California Obituaries, Los Angeles County

Submitted by Sally Kaleta 17 Nov 2010

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The Downey Eagle 
Friday, October 1, 1999
Vol. 7 No. 32

Ethel M. Stecklein remembered at age 98
DOWNEY-Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 1) at the Rainbow Chapel, Gate 17, 
of Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier for Ethel M. Stecklein, a Downey resident for 66 years, who 
developed a retail hardware, furniture and appliance store with her husband John. 
She was 98, born in Wisconsin, and died Sept. 27 after a four-month battle with leukemia. 
After spending 17 years on her family's farm in Wisconsin, she left for Chicago in 1918, where she worked 
for the telephone company. She then traveled west to Needles, California, where she became a "Harvey 
Girl," serving railroad travelers at the Needles Harvey House and at the Harvey House in Barstow. 
Always a country girl, she was an excellent homemaker, raised two sons while pursuing her creative hobbies 
of gardening, oil painting and ceramics. She loved to create in the kitchen by baking breads, cookies, pies 
and cakes which she would then artfully decorate. 
She maintained her flowers and garden until her death, and had three beloved chickens which kept her 
supplied with fresh eggs. She was affectionately called "Chicken Grandma" by her six grandchildren and 13 
great-grandchildren. Many of her friends enjoyed the persimmons, mandarin oranges, peaches, plums and 
avocados she grew on her mini-farm in north Downey. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, John, in 1966. 
Survivors include her two sons, John Ellsworth of St. Paul, Minnesota (and his wife, Helen), James Arlen of 
Whittier (and his wife, Ann); grandchildren Kenneth, Mark, Robb, Beth, Janine and John; and 13 great-grandchildren. 
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Whittier College.