Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
JOSEPH WILLIAM SWIETLIK
Joseph William Swietlik was born April 14, 1934, at Mount Ayr, Iowa to Frank and Viola (Cook) Swietlik and departed this life on February 6, 2002, at the age of 67 years, nine months and 23 days.
Joe moved to Chicago, Illinois with his parents at the age of three. He grew up in Chicago through most of his teenage years, returning to Mount Ayr during the summer to work with his uncle, Glenn Pottorff.
From 1952 to 1955, he served with the U.S. Marines in the Korean Conflict.
In 1956, he was married to Nola Lavon Adams and to this union was born four children: Debra, Steven, Teena and Nancy.
He was a very mechanical minded person and could fix most anything. He was a great husband and father and a great provider, never missing a day of work.
He worked for Smith Oil Company for 35 years doing many jobs, mainly a propane truck driver. For the past three years he has been employed with Gerold's Plumbing.
He enjoyed fishing and watching TV. He also enjoyed foot races with his grandchildren and until recently had won most of the time.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a number of aunts and uncles.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nola, of Mount Ayr; three daughters, Debra Siedlemann and husband Ron of Milford, Nebraska, Teena Church and husband Ron of Tescott, Kansas and Nancy Bohannan and husband Scott of Corning, Iowa; one son, Steven Swietlik, and wife Sandy of Tingley, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Shanna Spurr and husband Jayson, Elizabeth Siedlemann, Brittany Bohannan, Amanda Bohannan, Kelsey Church, Jessica Swietlik, Brandon Church, Tyler Church, Ryan Bohannan and Jeremiah Swietlik; one great-grandson, Dylan Spurr; one sister, Pat Piecuch of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; one brother, David Swietlik of Bartlett, Illinois; a half brother, Richard Swietlik in Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 9, 2002 at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Phil Campbell officiating. A eulogy was given by Randy Smith. Casketbearers were Charlie Fletchall, Lyle Main, Marvin Woollums, Bob Pottorff, Malcolm Eighmy and Dean Frost. Honorary pallbearers were Brittany Bohannan, Ryan Bohannan, Amanda Bohannan, Brandon Church, Kelsey Church, Beth Siedlemann, Tyler Church, Jessie Swietlik, Jeremiah Swietlik and Shanna Spurr.
Military rites were conducted by Ringgold Post #172 American Legion.
Joseph was laid to rest in the Marshalltown Cemetery, Benton, Iowa.
ORVILLE ANDERSON
Orville Eugene Anderson, age 54, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, died February 9, 2002, upon arrival at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr.
Services were held Wednesday, February 13, 2002, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Reverend Phil Campbell officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sioux City, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Doyle Campbell, Earl Brand, Charlie Zollman, Rod Neely, Herman Tipton and Harvey Roach. Military honors were given by Ringgold Post #172 American Legion.
Mr. Anderson, son of Mary Ruth (Golay) and Orville Anthon Anderson, was born January 9, 1948, in Sioux City. He graduated from high school in Washington Springs, South Dakota.
On April 27, 1991, he married Lisa Marie Yaw in Mount Ayr. He lived most of his adult life in Mount Ayr and worked as an automotive body repairman. He served in the U. S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Lisa Anderson of Mount Ayr; a daughter, Jennie Anderson of Independence, Missouri; and his father, Orville A. Anderson of Tingley, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his mother and infant son, Leland Eugene Anderson.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
VINCEL L. ELDER
Vincel L. Elder, age 87, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away February 15, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born in 1915 in Ringgold county, Iowa.
Vincel spent most of her life in Des Moines. She was retired from being a secretary at the Des Moines Register and Tribune. She was a member of the Glen Echo Christian Church, the Des Moines Register and Tribune 20 Year Club, Amateur Radio Lunch Bunch and VFW Auxiliary. She also did the vocal trio advertising for AIB at WHO studios.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Stewart Elder.
She is survived by a son, William C. Elder of Garden Grove, California; a daughter, Barbara L. Bellizzi of Des Moines, Iowa; ten grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Denzil Waugh of Benton, Iowa.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 23 at the Glen Echo Christian Church with burial at Highland Memory Gardens.
ROSALIE LOUTSCH
Rosalie Loutsch, age 62, of Oyens, Iowa, died Saturday, February 23, 2002, at her home near Oyens.
Rosie was born June 6, 1939 in New London, Wisconsin, the daughter of James and Jeannette (Jarvais) Lehman.
She was raised in Bear Creek, Wisconsin until the age of three when she moved with her family to Minneapolis, Minnesota. When she was eight years old she moved with her family to Dundas, Minnesota and she attended Bethlehem Academy at Fairbault, Minnesota from which she graduated in 1957.
