Edith Bartsch (Jirousek), mother, teacher, and bookkeeper died on May 17, 2009 at the Homestead Hospice House. She lived and worked for all 96 years of her life in Owatonna. Mrs. Bartsch had a life long commitment to education. Upon graduation from Owatonna High School with honors in 1930, she taught in one-room country schoolhouses until 1942 when she retired to raise a family. Mrs. Bartsch instilled in her children and grandchildren a love for reading and improving their lives and the lives of others through education. Her success in imparting her love of learning is attested to by the fact that all of her children and grandchildren graduated from college and four went on to complete graduate degrees in geology, environmental science, medicine and law. She also worked almost twenty years as bookkeeper and office manager for Owatonna's Firestone outlet and Oakdale Motors. When not working or caring for her family, she enjoyed flower gardening, reading, and collecting books. She wrote an autobiography as a legacy for her grandchildren. Her family will also continue to enjoy the many scrapbooks she prepared chronicling her life and the achievements of her family. Mrs. Bartsch is survived by her two sons, Curt (and Jan) of Laguna Beach, California and Noel (and Julie) of Bolton, Massachusetts, and four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Her husband, of 64 years, Harold F. Bartsch, one brother and four sisters, preceded her in death. A private family service will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home, with burial to follow at St. John Cemetery.