Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Merle L. Coufal
Services: 11:00 am on Saturday, December 30, 2000 at the Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home in Vinton with a Memorial Visitation from 2:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday.
Memorials: Directed to the family.
Minister: Pastor Marvin Smith
Merle L. Coufal was born on May 30, 1938 in Cedar Rapids, the son of Leonard J. & Lillian A. (Shebetka) Coufal. Merle was raised on the family farm near CouFalls and attended country school. He later attended high school in Iowa City. Merle was united in marriage to Karen Cheney in September of 1959 and they later divorced. In his younger years Merle worked on the family farm, road construction, and drove a fuel truck for Davis Oil Co. in Ladora. Merle was also employed for 27 years at the Wilson Foods which later became Farmstead Food Co. in Cedar Rapids, and for the past 10 years he has worked for the Barb Becker Painting and Papering Co. in Vinton. Merle loved the outdoors and keeping an eye on the wildlife near his home, he also motorcycled, went fishing & boating and helped his son in the racing business. He also was a member of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters AFL-CIO Union Local P3 in Cedar Rapids. Merle’s death came suddenly at home on Monday, December 25, 2000 at the age of 62 years. His memory will be cherished by his son; Todd and his girlfriend Vickie Felton both of Victor, his daughter and her husband; Robin & Jack Ulicki of Ft. Dodge, 1 grandson; Jacob Ulicki, 2 sisters and their husbands; Elaine & Don Griffith of Indianapolis, IN & Anita & Bill Burke of Cedar Rapids. Merle was preceded in death by a son and daughter in infancy; Bryan Merle & Melody Jo, his parents and a sister Darlene C. Pennington.
Carl Francis Covington
Services: 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at the First Christian Church in Vinton, with burial at Bear Creek cemetery north of Vinton. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to service time Wednesday at the church.
Minister: Rev. David Gates and Rev. Jill Cameron.
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Carl Francis Covington was born July 4, 1905 in Garrison, Iowa, the eldest son of Samuel and Vina Geiger Covington. He was raised in the Vinton area and attended country school. On March 18, 1928 he married Nellie Ferguson at the Prairie Creek Parsonage in Vinton. Carl was a farmer most of his life and, after moving to Vinton in 1967, sold seed corn, was an avid gardener and enjoyed buying and selling at garage sales. He was a longtime member of the First Christian Church in Vinton. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nellie, in 1988, a son, Richard, two brothers, Russell and Cecil, a grandson, Steven Eldridge and a brother and sister in infancy. Survivors include two daughters, Edna (Dick) Eldridge, Vinton, IA, Shirley (Fred) De Neve, Van Horne, IA, one son, Glenn(Nelda) Covington, Temple, TX, one sister, Letha Primus, Ft. Myers, FL, eight grandchildren, Linda (Ken) Jans, Julie (Mitch) Dickson, Cindy (John) Gretteman, Dennis (Lindley) Eldridge, Mary Lund, Debbie (Paul) Henn, Kathy (BW) Ponder and Eddie( Shatana)Young, eighteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
Morris L. Eckhart
Services: 10:30 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at the Presbyterian Church in Vinton, with burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home in Vinton.
Minister: Rev. Stephen J. Bibb.
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Morris L. Eckhart was born December 22, 1948 at Vinton, IA, the son of George and Nelda Primmer Eckhart.. Morris grew up in Vinton and graduated with the class of 1967. He attended UNI and on August 30, 1969, he married Marti Milroy in Vinton. After graduating from UNI, Morris entered Drake Law School, graduating with honors in 1973. He and Marti moved back to Vinton and he joined the Boyd Milroy law firm. Morris was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, including Vinton Unlimited, Vinton City Council, Noon Kiwanis, the American Bar Association, the Iowa Bar Association and the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association. In addition to his law practice, he had been serving in recent years as a Benton county magistrate. Morris was an avid Hawkeye wrestling and football fan and was an active supporter of the Vinton-Shellsburg Community school district. Morris enjoyed boating, playing cards and working on his Christmas tree farm. He was blessed with a strong faith and strong convictions and worked hard for causes he believed in. His outgoing personality, his candidness and his wonderful gift of humor endeared him to all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his grandparents. Survivors include his wife Marti and son, Peter, of Vinton, daughter, Ann, of Des Moines, parents, George and Nelda, and sisters Ida Higgins and husband, Morris, of Vinton, Barb Dauenbaugh and husband, Larry, of Palo, IA, Debbie Larson and husband, Bill, of Iowa City, IA, Tammy Jo Eckhart-Lee and husband, Tom, of Bloomington, IN and several nieces and nephews.
