Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Sophus Burnell Holstad
Sophus Burnell Holstad, 86, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001, at North Iowa Mercy Hospital, Mason City, Iowa. The funeral services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Thursday, Oct. 11, at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m., at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, west of Kensett, Iowa, with military honors at the graveside by the VFW 4868 of Clear Lake. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Memorials may be directed to Elk Grove Cemetery, Elk Creek Cemetery and Zion Lutheran Church Acoustical Fund.
Sophus was born August 23, 1915, on a farm near Kensett, Iowa, the son of Albert and Amanda (Roslien) Holstad. He completed his education in Manly and Kensett schools. Sophus continued helping his family with farming until entering the Army Oct. 7, 1941. After completing his basic training at Camp Wallace, Texas, Sophus served 44 months during WWII in the Pacific Theatre. He attained Sergeant in the Coast Artillery Anti-Air-Craft and was awarded two bronze stars, several meritorious ribbons and was Honorably discharged Oct. 10, 1945.
Sophus married
Eldora Lau, June 8, 1947 at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, Iowa. To this union four children were born; Alyn, twin girls Sharyl and Sharyn, and Lynn. Their first eleven years were spent farming near Kensett and Sophus was employed as a sales representative in Worth County for Lowe Seed Co. In 1957 when promoted to District Sales Manager for a 15 county area, they moved to Clear Lake. Twelve years later he accepted a position as Regional Manager for Vi-Amino Feeds Inc., Colfax, Ill. He retired in 1983 and continued to live in Clear Lake.
Sophus was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He served on the church councils of Elk Creek and Zion Lutheran Churches while continuing to volunteer as an usher and committee member for many years. Sophus was baptized and confirmed at Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett. Sophus served as a director of townships for the Farm Bureau organization. He was a charter member and volunteer of the Sons of Norway, Midnotsol Land 535. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 4868 of Clear Lake.
In earlier years, he loved to dance, travel, go on fishing trips and gardening. In later years he enjoyed listening to big band music, playing cards, reading and completing word puzzles. He was committed to keeping a daily journal for many years and entertaining his friends with Norwegian stories. Sophus, being proud of his Norwegian heritage, took great pride in making Lefse. Sophus, greatest joy was spending time with his family and visiting with family and friends. He will be sadly and greatly missed by his family and friends.
Sophus is survived by his wife of 54 years, Eldora Holstad, Clear Lake; two sons Alyn Holstad and his wife, Sandra, Gilbert, Az., and Lynn Holstad and his wife, Vicky, Silvercliffe, Colo.; two daughters, Sharyl Rubin and her husband, Gregory, Glenview, Ill. and Sharyn Hendrickson and her husband, Keith, Omaha, Neb.; eight grandchildren, Tracy Holstad, Todd Holstad and his wife, Kristen; Heather Hendrickson, Joel Hendrickson, Carissa Holstad, Aaron Holstad, Michael Rubin and his wife, Marsha and Stephen Rubin; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Arnold Holstad and his wife, Amy, Mesa, Az. and Harlan Holstad and his wife, Virginia, Hampton, Iowa; four sisters, Berniece Rodemeyer and her husband, Edward, Hampton, Iowa, Marcella Picken and her husband Donald, Mason City, Iowa, Orla Nelson and her husband, Gordon, Joice, Iowa, and Lorette Kroneman and her husband, Merle, Mason City, Iowa; two aunts, Doris Holstad and Mildred Citurs; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Amanda Holstad; two sisters, Alva Reetz and Loraine Albertus.
Norman LeRoy Johnson
Norman LeRoy Johnson, 66, of 106 N. 14th St., Clear Lake, Iowa died Wednesday Oct. 10, 2001 at his home. Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 13, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. Interment was in Concord Cemetery, Garner, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to Norman L. Johnson Memorial Fund.
Norman was born Dec. 10, 1934 in Forest City, Iowa the son of Oscar and Edna (Langerud) Johnson. He attended school in Mason City, Iowa. He worked for Milton Shaw Well Drillers, Nicholas Turkey Farms and in 1966 went to work for the Clear Lake Bakery until his retirement in 1998.
