Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Violet Leona Otis died Jan. 28, 2003. A Mass of the resurrection was held at St. James Catholic Church, Forest City, Iowa, on Jan. 31. The Rev. Jerry Blake was the celebrant. Burial will be in the spring at St. James Catholic Cemetery, Forest City.
Violet was born on a farm in Ellington Township, Hancock County, Iowa, on Feb. 19, 1917, the daughter of James and Lulu (Streeper) Tompkins. She received her education in rural schools and in 1936 graduated from Garner High School.
On Dec. 1, 1936, she was united in marriage to Bernard Orcutt. The couple made their home on his family farm near Fertile, Iowa. After Mr. Orcutt's death in 1955, Violet and her family moved to Clear Lake. There she worked as a dental assistant for several years. She married
Merle Otis on June 17, 1963. After living in Clear Lake for a brief time they made their home on Merle's farm northwest of Forest City. Merle passed away in 1992 and since then Violet has made her home with her daughter in Madison Lake, Minn. She enjoyed nature and loved her pets.
Dr. Earl O. Berge, 85, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Jan. 30, 2003, at Tompkins Memorial Health Center in Fort Dodge.
Services were Monday, Feb. 3 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, in Fort Dodge, with the Rev. David Grindberg officiating. Interment was in North Lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge. Military honors were presented by V.F.W. Post No. 1856. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Fort Dodge, was in charge of the services. Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.
Earl was born March 21, 1917 at Bode, Iowa. He was raised and educated at Bode. He graduated from Luther College in 1938, received a masters degree from Drake University in 1948 and his PhD in school administration from the University of Iowa in 1967.
In 1942 he was united in marriage to Irene Heller at The Little Brown Church at Nashua. He began his career as principal and teacher at Frederika Public Schools, then served as superintendent of schools at Frederika from 1940 to 1942. During WWII he was a special agent in the Counter Intelligent Corps. Following his discharge, he returned to Fredrika until 1947. He was superintendent at Seymour Public Schools from 1947 to 1957, Clear Lake Community Schools from 1957 to 1967 and Fort Dodge Community Schools from 1967 until his retirement in 1983.
He is survived by his wife, Irene; five daughters and their husbands, Sandy and Jim Champion, Sioux City, Iowa, Jerrie and Denny Ellis, Littleton, Colo., Jeanne and Nick Daniel, Fort Dodge, Jan and Bonnie Miller, Crystal Lake, Ill., Jo and Mike Magnussun, Overland Park, Kan.; 12 grandchildren; and a brother, B.C. Berge, Garner, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by a son, Tom Berge; parents, Tom and Mollie Berge; brothers, Harold and Ernie; and a sister, Thelma Tonderum.
Madelain R. Andersen, 85, of 411 N. Hooker, Nora Springs, Iowa, died Feb. 5, 2003 at her home. Memorial services were Saturday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Nora Springs, with the Rev. Ruth Hansen officiating. Family suggests memorials to St. Luke Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa. Graveside services will be held at a later time in Park Cemetery, Nora Springs. Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.
Madelain was born April 29, 1917 in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Mina (Buehler) Schneider. She was baptized Madelain Rosa Bertha Schneider on Aug. 4, 1917 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mason City and was confirmed March 20, 1932 at Zion Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Mich. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1935.
Madelain worked at the Strand Theater, Hanford Hotel, and John Deere Plow Co., all of Mason City; Fox Theater, Nora Springs, local restaurants in Nora Springs and at the first bowling alley in Nora Springs, where she started the junior bowling league. She was a past member of Eastern Star and was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church.
Madelain married
Lloyd G. Andersen Oct. 25, 1947 in Nora Springs and he preceded her in death on April 28, 1989.
Madelain is survived by her three children, Toni Groven and her husband, Jerry, Nora Springs, George (Andy) Andersen, Clear Lake, and James Andersen, Buena Vista, Colo.; four grandchildren, Michele Andersen, Clear Lake, Misty Andersen, Middletown, Ohio, Jessica Buckman, and her husband, Cory, Rockwell, Iowa, and Jon Groven and his wife, Jaimie, Rockford, Iowa; two great-grandchildren, Uriah Strange and Ian Strange, Clear Lake; one step-great-grandchild, Alex Herl, Rockford; her sister, Estelle Treloar and her husband, James, Clear Lake; and one brother, Mike Schneider, Buena Vista, Colo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a brother, Karl, who died in 1945 during WWII; and one grandson, Jason Groven.
Virginia L. Grouette, 68, of 645 S. Polk Ave., Mason City, Iowa, died Saturday Feb. 8, 2003 at Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City. Funeral will be Wednesday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church,119 Georgia Ave. S. Mason City, with the Rev. Jeffrey A. Dahlin officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to the Virginia L. Grouette memorial fund.