Glenn Erickson
Services: 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 12,2001 at Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home in Vinton, with burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton with Military Honors. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home in Vinton.
Minister: Rev. James Blair.
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Glenn Edward Erickson was born June 23, 1925 on a farm north of Vinton to Carl and Clara Moser Erickson. He was raised in the Vinton area and attended country school. On March 4, 1943 he married Betty Mae Whitson in Vinton. He served his country in the Army during WW II. Glenn and Betty lived their married life in Vinton, where Glenn worked at Hawk Bilt for a number of years and also the city street department. He later managed the Gulf gas station and laundromat and worked for Stickle Salvage. Glenn was a member of the Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 in Vinton. His death came peacefully Sunday morning, December 9, 2001 at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty, in 1976, grandson, Aaron Lovell, two sisters, Edith Gustafson and Mabel Williams and one brother, Carl Erickson. Survivors include his four daughters; Nancy (Roger) Stainbrook, Vinton, IA, Peggy (William) Hoffman, Milan, MO, Terri(Ron) Lovell, Enid, OK, Penny (Dennis) Applegarth, Vinton, IA, two brothers, Ken (Donna) Erickson and Donald Erickson and special friend, Edna Winsor, all of Vinton, eleven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Glenn was a devoted husband and father and loved spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren.
Leola Faris
Services: 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home in Vinton, with burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Visitation will be from noon until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home in Vinton.
Minister: Rev. Rose Blank
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Leola Wilhelmina Faris was born May 4, 1911 at Alden, IA to John and Bertha Wiringa Thompson. Her family moved to Vinton and Leola attended school there, graduating with the class of 1928. On March 15, 1942 she married Walter Faris at Kahoka, MO. Leola and Walter worked in the grocery business in several eastern Iowa communities. Leola always worked outside the home and when they lived in Vinton, she worked at the Vinton Produce and at the Green Giant Canning Company. In 1975 the couple moved to the Tipton/Clarence area. Leola enjoyed bingo, watching sports and worked with the Tipton Meals on Wheels program for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Walter, in 1978, her twin sister, Leora Primmer, and two brothers, Robert and William Thompson. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Wenndt, Clarence, IA, five grandchildren, Kevin (Carol) Wenndt and Kelly (Craig) Wenndt, Clarence, IA, Kim (Ron) Shebetka, Stanwood, IA, Kip Wenndt, Davenport, IA, Kerry Wenndt, MI, and six great grandchildren.
Evelyn Ferguson
Services: 10:30 A.M. on Monday, November 12, 2001 at the Overton-Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home in Vinton, with burial at the Urbana Cemetery in Urbana. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home in Vinton.
Minister: Rev. Larry Rodgers.
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Evelyn Alice Floyd Ferguson was born July 26, 1908 at rural Vinton to "J.D." and Cora Wyckoff Floyd. She attended school in Vinton, graduating from Lincoln H.S. On September 25, 1929, she married Clark Ferguson and they were married for over fifty years until his death on September 25, 1981. She married Guy Ferguson on July 2, 1983 and he preceded her in death on December 10, 1989. Evelyn lived her entire life in Vinton, where she taught school for a few years, worked at the Braille School and Virginia Gay Hospital before retiring from the meat department at the Me Too food store. Evelyn loved her many pet dogs over the years. Evelyn's health had failed recently and her death came Thursday, November 8, 2001, at Sunnycrest Nursing Center in Dysart at the age of 93 years. Besides her husbands, Clark and Guy, she was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Darlene, two brothers, Lawrence and Malin Floyd and two sisters, Cora Belle Gates and Dora Delle Floyd. She is survived by two sons, Robert Ferguson and his wife, Sue, of Napa, CA, James Ferguson and his wife, Joyce, of Bakersfield, CA, two daugthers, Dorothy Knaack and husband, Jim, and Doris Pippert and husband, Fred, all of Vinton, one sister, Jean Gillespie of Des Moines and several grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren.
Richard C. Fiester
Services: 10:00 AM on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at the Blairstown American Legion Hall. Visitation will be held at Overton Family Funeral Home, Blairstown from 4:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown, Iowa. Military Rites conducted by M.J. Kirby Post #170. A luncheon will be held at the Legion Hall following the committal services.
Minister: Rev. Norma Spurgin
Memorial Fund: A memorial fund has been established.