Norman married
Sandra Rasmuson on April 16, 1959 in Mason City, Iowa. He enjoyed having coffee with his friends, going to car shows and collector car shows with his son, Allen, spending time with his grandchildren, gardening and raising tomatoes. His favorite sayings was "You Got That Right" and was noted as having his thumbs up and saying "Mercy" and "Uffda". He was always happy and smiling and always making people laugh. His favorite singer was George Jones. Norman enjoyed life and loved to be with his kids and was a very hard worker.
Norman is survived by his three children, Norma Kirchgatter and her husband, Tom, Mason City, Allen Norman Johnson, Clear Lake, and Sheral Abbott and her husband, Dennis, Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Mindy Gardinier, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Zachary Allen Abbott and Alicia Abbott, Clear Lake, and Lucas Kirchgatter, Mason City; two brothers, Orville Johnson, Mason City, and Larry Johnson, Lubbock, Texas; and one sister, Evelyn VonHagen and her husband, Oliver, Northwood, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sandra; grandson, Luther Boren; five brothers, Wayne, Kenny, Clifford, Vernon and Leonard Johnson; and two sisters, Elaine Query and Pearl Book.
Florence "Flossie" Alliene Brush
Florence "Flossie" Alliene Brush, 79, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.
A memory exchange was held Friday, Oct.12, at the Brush residence.
According to her wishes her body was cremated.
The family of Florence "Flossie" Brush has requested that memorial contributions be made to Camp Tanglefoot, Inc. in Clear Lake, in her memory.
Florence "Flossie" Alliene Brush was born on April 12, 1922, in Melvin, Iowa, the daughter of Floyd H. and Margaretha (Fischer) Fillenwarth.
She attended and received her education in the Charles City School system, graduating from Charles City High School. Florence also attended Christian College in Columbia, Mo., and graduated from the University of Iowa School of Nursing. She was united in marriage to Frederick Brush on Aug. 30, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. He preceded her in death on Jan. 31, 1984. After their marriage the family moved to Mason City in 1949. Flossie was a very devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Flossie was actively involved in the North Iowa Girl Scouts in numerous capacities, and was very active for Project Hope in the 1970's, traveling extensively throughout the world.
She enjoyed poetry, reading, and miniature doll house collections, but her great love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.
She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority at the University of Iowa, participated as a host family to four foreign exchange students, and was a member of the Clear Lake Arts Council and was a supporter of the arts.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Frederick "Rick" C. Brush, Jr., of Clear Lake, Mary Young and her husband, Lawrence, of Truckee, Calif., James "Jim" Brush and his wife, Cathy, of Palisade, Colo., and Margaret Osmundson and her husband, Brad, of Eden Prairie, Minn.; six grandchildren, Brett and Quincy Young, Heather Lehman, Logan Allen, Christian and Jon Osmundson; a great-grandson, Grant Landman; a brother, Albert Fillenwarth of Clearwater, Fla.; as well as other relatives and friends.
Flossie will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
Rev. James J. Duster
Funeral services for the Rev. James J. duster, 68, who died Monday, Oct. 8 in Kansas City, Mo., were Friday, Oct. 12 at St. John Church in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Burial was in Mt, Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB, of Dubuque, Iowa, was the main celebrant. Homilist was the Rev. Robert Cameron of Kansas City.
Father Duster was born Jan. 30, 1933, in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Leo and Marcella (Wiesel) Duster. He graduated from Loras College and attended St. Bernard Seminary, both in Dubuque.
He was ordained Jan. 31, 1959, by Archbishop Leo Binz at St. Raphael Cathedral.
He served a short period at St. Joseph Parish, New Hampton, Iowa, before being appointed an associate at St. Mary and St. Peter Claver Parishes, Waterloo, Iowa.
In 1964 he was assigned as an associate at St. Luke Parish, St. Lucas, and in 1967 joined the faculty of Regis High School, Cedar Rapids, In 1975 he was appointed an associate at St. Matthew's Cedar Rapids and in 1978 he joined the team ministry program at St. Thomas Aquinas Student Center at ISU in Ames, Iowa.
