Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
VIOLET LEOAN GROSE
Violet Leoan Grose died on March 25, 2001 at Creston Nursing and Rehab Center. Services will be on Thursday, March 29, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Ellston, Iowa. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 28 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr.
Violet was born on June 28, 1907 to George and Molly (Brown) Trower in Grand River, Iowa. She graduated from Ellston high school in 1927. She received her teacher's certificate from Clarinda. She taught school in the Ellston and Beaconsfield area for six years.
On August 5, 1931 she was united in marriage to John Grose of Tingley, Iowa. They farmed in the Ellston area for 50 years.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Ellston, Rebekah Lodge and Tingley Kitchen Band. She served on the Iowa Southern Trolley advisory board. She attended the Tingley Meal Site and was active in the Kitchen Band for 20 years. Violet placed fourth in the State Fair Senior Spelling Contest in 1985.
She enjoyed traveling and was proud of the fact that she had visited all 50 states. Violet lived on the farm near Ellston until four years ago when she moved to Creston.
Violet treasured her family throughout the years. She is survived by four children: Duane and wife Sylvia of Glenrock, Wyoming, Roger and wife Janet of Perry, Iowa, a daughter Gloria Reed of Le Mars, Iowa and Richard and wife Susan of Creston; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by John on October 7, 1981; her parents; one brother Gerald Trower; one sister Gladys Babbit; and son-in-law Joe Reed.
Pastor Jeff Flagg will officiate the funeral service. Mrs. Darlene Morgan is the organist. Casket bearers are Kevin Reed, Chris Grose, Steve Grose, Kenny Grose, Donnie Grose and Dan Krall. Burial will follow at the Ellston Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Ellston United Methodist Church or the Tingley Meal Site.
LESTER SICKELS
Lester Sickels, the fourth child of EG and Belle Nye Sickels, was born June 27, 1909 in Worth county, Missouri and departed this life March 21, 2001 at Mount Ayr Health Care
Center where he had been a resident for five years.
When he was three years old the family moved to Blockton, Iowa where he began his education. At the age of nine, they moved to Ringgold county where he lived most of the rest of his life, except for the three years when he worked as a mechanic in Florida and five years in Guttenberg, Iowa.
He was married at Clarinda, Iowa on February 22, 1930 to Dorothy Louise Snethen. In 1938, while in Florida, they adopted their first child, Elizabeth Geraldine. She was later joined by Lois Gayle and twin sons, Dan Allen and Dennis Earl.
Lester was a man who loved people and an adventure. He had a dream to see what was over every hill. He and Dorothy were privileged to travel many places together. During his five years as a driver for Hilton Mobile Home in Guttenberg, he logged over a quarter million accident-free miles. At the time of his baptism into the First Christian church in Mount Ayr when he was 88 years old, he commented that there was only one more hill that he wanted to climb to see what was on the other side.
For three years, he was the championship cornpicker in Ringgold county and competed in state contests where he placed third at the 1930 contest at Shenandoah, Iowa.
Lester lived a life of service to others. He was a member of local school boards for 13 years before being elected to the county school board for 12 years. He resigned that position when he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives for two terms. This service took place during the time there was no salary for such positions.
He belonged to the Mount Ayr Lions Club, the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Ringgold County Sheriff's Posse. He was always proud of playing a small part in getting the Ringgold County Hospital located in Mount Ayr. Following his legislative service, he was appointed to a citizen's advocacy committee which formed the fifth judicial district Correctional Board in 1979. He served on that board until 1984. He was proud to say that he knew someone in every county in Iowa and many others throughout the United States.
He was known as a master storyteller, a heritage that came from his family. He was often found examining family records and could trace his mother's written ancestry back 24 generations for his great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 64 years; infants son Dennis Earl, granddaughter Lisa Jane Buckner and great-granddaughter Christine Lynn Post; sister Cleta Pyle; and brothers, Rex, Cecil, Roy, Dean, Duane, Earl and Jim.
