Elaine Eleanore Buelt passed away on January 21, 2020, at Accura HealthCare. She was born to Bertha (Testroet) and John Buelt, Sr., on April 26, 1942, in Carroll, Iowa.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2021 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Lector will be Stan Buelt. Burial will be in St. Augustine Cemetery in Halbur.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Elaine’s memory may be made to New Hope Village, Carroll, Iowa, or to the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences can be left for Elaine’s family at  www.sharpfuneral.com.

Elaine was a special needs child and learning did not come as easily to her as it did to her classmates at St. Augustine’s School, Halbur. Today we would call her early education” home schooled”. However, Elaine was blessed as a young woman when New Hope Village was established and she could take the bus to school every day where she learned new skills and expanded her social world.

Over time, New Hope became Elaine’s permanent home where she was able to live in a group setting, learn life skills, and enjoy many friendships. She was also able to develop work skills and held jobs in such things as office cleaning and sorting recycling. She showed an artistic side in painting holiday ceramics and other works of self-expression.

Elaine enjoyed life. She loved wearing costume jewelry, lunching with a friend and taking mini vacations to various locations around the Midwest. Elaine was a Christian and appreciated the opportunity to attend Mass with friends and family.

Elaine did not take up much space in this world, but she brought a big smile and lots of love to the place she occupied. She was quiet and more content to listen than lead the conversation. But she could ascertain and point out some basic truths that those around may have overlooked. And she did it with the assurance that any thinking person would agree with her.

Elaine is survived by her brothers Norman, Olatha, Kansas, and Allen (Barb), Omaha, Nebraska, and sisters, Lenore Lodge of Sioux City, Carol Riesenberg, Moscow, Idaho, and Mary Johnson, Tucson, Arizona. She is also survived by brother-in-law Ron Ensley, Great Bend, Kansas, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother John and sister Diane.

Elaine and her family appreciated the kind and thoughtful care she received from New Hope Village, Accura HealthCare, and Kindred Hospice staff.