Minerva Alvarado Seehusen, the daughter of Carlos and Minerva (Martinez) Alvarado, was born September 2, 1956, in Ann Arbor, Michigan and died April 21,2024, at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa at the age of 67 years,7 months, and 19 days.
Minerva was raised in Puerto Rico in a Spanish speaking home and given all the opportunities that a tropical island could supply. Minerva was involved in girl scouts and during a scout camp in Ecuador she met girls from Iowa whom she thought were so nice and so decided to go to Iowa for college. Since she wanted to be a veterinarian, Iowa State was her choice. While attending Iowa State she met many people who would become lifelong friends as well as her future husband, Alan. She graduated with a Degree in Chemistry and Zoology in 1978, then took a job working on a dairy farm in Huxley while waiting for Al to finish college.
On March 8, 1980, she was united in marriage to Alan Seehusen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pomeroy, Iowa. They moved to a few places in Northern Iowa before settling in Atlantic, IA in 1982. Minerva stayed home to raise their 4 children and started a daycare in their home. In 1990 they bought an acreage outside Atlantic and began to fill it with all the animals they could. She planted gardens, pulled lambs, milked a cow (once), butchered chickens, chased geese, laughed with delight over their ducks, gathered eggs, raised puppies and did many science experiments with anyone who wanted to see…and some who didn’t. She also tutored other homeschoolers in the Atlantic area. As the children returned to public school in high school, she started working in the Atlantic High School as a lunch lady and eventually was placed in the H.S. Spanish class as a teacher’s aide. Minerva then transitioned to become an aide in the ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom at Washington Elementary. She was encouraged to return to college and obtain an education degree and in 2014 she received her Elementary Education degree with an endorsement for K-12 English as a Second Language. In 2013 she moved with her husband Al to plant Bethany Evangelical Free Church in Brayton IA. At that time, they moved into their present home in Exira, IA. Minerva received her Native Language Teaching Authorization in 2016 and taught High School Spanish in the Exira-EHK school system. Minerva was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in July of 2016 and sadly had to stop teaching in March of 2018. Her love of teaching and the outdoors was kept alive when James and Nicki Brown asked her to help homeschool their children. They cared for her as one of their own and made her days brighter. Minerva lived with her family in Exira who took care of her with the help of many dear friends and organized by Cindy Nichols. In March 2021, the wonderful people at Hospice of the Midwest began to assist in her care. In early December 2022, Minerva moved into the Hansen House in Harlan, IA, where she received amazing care and made more friends.
Minerva was a member of the Bethany Evangelical Free Church in rural Brayton, Iowa. She enjoyed reading, gardening, taking care of people, and holding every baby she could find. Her favorite place was in the kitchen making any dish you requested, and some you did not, just in case you were still hungry. She touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed.
Preceding her in death were her parents Carlos and Minerva and her mother-in-law and father-in-law Donald and Bertha Seehusen.
Survivors include her husband Alan Seehusen of Exira, Iowa; her children Don and wife Bethany Seehusen and their children Cai and Rexford all of Columbus, Nebraska, Annie and husband Spencer Roland and children Olivia, Grayson, and Piper all of Atlantic, Iowa, Katie Seehusen of West Des Moines, Iowa, and David and wife Torrey Seehusen and their children Leo and Micah all of Thousand Oaks, California; her sister-in-law Denise and husband Paul Jesse of Lake City, Iowa; her niece Angie and husband Lane Kalkwarf of Rockwell City, Iowa; her nephew Bobby and wife Deecy Jesse of Lucan, Minnesota; other relatives and friends.
The family will greet friends Friday morning April 26, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Bethany Evangelical Free Church in rural Brayton. The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Terry Schoenfeld on Friday morning, April 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethany Evangelical Free Church. Inurnment will be held at a later date.
The family prefers memorials to The Hospice of the Midwest in Guthrie Center, Iowa or the Hansen House in Harlan, Iowa.