Father Duster served pastorates at Ackley and Geneva (1980- 82); Clear Lake (1982-86); Independence and Rowley (1986-89); and Webster City (1989-94).
He has been pastor of St. John's, Mt. Vernon, since 1994 while also caring for the parishes at Anamosa and Springville.
He was appointed dean of the Independence Deanery, 1986-89, and dean of the Ames Deanery, 1989-94. He served on the Archdiocesan Worship Commission, the Continuing Formation board and was named an Archdiocesan Consultor in 1999.
Surviving is one brother, John Duster, of Cedar Rapids.
Rev. Thomas Donald Russell
The Rev. Thomas Donald Russell, 92, of Westminster, Colo. died Aug. 28, 2001. Services were Aug. 31, with burial at Highland Cemetery in Westminster.
He was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on March 29, 1909 and married
Mable Palmer on Jan. 1, 1928. They were married
for 62 years before Mrs. Russell passed away in 1990. The Rev. Russell and his wife will be remembered in Clear Lake as former pastors of the Open Bible Church from 1951 to about 1955 at which time they left to accept a pastorate in Adel, Iowa. They were there until 1960 at which time they moved to Colorado where they continued pastoring with the Open Bible Churches until their deaths. Although neither one officially ever retired, in later years, they limited their pastoring to visitation, weddings, etc.
Survivors include a son Harold, of Missouri; daughters Eileen Lougheed of Westminster, Gwen Braatz of Bond, Colo., Sandi Perry of Nevada; 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Lewis Frederic (Lew) Litzel
Lewis Frederic (Lew) Litzel, 51, of 9727 Wheelerwood Dr., Clear Lake, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 at his home. Funeral services were Saturday Oct. 20, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, Iowa with the Rev. Dennis Ganz officiating. Following the service he will be cremated. Family suggests memorials to Lewis F. Litzel memorial fund.
Lew was born Dec. 19, 1949 in Mason City, Iowa the son of Philip and Geneva (Maassen) Litzel. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1968. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. served in the Vietnam War as a field wireman and was awarded Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Rifle Marksman Badge.
Lew moved back to Clear Lake and worked for Mason City Overhead Door for thirteen years as a service technician.
Lew enjoyed walking, reading, gardening with his granddaughter, Ashley, and spending time with his grandchildren, making yearly trips with his wife, Bette, to Wisconsin, and his dog Rusty.
Lew is survived by his wife, Bette Litzel, Clear Lake; three children, Lewis Levi Litzel, Clear Lake, and his special friend, Annie Morse, Fertile, Iowa, Tracy English and her husband, Kirk, New Richland, Minn. and their children, Kristina, Stephanie, Heather, Allison and Elizabeth, Bobbie James and her husband, Jason, Clear Lake, and their children, Ashley and Brianna; his sister, Phyllis Brown and her husband, Dennis, Hiawatha, Iowa; two brothers, Phil Litzel and his wife, Lynn, Plano, Texas and Ian Loynachan, Casper, Wyo.; mother-in-law, Edna Hammitt, Garner, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Erma Faye Kuntz Severson
Erma Faye Kuntz Severson, 85, of Clear Lake, Iowa died Saturday Oct. 20, 2001 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. Funeral services were Monday Oct. 22, at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to Hospice of North Iowa.
Erma was born Sept. 25, 1916 in Kahoka, Mo., the daughter of William E. and Lillian (Clark) Kuntz. She graduated from Kahoka High School and then attended Culver Stockton College, Canton, Mo. for two years. She later graduated from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa with a B.A. degree in Education. She also attended American School of Business. She worked for Davenport Bank and Trust and the Rock Island Arsenal until 1942.
Erma married
Mars I. Severson Sept. 11, 1942 at the Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill. They lived in Norfolk, Va. where he was stationed during WWII, after which they moved to Davenport, Iowa. After her three daughters were of school age she taught elementary school for thirty years. Of those, twenty-eight were in the Davenport Public Schools. She was the first teacher to teach a blind child in a mainstream classroom in the state of Iowa. After her husband's death in 1981 she moved to Clear Lake in 1982.