She then attended Briar Cliff College at Sioux City, Iowa where she met her husband, William Loutsch, of LeMars, Iowa. They were married on June 27, 1959, in Northfield, Minnesota. They made their home near Oyens where they farmed until retiring on the farm in 1999.
Rosie was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church and the Church Guild, Christian Mothers and Northwest Iowa Deanery. She enjoyed her grandchildren, sewing, baking, gardening and traveling. Her last project was putting the St. Catherine's Church Centennial cookbook together.
Rosie is survived by her husband, William of Oyens; five sons and their wives, William J. and Vonnie and their children Becky, Megan and James, Mark and Lori and their children Adam, Melissa, Samantha, Jack and Brooke, Jerry and Tracy and their children Courtney and Jacob, all of LeMars, Michael and Renee of Sioux City and Matthew and Susan and their daughter Marissa of Oyens; three daughters, Jeannette Loutsch of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Maggie Loutsch and friend Roberto Martinez-Ochoa, both of Dakota City, Nebraska and Elizabeth and her husband Ron Schafer and their children Abbey and Elsie, all of Mount Ayr, Iowa; two brothers and their wives, James H. and Barbara Lehman of Rochester, Minnesota and Gary and Beth Lehman of Chanhassen, Minnesota; and one sister, Judy and her husband Kenny Kaul of Northfield, Minnesota.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Jeannette Lehman.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Oyens with Reverend Randy Schon and Monsignor Nicholas J. Ruba officiating. Casket bearers were Andy Fiedler, Pete Kaul, Chris Lehman, Adam Loutsch, Eric Mitchall and Don Schmieg.
Rosie was laid to rest in St. Catherine's Cemetery, Oyens.
Memorials may be given to Hospice or Siouxland Regional Cancer Center in Sioux City.
Fisch Funeral Home of Remsen, Iowa was in charge of the arrangements.
ELVINA MAE SHEETS
On December 24, 1918, a daughter Elvina Mae (Peterson) was born to Harry H. Peterson and Minnie Kohnlechner Peterson in Union county, Iowa. Elvina passed away at the Osceola Nursing and Rehab Home in Clarke county, Iowa on February 18, 2002, at the age of 83 years.
Elvina lived in Union and Ringgold counties and attended most of her school years in Union county schools.
On January 15, 1949, Elvina was united in marriage to Arther LeRoy Sheets in Afton, Iowa, and four children blessed this union: Gary, Donald, Mary and Elva.
Elvina moved to Osceola, Iowa to raise her family, then worked as a cook at the Clarke Community elementary school for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1982.
Through the years, Elvina enjoyed many things including cooking, canning, embroidering, quilting and gardening, but most of all Elvina enjoyed spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren.
Elvina was preceded in death by her parents; husband LeRoy; daughter Mary; son Donald; sister Waunita; two brothers, Rocarol and LeRoy; and a grandson Daniel Sheets.
Elvina leaves behind to cherish her memories her two sons, Gary Sheets and his wife Leila of Havre, Montana and Elva Sheets and his wife Debbie of Osceola; six grandchildren: Mark Sheets and wife Jenny and David Sheets of Chicago, Illinois, Matthew Sheets and wife Jenn of Kansas City, Missouri, Trudy Chittum and her husband John of Havre, Montana and Bryan Sheets and Justin Sheets of Osceola; nine great-grandchildren: Stephine, Brandon, Erica, Macayla, Taylor, Tyler, Austin, Nathan and Johnathan; three brothers: John Peterson and wife Lila of Osceola, Henry Peterson of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Clifford Peterson and wife Mildred of Murray, Iowa; two sisters, Leota James and husband Paul of Murray and Leona Holland of Murray; sister-in-law Norlene Sheets of Osceola; as well as many other relatives and a host of friends and neighbors.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 23, 2002, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with Pastor Chuck DeVos officiating. Pennie Gonseth was the organist and Terry Smith the soloist. Casket bearers were Mark Sheets, Bryan Sheets, David Sheets, Justin Sheets, Matthew Sheets and John Chittum.
Interment was in the Murray Cemetery, Murray.
LARRY E. GILE
Larry E. Gile, age 54, of Creston, Iowa, died of complications from cancer Tuesday, March 27, 2002, at his home.
Services were held Saturday, March 30, 2002, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston with the Reverend Vincent Dicks of Minot, North Dakota officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery at Quincy, Iowa.
Mr. Gile, son of Melba Eileen (Chadwick) and Charles Fredrick Gile, was born August 12, 1947, in Davenport, Iowa. He moved to Creston at age five. He graduated from Creston high school in 1965. On July 1987, he married Sharon Jane (Dicks) Best at Rainbow Park in Creston.
He worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation since age 18 as a surveyor, inspector and office personnel for a total of 36 years. He was a Boy Scout leader, volunteer firefighter and an EMTA (emergency medical technician and ambulatory).
Survivors include his wife Sharon Gile of Creston; a daughter Barbara (husband Todd) Thompson of Des Moines, Iowa; three sons, James (wife Karen) Best of Creston, Robert Best (friend Bev Hysell) of Van Nuys, California and Steven (wife Jill) Best of Indianola, Iowa; a brother Charlie (wife Helen) Gile of Cromwell, Iowa; six sisters, Sandra (husband Charles) Camp of Des Moines, Patricia (husband Allan) Hall of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Connie (husband Robert) Filter of West Des Moines, Karen (husband Wayne) Peterson of Grand River, Iowa, Gloria (husband Roy) Grubb of Osceola, Iowa and Vicki (husband Rodney) Zollman of Mount Ayr, Iowa; five sisters-in-law, Helen Still of Omaha, Arkansas, Jeanette Kelly of Des Moines, JoAnn (husband Dave) Farmer of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Twylla Dicks of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Bev Dicks of Villisca, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, Vernon (wife Sandy) Dicks of Nekoosa, Wisconsin and Vincent (wife Patti) Dicks of Minot, North Dakota; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers-in-law, Victor and Verlin Dicks, Don Rurode, Andy Still and Arthur Franke; and a sister-in-law Roberta Rurode.
Memorials may be directed to the United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Creston.
VIRGINIA MARTIN GRIMES
Virginia Martin Grimes, known by many as "Ginny", quietly passed away on March 23, 2002 in Fortuna, California at the age of 81.
Ginny was born September 25, 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas. She moved to California in 1941 and worked at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California.
She was united in marriage on August 22, 1953 to Charles T. "Tolly" Grimes in Reno, Nevada. They made their home in Rancho Cordova, California where they raised two daughters, Debbie and Cindy. Upon the death of her husband, Ginny moved to Humboldt County, California in November of 2000. In Fortuna, California, she lived at the Hanson Care Home and most recently at St. Luke Manor.
Ginny is survived by her daughters, Debbie Berliner and her husband Joe of Fortuna, California and Cindy Miles and her husband Mike of Bowie, Maryland; and one grandson, Aaron Berliner of Fortuna, California.
Graveside services were held Thursday, March 28, 2002, at Oakland Cemetery in Shannon City, Iowa with Reverend Peter Brantner officiating. Casket bearers were Joe Berliner, Aaron Berliner, Mike Miles, Charles Grimes and Dan Wichhart.
Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
ROBYN LUCILLE MAY
Robyn Lucille May, daughter of Floyd and Sadie (Powell) Corll, was born December 1, 1912 at Diagonal, Iowa. She departed this life March 25, 2002 at the home in Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, at the age of 89 years, three months and 24 days.
Robyn's family moved to the rural Mount Ayr area where she received her elementary education at Hazel Glenn school and continued on to graduate from Mount Ayr high school. She then became the teacher at Knowlton, Iowa and enjoyed her students, looking forward to their visits throughout the rest of her lifetime.
On December 31, 1932, she was united in marriage to Michael Arthur May at Kansas City, Missouri. The couple farmed for 12 years in the Kellerton, Iowa area. Robyn worked at Pollard's Grocery in Kellerton and Waye Grocery in Lamoni, Iowa during this time. Later in life, Robyn moved into the town of Kellerton, last residing at the Sunnyview Apartments. She cherished the friendships made there.
A kind and loving wife, she was always willing to lend a helping hand to everyone. She took great pride in her home and enjoyed time spent with relatives and friends. Later in life, she especially liked attending her great-nephews and nieces' ballgames and activities and going on trips and picnics with all.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Art; a sister Fern Reynolds; two brothers, Donald and William Corll; a brother-in-law Jack Terwilliger; and a great-niece Somer Barnes.
Robyn is survived by her brother Lester Corll; two sisters, Lola Terwilliger and Nola Landphair and husband Wilbur, all of Mount Ayr; a brother-in-law Junior Reynolds of Mount Ayr; two sisters-in-law, Susie Corll of Mount Ayr and Louise Corll of Ankeny, Iowa; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 29, 2002, at Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Rick Hawkins officiating. Musicians were Justin Akers and Martha Landphair. Casket bearers were Travis Barnes, Shannon Barnes, Brent Means, Clint Means, Aaron Westcott and Ron Landphair. Honorary pallbearers were Chandra Henrichs, Nicole Opfer, Robyn Means, Tracy Barnes and Tessa Barnes.
Robyn was laid to rest in the Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton.