Virginia was born Feb. 11, 1934 in Mason City, the daughter of Virgil and Berdell (Sampson) Lair. She graduated from Rock Falls High School.
Virginia married
George Grouette Nov. 19, 1979 in Minnesota. She worked for Sears for over twenty-six years and then for Merry Maids in Mason City.
Virginia enjoyed collecting elephants, baking, needle point, knitting, growing flowers, reading and most of all spending time with her family and traveling with her husband, George, to Texas in the winter.
Virginia will be sadly missed by her husband, George, Mason City; her daughter, Kathy Toye, Clear Lake; her two sons, David Teeter and his wife, Monica, and Thomas Teeter and his wife, Sarah, both of Mason City; her step-daughter, Betty Nicholas and her husband, John, Waterloo, Iowa; her four step-sons, George Grouette and his wife, Paula, SanMarcos, Texas, David Grouette, Hanlontown, Iowa, Paul Grouette and his wife, Tammy, Mason City, and Bill Grouette and his wife, Cindy, Northwood, Iowa; two brothers, Fred Lair and his wife, Janet, Grove, Ok., and John Lair and his wife, Cheryl, Perry, Iowa; two sisters, Mary Ann Warnke, Chico, Ca. and Patty Jones and her husband, Fred, Bloomington, Minn., and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Clifford; granddaughter, Samantha Cook, and step-grandson, Michael Grouette. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Doris E. Solberg, 97, of Clear Lake, died eighteen days before her 98 birthday on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003 at the Concord Care Center, Garner, Iowa. Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Iowa with Rev. Dean Hess and Rev. Verlye Henriksen officiating. Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Friday at the church. Family suggests memorials to Doris E. Solberg memorial fund.
Doris was born Feb. 26, 1905 in rural Grant Township Clear Lake, the daughter of Anton and Minnie (Nelsen) Christiansen. She attended rural school in Grant Township and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1925. She taught in rural school.
Doris married
Donald Solberg of Forest City Feb. 23, 1952 at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. They moved to farm north of Forest City, where they made their home until her husband's death May 19, 1969. She then moved to Clear Lake and lived there until Dec. 16, 1998 at which time she moved to Concord Care Center, Garner, Iowa.
Doris was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Several nieces and nephews survive Doris. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Donald; five brothers, Charles, Henry, Donald, Paul and Floyd Christiansen; and five sisters, Mary Locke, Anna Long, Carrie Conibear, Lillian Henriksen and Emma Tantow.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Martha S. Jass, 97, of Garner, Iowa, formerly of Ventura, died Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at Concord Care Center, Garner.
Her funeral was held Wednesday, Feb. 12 at St. John's Lutheran Church east of Garner with the Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Music was provided by organist, Louise Boehnke, who accompanied soloist, Zach Becker and congregational hymns. Ushers were Dan Ollenburg and Carrol Boehnke. Pall bearers were Scott Ollenburg, Tom Pueggel, Ed Kotz, Jr., Phillip Boehnke, Steve Swale, Andy Ollenburg, Rev. Michael Wolfram and Lynn Kelck. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Martha S. Jass, the daughter of Ferdinand and Martha (Ziesmer) Boehnke, was born Dec. 24, 1905 on a farm north of Ventura. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church east of Garner and attended parochial school. On Feb. 24, 1926 she was married
to Edward Jass at St. John's Lutheran Church. They farmed in the Ventura area for 44 years. They were the parents of a son, Virgil, who died in 1944 at the age of fifteen. After her husband's death in 1976, she continued to live in Ventura. Martha moved to Prairie View Apartments in Garner in 1997 and in 1999 became a resident of Concord Care Center in Garner.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid, where she served as secretary and mite box treasurer.
Martha is survived by her nephews and nieces, Harold Pueggel and his wife, Carol, of Garner, Sylvia Swale and her husband, Ralph, of Clear Lake, Robert Ollenburg and his wife, Elaine, of Ventura, Lois Kotz, of Ventura, Gordon Boehnke and his wife, Sally, of Ventura, Marie Moe, of Des Moines, Harriet Oetting and her husband, Gene, of Seward, Neb., Viola Monahan, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Darlene Wolfram and her husband, the Rev. James, of Spirit Lake, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, on Oct. 19, 1976; her son, Virgil, July 13, 1944; her twin brother, Ferdinand; a brother, Ted Boehnke; and three sisters, Emma Pueggel, Olga Ollenburg and Ruth Ollenburg.
Cataldo Funeral Home, Garner, was in charge of arrangements.
