Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Dr. Edgar Paul Alexander
Alexander, Dr. Edgar Paul, age 82 years of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina formerly of Omaha, NE. Born May 4, 1923, died August 11, 2005. Graduate of Iowa State University in Veterinary medicine, practiced in York, NE, Villisca, IA and Omaha, NE, and served as state veterinarian for Iowa before retirement. Married Iowa State graduate, Barbara Jane “Bobbie” Reese of Des Moines, IA in 1946. Preceeded in death by: parents, George W. & Lois E. (Gilmore) Alexander, brother, William Knox Alexander, and beloved wife, Barbara.
Survived by: daughter and son-in-law, Becky Rae & John Sladek of Hilton Head Island, SC, Gwen Leigh Alexander of Ann Arbor, MI, son, Gregory Knox Alexander of Houston, TX; four beloved grandchildren, Matthew Scott Sladek and wife Piam of Marietta, GA, Bradley Alexander Sladek of Iowa City, IA, Emily Kristine Sladek of Olympia, WA, Gretchen Reese Gindorff of Atlanta, GA.
Visitation begins Saturday, August 20th at 9:00 a.m. at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Culter West Center Chapel with a Celebration of Life Service at 10:30 a.m. Graveside Service Saturday, August 20th at 3:00 p.m., Clarinda, Iowa Municipal Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to the Villisca, Iowa Presbyterian Church.
Edna Mae Everett Weaver
Edna Mae Everett Weaver, died in residence at the Villisca Good Samaritan Home, Villisca IA, September 3, 2005; 83 years and 2 months after the day she was born July 3, 1922 in Nodaway, IA. Edna was the daughter of Harold Grant Everett and Mary Edna (CeCe) Norcutt Everett.
Edna graduated in 1939 from Nodaway High School where she was captain of the basketball team, played trombone in the band and was Valedictorian of her class. She was also an active member of the United Methodist Church, Nodaway. On June 7, 1940 Edna married Harry LeRoy Weaver in Savannah, MO at the Little Brown Church in a double ceremony with Harry's sister Maxine (Mick) Weaver and Charles Stinson.
Other than several years in the 1940's residing in Hemet CA and working at Edward's AFB during World War II, Edna and Harry made their home in Villisca IA where Edna was a homemaker and mother. Edna later fed all the children in the Villisca Community Schools while working 22 years as a cook and later Manager of the school lunch program; Edna retired in 1987. Edna was a member of the United Methodist Church of Villisca and her interests, in addition to her family, included crocheting, gardening and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include daughter Linda Mae Weaver Bieber, Omaha NE with grandchildren Joshua, Missoula, MT & Hallie, Omaha; son Harvey Harold Weaver and wife, Marty Morgan Weaver, Grosse Pointe, MI with grandchildren Matthew, Mountain View, CA; Benjamin, Denver, CO; Molly, Denver, CO; and Cassie, Washington, D.C.; Sister, Wilma Everett Ellis, Stanton, CA; and cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband Harry L. Weaver (5/24/79) son, Jeffrey L. (8/30/85); her parents; Brother, James Mason Everett; and, Sister, Betty Marie Everett Johnson.
Edna was cremated and her family plans to have a commemorative service with celebration of Edna's life and intermenty alongside Harry and Jeffrey at Noble Center on a date announced later this fall to enable as many of her family and friends to attend as possible. Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca are in charge of arrangements.
ARDIS WINIFRED BRYAN
Ardis Winifred Bryan died on August 22, 2005, in Sun City Center, Florida, from complications following a stroke.
Ardis was born in Villisca, Iowa, July 14, 1922, to Emma and Gustav Froyd. She attended school in Villisca, graduating from high school in 1939. She then attended the University of Iowa, leaving after marrying Ensign C. Russell Bryan, of Red Oak, Iowa on December 26, 1944. Over the next 36 years she and her husband followed the path the Navy laid out for them, over many states and duty stations.