Left to mourn his passing are daughters, Jeri Pomi and husband Don of Fallon, Nevada, Gayle Buckner of Des Moines; son Dan Allen Sickels; six grandchildren, Steve Pomi (Julie) of Reno, Nevada, Mike (Jeannie) Pomi of Sparks, Nevada, Susan Buckner Post (Allen) of Woden, Iowa, Tim Buckner of Des Moines, Shawn Buckner (Renee) of Grimes, Iowa and Scott Sickels.
He particularly enjoyed his 10 great-grandchildren and enjoyed following their rodeo achievements in Nevada and seeing the little Iowa ones on a regular basis. They are Whitney and Tory Pomi of Sparks, Nevada, McKenzie and Jake Pomi of Reno, Nevada, Gregory, Amanda and Kyle Post of Woden; Caitlin and Cody Buckner of Indianola, Iowa and Brittney Buckner of Grimes.
He is also survived by one brother Don Sickels of Mount Ayr; one sister Viona Forst of Des Moines; seven sisters-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 24, 2001 at First Christian Church in Mount Ayr with Reverend John Brillo officiating. Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Mary Trullinger and Melanie Knapp. Casket bearers were Tim Buckner, Shawn Buckner, Allen Post, Ronald Sickels, Mike Sickels and Steve Sickels.
Honorary pallbearers were Mike Pomi, Steve Pomi, Scott Sickels, Bill Sickels, Gene Sickels, William Glenn Sickels, Mack Sickels, Donald Woods, Dennis Dobbs, Bob Sickels, John Sickels, Sam Sickels, Larry Sickels and Gary Sickels.
Lester was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
CORALYN LORRAYNE SWANK
Coralyn (Lorrayne) Swank was born May 12, 1918 on a farm northwest of Diagonal, Iowa. She passed away March 24, 2001 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr at the age of 82 years, 10 months and 12 days.
Lorrayne was the only child of Arthur and Gladys Simpson Clayton. The family moved from the farm into Diagonal when Lorrayne was a young girl. She attended grade school in Diagonal and was baptized when she was a young girl at the Presbyterian Church there. She attended and graduated from Diagonal high school in 1935.
On March 19, 1938 Lorrayne and William Swank were united in marriage at Osceola, Iowa, and at that time they moved to a farm east of Diagonal. They were never privileged to have children of their own but enjoyed the many nieces and nephews who spent time with them. They later moved to a farm near Lamoni, Iowa and lived there 17 years.
In 1963 they moved to what is known as the home farm where they took care of Bill's father Lewis for 12 years. They continued to live on the farm until July of 1998 when they moved into Mount Ayr, Iowa. They spent 63 happy years of marriage together.
At Lamoni, Lorrayne was a faithful member of a neighborhood club where she held many offices. She used to bake and decorate birthday and wedding cakes which she enjoyed doing and was very good at. She also spent many hours crocheting and making potholders and various crafts.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Arthur and Gladys Clayton; parents-in-law, Lottie and Lewis Swank; four brothers-in-law, Robert, Raymond, Lyle and Glen Swank; sister-in-law Wilma Swank; and nephew Donald Swank.
She is survived by her husband William; brother-in-law Lawrence Swank of Mount Ayr; four sisters-in-law, Georgine Swank of Mount Ayr, Margaret Swank of Lenox, Iowa, Marion Swank Hervey of Keosauqua, Iowa and Ina Swank Chapin of Mount Ayr; and the many nieces and nephews include, Mary Higday and companion Jay Bowen, Merle Swank and wife Barb, Lyle Swank Jr. and wife Mary, Linda Swanson and husband Bob, Carolyn Wilson and husband Wayne, Leonard Swank and wife Charlotte, Elvin Swank and wife Cathy, Lila Stewart and husband Dan, Larry Swank and companion Deb, Shirley Hightshoe and husband Dave, Steve Swank, Rose Campbell and husband John, Gary Swank, Cathy Coulson and husband Jim, Kenny Swank and wife Jeanne, Frances Jackson and husband Rolland and their families.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Services were held at the Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on March 27, 2001. Services were conducted by Reverend Peter Bratner. Music was by Bill Hightshoe with Jane Thomas as organist. Pallbearers were Merle Swank, Gary Swank, Leonard Swank, Lyle Swank Jr., Steve Swank, Kenny Swank, Billy Hightshoe and Jim Coulson.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Mount Ayr. Memorials can be made to the Ringgold County Hospital.