Ronald W. Brager, 76, of Ventura, died Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 at his home.
His funeral was held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Faith Lutheran Church in Miller, Iowa, with the Rev. Owen Gaasedelen officiating. Music was provided by organist, Louise Boehnke, who accompanied vocalists Mike Brager and Randy Brager and congregational hymns. Ushers were Glen Juhl and Wray Hallet. Honorary bearers were Art Hoeft, Merle Hall, Dan O'Keefe, Harry Ginkens, Arno Olson and Ray Schultz. Pallbearers were Roger Furness, Dale Anderson, Terry Ausborn, Larry Prescott, Lawrence Miller and Dave Eggerth. Interment was at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner was in charge or arrangements.
Ronald Willard Brager, the son of Willard C. and Velma Odessa (Hollingsworth) Brager, was born Oct. 1, 1926, on a farm north of Ventura where he lived for the past 76 years. He graduated from Ventura High School in 1944. Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and was honorably discharged in 1953. On Nov. 18, 1951, he married
LaVonne Steenhard at Ellington Prairie Lutheran Church near Miller. They farmed north of Ventura until Ron retired from farming at the age of 62. Ron was also employed by Cheney Plumbing and Heating in Clear Lake for ten years. He enjoyed square dancing, crossword puzzles, farming, old tractors, woodworking and playing board games with the kids.
He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Miller where he had served in many capacities over the years.
Ron is survived by his wife, LaVonne, of Ventura; two children, Debbie Nelson and her husband, Terry, of Eagan, Minn. and Rahn Brager and his wife, Cris, of Ventura; grandchildren, Staci Andrea and her husband, Dustin, of Rosemount, Minn., Luke Brager of Ventura, Angie Nelson of Eagan, Misty Brager of Clear Lake, Jake Brager of Ventura and Josh Brager of Ventura; two great grandchildren, Skylar and Paige Andrea; three brothers and two sisters, Marvin Brager and his wife, Adelaide, of Ventura, Kenneth Brager and his wife, Althea, of Forest City, Darlene Wells and her husband, Derwood, of Clear Lake, Venita Statser and her husband, Jack, of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Larry Brager of LeClaire, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services for Megan Christine McDermott were held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne High School gymnasium in Corwith, Iowa. Officiating were pastors Steven Cox and John Brown. Interment was in Corwith Cemetery.
Megan Christine McDermott was born on Aug. 11, 1982 at Belmond, Iowa, to James and Deanna Ahrens McDermott. She received most of her early education in Clear Lake, Iowa, graduating from the Clear Lake High School in the Class of 2000. In high school, Megan was a five time District Champion on the swim team, an All State and All Academic 1st team pick in softball, was on the track team and a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a U.S. Army Student Athlete and a State of Iowa Scholar.
After high school, Megan enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a Drake Presidential Scholar, a member of Phi Delta Chi National Pharmacy Fraternity and a Drake Merit Scholar. Megan was a third year pharmacy student.
While living in Clear Lake, Megan was a lifeguard at Clear Lake and at Opportunity Village. She was a pharmacy tech at C.V.S. Pharmacies in Woonsocket, R.I. and more recently a pharmacy tech at the Hy-Vee Store in Des Moines.
Megan was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Corwith, Iowa, She enjoyed talking on her cell phone, visits from her brother, being a student at Drake and fighting for what was right.
Megan died on Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines, from injuries received in an auto accident which occurred on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was 20.
Megan is survived by her parents, James and Deanna McDermott, and her brother, James McDermott III, all of Corwith, Iowa. Also surviving are her maternal grandmother, Martha Ahrens, Manchester, Iowa; Her paternal grandfather, James McDermott and his wife, Mary, Greenville, R.I. and Warwick, R.I.; and her maternal great-grandmother, Eva Marie McNeil, Providence, R.I. She is also survived by her aunts and uncles, Sharon and Walter Salisbury, Greenville, R.I., Cindy and Williams McCarthy, Gloucester, R.I., Patty and Kevin Ricci, Greenville, R.I., Mike and Janice McDermott, W. Warwick, R.I., Dennis and Sandy Ahrens, Dundee, Iowa; Ellen and Larry Becher, Peoria, Az. and many great aunts and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Barbara A. McDermott and maternal grandfather, Lavern Ahrens.
The Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home of Corwith was in charge of arrangements.
Genevieve Mareen, daughter of Peter O. and Anna C. (Andersen) Petersen, was born Jan. 30, 1922 at Miller, Iowa. Genevieve grew up in Clear Lake and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1939. She then attended Hamilton College in Mason City, completing a two-year business degree. Genevieve subsequently worked in the Surgeon General's Office in Washington, D.C. during World War II.