Richard Charles Fiester was born on June 1, 1931 at Marengo, Iowa; the son of Porter and Emma (McKusker) Fiester. He was raised in Marengo and graduated from Marengo High School. Richard then entered the United States Army, serving his country during the Korean War from 1952-1954. He was united in marriage to JoAnn Kern in Blairstown, IA on June 7, 1953 and they have made their home in Blairstown their entire married life. Richard owned and operated Fiester Repair in Blairstown for 43 years. He retired in 1998. Richard’s death came at his home on Sunday, October 14, 2001, at the age of 70 years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, the fire chief for 30 years and still an active member of the Blairstown Fire Department, a driver for the Blairstown Ambulance Service and a member of the M.J. Kirby Legion Post #170. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking and gun collecting. Richard enjoyed his time spent in the community swapping stories with many of his local friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Richard is survived by his wife JoAnn, 3 daughters and their husbands; Dixie & Joe Hyde of Ames, Ia, Jeri & Don Maas of Norway, and Holly & Denny Karsten of Blairstown, 7 grandchildren; Justin & Emily Hyde, Lucas, Clinton, & Josi Maas and Tyler & McKenna Karsten, 2 brothers and their wives; Frank & Doris Danskin and Eugene & Arleen Danskin, a sister Helen Messer, all of Marengo, 2 sister-in-laws, Jayne Roth of Blairstown and Norma Kern of Mesa, AZ.
Norma Flickinger
Services: 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 27, 2000 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vinton, Iowa with Rev. Clarke E. Frederick and Vicar Jeff Bauer officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Memorial Fund: In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established, directed to family.
Norma E.C.Wilhelmi Flickinger was born December 24, 1912 on a farm northeast of Van Horne, Iowa, to Peter and Clara Kerkman Wilhelmi. She attended country school and on December 9, 1933 she married Cecil Flickinger in Rock Island, IL. The couple farmed in Benton county their entire married life, retiring in 1972 and moving to Vinton. Cecil preceded her in death on May 15, 1974. In 1998 Norma moved to the Virginia Gay Annex. She died from complications of diabetes at Virginia Gay Hospital early November 23, 2000 at the age of 87 years. Norma was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission Circle and the Taylor Friendly Club. Cecil and Norma enjoyed their many fishing trips to Canada with her sister and husband, Arlene and Virgil Andrew. Besides fishing, she enjoyed gardening and babysitting her grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Myron and Glenn Wilhelmi and one daughter-in-law, Ruth Alcorn Flickinger. Survivors include three sons; Wayne (Wanda) Flickinger, Denison, IA, Ronald (Pat) Flickinger, Vinton and Larry (Sandy)Flickinger, Traer, four daughters; Jo Ann (Dennis) Michaelson, Prescott Valley, AZ, Karen (Dale) Hagen, Rosemary Boisen, and Kris (Bob) Birker, and one sister, Arlene (Virgil) Andrew, all of Vinton, three sisters-in-law; Lois Wear, Center Point, Lula Schwaberau, Vinton, Jean Flickinger, Salem, OR, twenty grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and her extended family at the Virginia Gay Annex. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Patricia Ann DeNeve Flickinger
Services:
10:30 am on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton with Visitation at the Overton - Van Steenhuyse Funeral Home in Vinton on Monday from 4 - 8 pm.
Memorial Fund: Directed to the family.
Patricia Ann DeNeve Flickinger was born March 9, 1938 in Victor, Iowa, to Herman and Clara Baetsle DeNeve. She grew up in Van Horne, graduating with the Van Horne High School class of 1956. On July 12, 1958, she married Ronald Flickinger at Immaculate Conception Church in Van Horne. The couple lived in rural Vinton and Pat worked for many years at the J.C. Penney store in Vinton and at the Vinton Livewire. Pat was a longtime member of St. Mary's Altar and Rosary Society in Vinton. In her spare time, she enjoyed flower gardening, bird watching, raising miniature horses and she and Ron travelled all over the midwest collecting Hallmark ornaments. She was preceded in death by her father, Herman. She is survived by her mother, Clara DeNeve of Van Horne, IA, her husband of forty-two years, Ron, of Vinton, sons Rusty Flickinger and his wife, Laurie, of Center Ridge, AR, Ricky Flickinger and his wife, Kim, of Fenton, MO, daughters Rhonda Happel and husband, Mark, of Vinton, Rochelle Donahue and husband, Kevin, of Clinton, AR, brothers Fred DeNeve and wife, Shirley, of Van Horne, IA, Eugene DeNeve and wife, Becky, of Blairstown, IA, sister Joann McFarland and husband Harold "Red", of Van Horne, IA, eleven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She will be missed by many.