Ardis was a leader in caring for enlisted people and their families. In 1978 she christened the Destroyer Tender, USS Acadia (AD 42) and became a member of the United States Navy Society of Sponsors.
She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law and several brothers and sisters.
Ardis is survived by her husband, Vice Admiral C Russell Bryan, her daughter, Sidra VanNorden, her son Captain C.R. Bryan (ret.), her brothers, Russ Froyd and wife Gene, Frand Froyd and wife Katie; sisters Lillian Day, Alica Ashin, Shirley Shafton and Jini Westerlund and husband Ken; seven granddaughters: Kerry, Wendy, Holly Marie, Mersine, Clarine and Noel; and numerous nieces and nephews.
FERN LUCILLE MITCHELL
Funeral services for Fern Lucille Mitchell were held Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at the Sheridan Christian Church in Sheridan, MO, with Rev. Howard McPeak officiating. Interment was in the Sheridan Cemetery, Vanskyock Addition. Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City was in charge of arrangements.
Fern Lucille Mitchell was born on January 21, 1921 in Adams County, IA to Thomas and Florence (Ridnour) Haley; and died August 7, 2005 at her home.
Fern was united in marriage to Edwin Mitchell on March 26, 1950. To this union four children were born.
Fern was a homemaker and was a dairy farmer for over 30 years. She was a member of the Sheridan Christian Church where she taught nursery for three generations. Fern loved children and was known as grandma to more than just her own grandchildren. She also loved to garden.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Thomas and Florence; her husband, Edwin, in 2001; four brothers: Delmar, Calvin, Jim and Clyde Haley; and two sisters, Esther Travis and Leota Ambrose.
Survivors include her children: Madeline and husband Stanley Waldeier of Norwalk, IA; Carolyn and husband Larry Beggs of Tonganoxie, KS; Vern Mitchell and wife Elaine of Parnell, MO; Beverly and husband Herb VanVactor of Stanberry, MO; nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
WILDA H. SIERP
Graveside memorial services for Wilda H. Sierp will be held at the Villisca Cemetery at a later date.
Wilda H. Sierp died July 27, 2005 in Tucson, AZ. Wilda is the widow of Orie A. Sierp. She was a former resident of Villisca.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and son-in-law Wayne Fast.
She is survived by her children, Phyllis Henrich, Patricia Fast and Carl Sierp; son-in-law Walt Henrich; daughter-in-law Sue Sierp; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
R. John Swanson
R. John Swanson, age 84, of Red Oak, Iowa passed away Monday November 14, 2005 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. He was born November 22, 1920 in Red Oak, Iowa the son of Judge R.J. and Ruth (Wright) Swanson. The family moved to Villisca in 1921and John was raised and graduated from Villisca High School in 1938. He attended what is now U.N.I. in Cedar Falls for two years and spent one year in Red Oak where he took flying lessons at Red Oak Junior College under a federally sponsored program and obtained a pilots license in 1941.
He attended the University of Iowa in the fall of 1941 and had just passed his 21st birthday at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack.
In the spring of 1942 he was employed by the FBI in Washington. That fall he enlisted in the Air Force for Glider Pilot Training. That program was terminated by the Air Force and John was assigned to a Liaison Squadron as operations N.C.O. with the rank of Staff Sergeant, but not as a pilot. His squadron was attached to General Omar Bradley's 12th Army Group Headquarters from June 1944 until the end of WWII. His "one claim to fame" about which he was proud was his riding as a passenger in the back seat of an L-5 Air Force plane under the arch of the Eiffel Tower on September 9, 1944.
Upon discharge from the Air Force, R. John was united in marriage to Margaret Siebert on January 2, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from law school in Iowa City in 1948 and practiced his profession in Montgomery County continuously for the next 57 years.