On March 19, 1944, Genevieve was united in marriage with Fred Martin in Clear Lake. They made their home in Clear Lake where Genevieve worked as an insurance agent for 15 years and then as a medical secretary for 20 years. Fred retired from barbering in 1978 and died shortly thereafter in 1980.
On Sept. 18, 1982, Genevieve was blessed with a second marriage to Edward Anthony Venteicher in Manning, Iowa. Genevieve and Ed made their home in Manning.
Genevieve was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Manning and Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She enjoyed coin collecting, playing Dominoes, reading, knitting and their dog, Lucky. She also enjoyed traveling south to Arizona and Texas.
Genevieve's health was somewhat frail and she broke her hip in January of 2003. On Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, Genevieve died at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa. She was 81 years and 16 days of age.
Preceding Genevieve in death are her parents; first husband; brother, Everett Petersen; sister, Virginia Tice; step-sons Waldo Martin and Kenneth Venteicher.
She is survived by her husband, Edward Venteicher of Manning; step-children, Leroy Venteicher, Costa Mesa, Calif., Shirley Jane Sjobakken and husband, James, Ames, Iowa, James Venteicher and wife, Donna, Manning, Robert Venteicher and wife, Sil, San Francisco, Calif., Diane Scriven and husband, Clark, Sterling, Colo., Edward "Rick" Venteicher and wife, Karen, South Lakes, Texas, Lynn Veneicher and wife, Sue, Pella, Iowa, step daughter in law, Dorothy Martin, and her family, Denver, Colo.; 15 step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Charlene E. Bunge, 83, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, at Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. Private inurnment will be in the Massilon Cemetery, Massilon, Iowa.
Charlene was born Jan. 21, 1920, at Elwood, Iowa, the daughter of Charles M. and Amanda (Henecke) Starr. Charlene was a graduate of Oxford Junction High School, Oxford Junction, Iowa.
Charlene married
Elwood Otto Bunge, Jan. 21, 1939 in Oxford Junction.
Charlene entered Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake on Oct. 29, 2002, having spent the last twelve years in Weslaco, Texas.
Charlene is survived by three sons, Darrel Bunge and his wife, Marcia, Clear Lake, Terry Bunge and his wife, Carole Bunge, Westminster, Colo., and Ron Bunge, Ankeny, Iowa; three grandchildren, Michael Bunge, Waterloo, Iowa, Jami Mason and her husband, Jim, Thornton, Colo. and Jason Bunge, Jupiter, Fla.; two step-grandchildren, Mark Thada and his wife, Cheryl, Owatonna, Minn. and Dawn Dieken and her husband, Steve, Clear Lake; a great-grandson Jacob Mason; step great-grandchildren, Vaughn and Derek Thada, Paige, Kylea, Davis and Grant Dieken; a sister, Betty Plagmann and her husband, Henry, Williamsburg, Iowa; a brother, Don Starr and his wife, Lucille, Wyoming, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and nephew, Jerry Starr.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Allison M. King, 26, of 1313 3rd Avenue N., Clear Lake, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2003, from injuries she sustained in an automobile accident south of Mason City. Funeral services for Allison will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, Mason City, with the Rev. Jeff Dahlin officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, and continue one hour before services at the church. Memorials may be given to the Allison M. King Memorial Fund.
Allison was born Dec. 7, 1976 in Mason City, the daughter of Bryan and Susan (Berry) Stone. She graduated from North Central Manly High School in 1995 and during her senior year was awarded the Arion Award in music. While in high school, Allison was a cheerleader and member of the Show Choir at North Central Manly. She enjoyed singing, dancing and collecting Mickey Mouse. Allison married
Robert King on June 13, 1998 in Mason City. She was currently working as a receptionist for Mercy Family Care, Clear Lake. She was a wonderful mother, beautiful wife and a caring sister and will be missed by all.
Allison is survived by her husband, Robert King of Clear Lake; two daughters, Alexis and Cadence at home; her parents, Susan Stone of Manly, Iowa and Bryan Stone and his wife, Brenda, of Charles City, Iowa; her father and mother-in-law, Aaron King and his wife, Sharon, of Waterloo, Iowa; grandparents, Walter and Betty Berry, Mason City, Gary and Bonnie Sutherland, Marshalltown, Iowa, and Mary King of Waterloo; step-grandparents, Edward and JoAnn DeGeus of Britt, Iowa; four brothers, Aaron, Adam, Tyler and Brody; and two sisters, Breanna and Carissa.
Allison was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harold Stone and Helen Spear; Mother-in-law, Mary Ann Blanchard; and her great-grandparents.