JOE FRANCIS JUNIOR TAPSCOTT
Joe Francis Junior Tapscott, age 76 of Lamoni, Iowa, the son of Francis Emerald and Glow (Salisbury) Tapscott, was born January 8, 1925 in rural Lamoni and departed this life on March 12, 2001 at Lamoni Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lamoni.
Joe graduated from Lamoni high school in 1942. He attended Graceland College for two months before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on January 6, 1943. During the 18 and one-half months he served at sea and overseas. He had seen action in Guam and Iwo Jima. He wore the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre pin (two stars), Presidential Unit Citation (one star), Honorary Service Button, Good Conduct Medal, the Silver Star Medal, as well as the Purple Heart Ribbons.
On February 22, 1945 Joe suffered serious leg injuries while destroying two enemy Pillboxes during the Invasion of Iwo Jima. He was evacuated and spent the next 10 months in the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois. He was discharged from the service on December 21, 1945.
Joe received his bachelors degree from Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa, then spent an additional year at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
On January 8, 1949 Joe was united in marriage to Edna Clare Partington. They were married for 34 years before her death on May 15, 1983. They had no children.
Joe was a coach, principal, and teacher for 24 years. He spent two years at Patterson, Iowa, three at Mingo, Iowa, two at Villisca, Iowa, and then 17 years at Grand Valley in Kellerton, Iowa. He coached boys football, basketball, and baseball and girls basketball. It was during this time that Joe began his lifelong dream of raising cattle. He retired from teaching in the spring of 1983.
Joe married Donna Driskill on October 14, 1983. They continued raising cattle and enjoyed the experience of trying different purebred breeds.
Joe was aware of how precious life was and thankful for each day. He was generous in giving to others, as he never forgot what it was like to have little or nothing. He was honest and always strived to be fair. His students were special, they were "his kids." Donna's sons were special to him also. He thanked her often for bringing them into his life; they too were "his kids."
He was a member of the V.F.W., DAV and the American Legion. He was a baptized member of the Restoration Church.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brother Jack Tapscott.
Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Donna of Lamoni; stepsons, Steve and wife Sue of Lamoni and Michael and wife Frances-Anne and their two daughters Bethany and Gwyneth, all of Kennewick, Washington; two sisters, Arlene Chambers and her sons Scott and Tim of Hood River, Oregon and Patty Schaffter and her three sons Stu, Todd, and Danny, all of Wooster, Ohio; niece Jackie Mc-Cracken of Springfield, Missouri; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at the Lamoni R.L.D.S. Church in Lamoni, on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 with Elder Bud Atwood and Priest Don Boswell officiating.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.
Arrangements were made through the Slade - O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni, Iowa.
A memorial fund has been established by the family.
RICHARD EVRETT WADDELL
Richard Evrett Waddell was born January 7, 1917, one of 11 children to Charles A. Logan Waddell and Bertha Odessa Hammond Waddell in Mount Ayr, Iowa. He passed away on March 22, 2001 in the Ringgold County Hospital.
Richard's childhood was spent in Ringgold and Decatur counties in Iowa. He graduated from the eighth grade by taking the eighth grade examination at the end of his seventh grade year and passing it.
Growing up during the Depression, times were hard and money was scarce. Richard trapped and hunted Grand River for food and hides that might bring in a few pennies.
When Richard graduated from the eighth grade, he hired himself out as a farm hand to local farmers for room and board and a little income, often sleeping in barns or on porches, taking great pleasure when there was enough room for him in the house where it was warmer.
