Esther M. Hinrichs, age 78, died Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at her home, following a sudden illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 Friday, February 9, 2007, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo with Rev. Douglas Morton officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 P.M. Thursday, February 8, 2007 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established.

She is survived by her children, Oswald Hinrichs and wife Lois of Cedar Rapids, Vance Hinrichs and wife Debra of Marengo, Gwendolyn Hinrichs Hohle and husband Philip of St. Louis, MO and Rodney Hinrichs and wife Marsha of Middle Amana; nine grandchildren, Joezette Hester (Cleo), Dathan Hinrichs (Patricia), Seth Hinrichs, Sarah Hinrichs, Tracee Hinrichs, Jodi Carlson (Casey), Aaron Hohle, Lauren Hohle and Austin Hinrichs; and a brother Henry Solbrig of Marion. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gordon in 1981, and three brothers, Arnold, Oswald and Otto Solbrig.

Esther Minnie Solbrig was born November 15, 1928 in Amana Iowa the daughter of William and Louise Rothenbuecher Solbrig. She received her education in the Amana schools and graduated from Amana High School in 1947. She attended beauty school in Des Moines. Esther married Gordon Christian Hinrichs on November 17, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marengo. The couple lived in Amana. Besides being a mother and homemaker, Esther was a beautician, bookkeeper for Gordon C. Hinrichs Construction and was a sales person at the Kitchen Sink in Amana.

Esther was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marengo and the Ladies Aid. She was a past member of the Altar Guild, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and sang in the church choir. She also was a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a Bluebird and Campfire leader. Her family was her primary interest, but she also enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting and reading.