WAVERLY - An early morning fire north of Waverly claimed the life of a longtime Bremer County woman described as a loving mother and grandmother.

The Waverly Fire Department said LuEtta Ohlendorf, 76, was killed in the blaze, which broke out in her home at 1860 Elk Road shortly before 4 a.m. A cause of the fire has not been determined.

Ohlendorf was at home with her grandson Bradley Ohlendorf at the time of the fire, according to authorities. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion just before the flames were spotted. Bruce and Nancy Gipple live nearby and woke after the loud noise.

"He woke me up. He heard just a big boom, an explosion," Nancy Gipple said.

The fire was large.

"We could see the flames above the trees for quite a while," Bruce Gipple said.

A family member said Ohlendorf slept in a chair in the living room due to her physical condition and couldn't move well. Her husband, Lawrence, was in the hospital for his own medical problems at the time of the fire.

Bob Usher, Ohlendorf's neighbor, said the couple were always friendly to everyone in the area. He said both Luetta and Lawrence had trouble moving, and had walkers to help them.

Usher said he and his wife were listed as contacts for emergency response services. They had been called a few times recently, but not the night of the fire, he said.

He said he a loud bang woke him up. He looked outside and didn't anything, so he went back to sleep.

Ohlendorf's grandson initially tried to pull her to safety, but he wasn't able to move her. A Bremer County Sheriff's deputy and a Waverly firefighter who lived a half mile away also attempted to rescue Ohlendorf, but by that time the fire was too hot, authorities said.

The deputy was treated for minor injuries at the Waverly Health Center, according to the Bremer County Sheriff's Office.

Fire Chief Dennis Happle said the department was able to get the flames knocked down in about an hour. One problem was trucking in water to fight the fire, "but we're used to that," he said.

Fire crews used temporary water containers and pumper trucks to help with the effort. The Plainfield Fire Department also provided mutual aid. Fire crews remained on the scene for several hours after the flames were knocked down. Ohlendorf's home was heavily damaged by the fire, with much of the siding gone but for one area on the northeast corner.

The State Fire Marshal's Office has been called in to help investigate the scene.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.