It was while working for a farmer by the name of John Shields that Richards met his daughter Doris and they were married on November 18, 1939 in Afton, Iowa.
Richard continued to farm in Ringgold and Decatur counties, then moved to Colorado for a few years with two children, a third born while he worked on a ranch. For a brief time, while living in Colorado, Richard worked as a switchman for the Santa Fe railroad. In 1954 they moved back to Iowa where their third daughter was born shortly after, then their last daughter in 1958.
In the late 1960's, Richard gave up farming because of his health and he worked for GoodWill Industries, then as a maintenance man in Iowa and Nebraska until moving back to Iowa for retirement.
Richard was especially proud of his children and grandchildren commenting often that he was always glad to see any of them come to visit.
He is survived by his children: Alvin of Topock, Arizona, Janice of Bentonville, Arkansas, Betty of Philomath, Oregon, Nancy of Mount Ayr, MaryAnn and husband Leroy of Moravia, Iowa; his grandchildren: Larry and Debbie Waddell, Terry and Beverly Waddell, Yvonne and Steve Gatlin, Jason Harlan, Fred Ford, Kara and Del Rasmussen, James and Beth Ford, Cliff Nelson and Alicia Nelson; great-grandchildren: Jessica, Amanda and Heather Waddell, Thomas and Shawn Gatlin, Dusty Harlan, Angelina and Baylea Ford, Eleighseea Ras-mussen, Colin Ford; three sisters, Eva Deemer, Irene Spencer and Marjorie Warnke, all of Mount Ayr; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Waddell of Creston, Iowa, Virginia Waddell of Leon, Iowa, Mary Shields, Vera Deemer and Lucille Kilgore, all of Mount Ayr.
He was preceded in death by his wife Doris; his parents; one granddaughter Angeleena Ford; and siblings, Alvin, Ray, Harry, J.R. Waddell, Opal Bayman, Pearl Gibbons and Eunice Deemer.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 26, 2001 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr with Reverend Eydie Stephens officiating. Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Mary Trullinger and Melanie Knapp. Casket bearers were Alvin Waddell, Larry Waddell, Terry Waddell, Jason Harlan, Fred Ford and James Ford.
Richard was laid to rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.
WAYNE EDWARD BARBER
Wayne Edward Barber, 61, of Osceola, Iowa, passed away Monday, April 2, 2001 at his residence. Funeral services for Mr. Barber will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 5, 2001 at Samuelson Funeral Home in Osceola.
Pastor Ted Welch will officiate the service. Honorary pallbearers are Loren Myers, Leonard Reed, Duane Iiams, Scott Peterson, Bill Trapp, Gerald Snyder, Greg Roberts and Kory Klommhaus.
Interment will be in the Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. Barber was born September 9, 1939 in Winterset, Iowa to Isabelle and Walter Edward Barber. On February 24, 1958 he married Janice E. (Hunt) Barber in West Des Moines, Iowa.
He was a farmer and lived in Grand River, Iowa for 23 years and Osceola, Iowa for six years.
He was a member of Redtick Coon Hunter Association and Madison County Coon Hunter Association.
Preceding him in death were his father Walter Edward Barber, and brother Stephen Randell Barber.
Survivors include his wife Janice E. Barber of Osceola; two sons, William E. (Bill) and wife Toni Kay Barber of Osceola, and Daniel Wayne (Dan) and wife Christie Barber of Mount Ayr; seven grandchildrn, Wayne E. and wife Sherry Barber, William DJ Barber, Shyla N. Barber, Dalton T. Barber, Casey D. Barber, Braydon D. Barber, all of Osceola, and Brooke D. Barber of Mount Ayr; one great-grandchild Wesley E. Barber of Osceola; sister Morna Rutledge and husband Bill of Des Moines, Iowa; mother Isabelle Barber of Osceola; 15 nieces and nephews and their families.
