233017, -94.7403030

5. Willow Cemetery
Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9067001, -94.5730972

6. Tuttles Grove Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8130989, -94.7228012

7. Highland Cemetery
Bayard, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8241997, -94.5717010

8. McCurdy Cemetery
Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9403000, -94.7649994

9. Viola Center Cemetery
Viola Center, Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8236008, -94.8016968

10. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Dedham, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8993988, -94.8210983

11. Dedham Cemetery
Dedham, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8993988, -94.8225021

12. Union Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7391450, -94.6858030

13. Seeley Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7318993, -94.6147003

14. Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery
Willey, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9783363, -94.8212204

15. Dodge Center Cemetery
Bagley, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8194008, -94.4697037

16. Scranton Township Cemetery
Scranton, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0306015, -94.5783005

17. Melville Township Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7439003, -94.8013992

18. Elba Cemetery
Templeton, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9068985, -94.9131012

19. Greenbrier Cemetery
Cooper, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9063988, -94.4218979

20. Luccocks Grove Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7619019, -94.8653030

21. Cameron Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8236008, -94.9167023

22. Moffit Grove Cemetery
Yale, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7668991, -94.4539032

23. West Lawn Cemetery
Glidden, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0649986, -94.7406006

24. Dillavou Cemetery
Kendrick Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0802994, -94.6138992