Erma enjoyed being with her family, cooking, picnicking, gardening, sewing, fishing and playing cards. She was a member of First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, Iowa; P.E.O.; Crescent Club and a Life member of National Education Association.
She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a dedicated teacher, a loyal friend, an excellent role model, and a very good person who was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
Erma is survived by three daughters, Mary Moeller, Clear Lake, Linda Lossi and her husband, Franklin, Rochester, Minn., and Maris Burton and her husband, Robert, Edina, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Stephanie Wood and her husband, Steve, Mark Moeller, Michael Moeller, Michael Lossi, Katie Lossi, Robert Burton, William Burton, Thomas Burton and David Burton; and one great-granddaughter, Whitney Grace Wood. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Mars; son-in-law, Dr. Steven Moeller; sister, Irene Riewerts; and three brothers, Stanley, Carl and Leland Kuntz.
Gary A. Hoffman Sr.
Gary A. Hoffman Sr., 62, of 1409 S. Cedar, Owatonna, Minn., formerly of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001, at the Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna. Funeral services were Monday, Oct. 22 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Fred Lewis of Clear Lake United Methodist Church officiating. Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to Gary A. Hoffman Sr. memorial fund.
Gary was born May 25, 1939 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of George F. and Nina (Zimmel) Hoffman. He attended school in Clear Lake. He married
Karolyn Newell March 13, 1962 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa and was married
for twenty one years.
Gary worked at the Clear Lake Truck Stop, drove semi for Ruan Transport, Bonner Trucking, Gene Meyer Trucking and Gerald Foutch Trucking for a total of twenty-five years. He then worked at the Clear Lake Bakery and then Slidell Inc. in Owatonna, Minn. until retiring due to ill health.
Gary enjoyed his electric trains and collecting coins.
Gary is survived by his six children, Gary A. Hoffman Jr. and his wife, Kim, Indianola, Iowa, Lee Hoffman, Minnesota, Shirley Sykes and her husband, Wallace, Citra, Fla., Earl Hoffman, Minnesota, Karla Barnes and her husband, Stan, Owatonna, Minn., and Roxane Balderas, Clear Lake; his former wife, Karolyn Hoffman, Clear Lake; nine grandchildren, Amber Hoffman, Ashley Hoffman, Teddy Sykes, Samantha Sykes, Caley Hoffman, Karmen Barnes, Veronica Morales, Anthony Morales and Misty Morales; four great-grandchildren, Dakota Morales, Ciara Morales, Nikolas Padilla and Spencer Espejo; four sisters, Betty Lunn and her husband, George, Clear Lake, Judy Bishop and her husband, Glen, California, Evelyn Frank and her husband, William, Mason City, Iowa, and Linda Finger and her husband, Dale, Forest City, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marlene Stevens and her husband, Robert Stevens; and one infant brother.
Lester Person
Lester Person age 81, 319 S. Rhode Island, Mason City, Iowa, died Oct.19, 2001 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. His body has been donated to the University of Iowa's College of Medicine. A memorial service will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, Humboldt, Iowa on Wednesday. Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation at 1660 Duke Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314 or the Lester Person Memorial Fund.
Lester Person was born May 8, 1920, on a farm near Otho, Iowa. His parents were Per Person and Myrtle (Rosenquist) Person. Les graduated from Gowrie High School in 1938. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in August, 1941 and was sent to Hawaii in April, 1942. One of his most vivid memories was seeing all the ships that had been sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack that were still there. Les served four years in the South Pacific on Hawaii, Baker, Tarawa, Eniwetok, and Guam Islands.