John was active in civil affairs. He had served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Red Oak School Board, Lions Club, 43 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital and chairman of the board for 17 years during the period of conversion to a County Hospital and construction of the present facility. He served 22 years on the State Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield. He was president of the Southwest Iowa Bar Association one year and also served on the Iowa Supreme Court Judicial Selection Committee for one term. He was a member of the Red Oak Airport Commission for over 30 years and was Chairman the last 10 years.
R. John said many times there were three very lucky things that happened to him. One was the fact the Glider Pilot Program was terminated before he completed his training, the next was marrying his wife and; finally, that he was defeated when he sought nomination for US Congress in 1966.
R. John was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, David and William, and by one sister, Luella Woodburn. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margaret Swanson, a longtime teacher in the Red Oak School system, and by their five sons of whom they were so proud: Ralph and his wife Anne of Palo Alto, California; Benjamin of Des Moines, Iowa; Mark of Red Oak, Iowa; David of Red Oak, Iowa; and Bruce and wife Cindy of Red Oak, Iowa; grandchildren: Drew and Abby Swanson and Darcy Eitzen of Red Oak, Iowa; Leslie Dovel of Ames, Iowa; Courtney Swanson of Des Moines, Iowa; Larissa Marocco and husband Jim of San Mateo, California; and Christina Swanson of San Francisco, California; sister: Ruth Schneider of Stanford, California; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 AM Friday, November 18, 2005 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Ken Gross celebrant. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 7-8 PM Thursday, November 17, 2005 at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Foundation or the Montgomery County Historical Society.
Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald Bisbee
Gerald Bisbee 76, of Villisca, IA died Wednesday, November 16, 2005, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, IA. Gerald was born June 25, 1929, to T.R. and Lola (Keast) Bisbee in rural Macedonia, Iowa. He was nicknamed Buster as a child and was known to many of his friends and family as Buzz. Gerald graduated from Red Oak High School, and on September 10th, 1949 he married Elaine Peterson in Essex, IA.
Gerald farmed in the Villisca area for many years, was a seed corn supervisor and a real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks before retiring. He was Montgomery County Farm Bureau Campaign manager in 1964, past president of the Mills/Montgomery National Men's Cattle Feeders Association, and served as 2nd lieutenant in the Red Oak Civil Air Patrol. Gerald was a member of the Advent Christian Church in Villisca, Iowa. He was a lifetime member of the Full Gospel Business Men's Association and worked with the prison ministry in Clarinda and Rockwell City.
Gerald's most enjoyable moments were spending time with his family and friends. He took great delight in watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up.
One of Gerald's interests was his love of flying. Gerald found it gratifying to volunteer and serve with his friends in the Civil Air Patrol in search and rescue missions and in the Cadet program.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Elaine of Villisca; daughter Norma Fast and husband Larry of rural Nodaway, IA; son Dale Bisbee of Creston, IA; grandchildren- Scott Fast and wife Julie of rural Nodaway, IA; Lori Waymire and husband Patrick of Grimes, IA; Adam Fast and wife Kari of Pleasant Hill, IA; Luke Fast and wife Kimberly of Tulsa, OK; Brandi Bisbee and friend Derk Wichhart of Lincoln, NE; and Jennifer Bisbee of Tucson, AZ; great grandchildren; Paige, Allison and Ethan Fast; Madison, Jacob and Grant Waymire; and Owen Fast; brothers- Jack Bisbee and wife Pauline of rural Stanton, IA Larry Bisbee and wife JoAnn of Sugar Hill, GA; sisters- Shirley Moree and husband Denver of Atlantic, IA; Mae Orstad and husband Jim of St. Joseph, MO; and Mary Lou Shook and husband Jim of Platte City, Mo; brother in law- Wendell Peterson and wife Laurie of Port Charlotte, FA; sister in laws- Lotus Weast of Coon Rapids, MN; Pam Nelson and husband Arney of Minneapolis, MN and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 19th at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca. Burial will be in the Villisca Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Advent Christian Church in Villisca. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday evening at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca.