Les was united in marriage to Elaine (Lloyd) Person March 30, 1947. He received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the University of Iowa in 1949. Les and Elaine lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he worked at several sales jobs. While living in Fort Dodge, Les belonged to the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA. He was an accredited baseball umpire and basketball referee. He belonged to a Fort Dodge card club for over 40 years, and he and Elaine enjoyed joining the club and their wives for many trips and social activities. He was an active member of the Fort Dodge First United Methodist Church. They later moved to Mason City in 1968 and in 1978 he purchased the Clear Lake KFC and in 1981 purchased Humboldt KFC. He was franchisee and, with Elaine, managed both restaurants until retirement in 1996.
Les lived in Humboldt from 1982 until 1994. While living in Humboldt Les was president of the Humboldt Lions, served as diabetes chairman for Lions District VII, and as Lions State Diabetes Chairman. He was a member of the state board of directors of the American Diabetes Association. In 1993 Les received the Lions International President's Service Award, and in 1997 he received the Warren Coleman Honorary Award for dedicated service in Lionism. Les enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren. Les was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Les was proud of his Swedish heritage and was able to fulfill a lifetime dream when he and Elaine went to Sweden in 1997.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine; three children, Karen Person of Waverly, Iowa, Dr. John Person and his wife, Ellen, of San Diego, Calif., James Person and his wife Becky, of Clear Lake; five grandchildren, Shawn, Sarah, Abigail, and Katelyn Person, of Clear Lake, Jeffrey Person of San Diego, Calif.; two step-grandchildren, Jerome Farnham, of Dublin, Ireland, and Jarod Farnham, of Manhattan, Ks.; three brothers, Eugene Person and his wife, Ann, of Twin Lakes, Iowa and Donna, Texas, Gaylen Person and his wife, Jane, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Vernon Person, of Dakota City, Iowa; a sister, Betty Larson, and her husband, Lester, of Badger, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Dean.
Terry E. Mullan
Terry E. Mullan, 60, of 37 Lido Road, Clear Lake, died Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 26, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to the Terry E. Mullan Memorial fund.
Terry Eugene Mullan was born on Oct. 28, 1940 to Frank and Madelon Mullan at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Mason City, Iowa. He attended Clear Lake Schools and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1958. He attended the University of Northern Iowa and St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minn. Terry played baseball at both schools and later loved to play very competitive fast pitch and slow pitch softball. In 1963 Terry moved his family to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area where he was employed in sales for Gestetner Duplicating Machines and Kraft Foods retail division. In 1968 Terry joined the ambassador Division of Hallmark Cards as a sales representative in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Later he was transferred to Denver, Colo. as a district sales manager. In 1978 Terry became a self-employed executive search "Head Hunter" in the oil industry. In 1981 Terry returned to Clear Lake where he spent the first four years as a food salesperson for H&H Food Service and in 1985 found his calling in insurance and investment business. His company Safe Investors Inc. was opened in 1987.
In 1991 he married
his childhood neighbor and life long friend Nancy (Banks) Dasch.
Terry was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Noon Lions Club, Clear Lake Area Concert Association, and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce. He also broadcasted the play by play of the Clear Lake and Ventura Football and basketball games for the radio station K.Z.E.V including the state championship girls basketball during the "Lynne Lorezen Era." Terry loved to Bar-B-Que and was the Iowa State Fair Champion twice. He also enjoyed golfing with his buddies, the "49ers" and boating with his wife, family and friends. His love for Clear Lake was obvious and he always had a story to tell about his personal accomplishment of bringing back hydroplane racing to Clear Lake. He was the number one fan of the Clear Lake Lions and treasured the football, which was autographed by the team this year. Although his illness kept him from the games, he faithfully listened to the games on the radio and he also was an avid Hawkeye Fan.
Left to cherish the loving memory of this kind and gentle man are his wife, Nancy, Clear Lake; sons Kevin Mullan of Denver, Colo., and Scott Mullan and wife, Deborah, along with their three children of Sacramento, Calif.; a step-son, Jason Dasch, and his wife, Heather, of Des Moines, Iowa; and a step- daughter, Brenda Dasch, and her fiancée, Matthew Paulson, of Oshkosh, Wis.; his brother, Don Mullan, and his wife Marcia, from Bella Vista, Ark. He was preceded in death by his parents, and beloved aunt, Kathryn Mullan.
