Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Donald J. Hess, 82, formerly of Clear Lake, passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at his home, 2200 Country Club Drive, Mason City, Iowa. A Funeral Mass was held Monday, Feb. 2, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Monsignor Robert Hogan officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. The family will give memorials to the Newman Catholic Schools to be included in the Andy Gasaway Endowment Fund for the fine arts, and United Cerebral Palsy.
Don was born the son of Otto and Mary (Baum) Hess, Oct. 23, 1921, in Worthington, Iowa. Don graduated in 1939 from St. Paul High School, Worthington. He worked in sales for a period of four years prior to October, 1943 when he entered the service. He was discharged from the Army in 1946. Don married
Geraldine Horsfield of Epworth, Iowa on Nov. 23, 1950 in Placid, Iowa.
Don was truly an American success story. He was self-employed for over 60 years in agriculture and recycling businesses throughout the Midwest. He started 21 companies during his business career. Local companies include Mason City Recycling Center, Mason City By-Products, A-Z Drying at Osage, Hess & Co, and Fermented Products.
Don will be remembered by his family for his generosity and love.
He is survived by his wife, Geri Hess, Mason City; six children, Joan (Mike) Gasaway, Mason City, Dona (Gene) Maki, Minneapolis, Minn., Ruth (David) Liner, Arlington, Va., Dean (Suzanne) Hess, Clear Lake, Jane (Mark) Jaszewski, Little Canada, Minn. and John Hess of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren, Matt and Leah Gasaway, Gina (John) State, Shawn Maki, Lindsey, Morgan and Madeline Hess, Sophia, Jillian and Marin Jaszewski, and Caitlyn Hess; great-grandchildren, Kyle State, Dylan and Audrina Maki; brother, Gerald Hess, and a sister, Geraldine Engler.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Mary, in 1958; grandson, Andrew Gasaway; brothers, Ardo Hess and Ambrose Hess; sister, Florabell Heiser, and baby brothers, Harold and Roland.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Jeanne Beryl Ringgenberg, 79, of Clear Lake, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at her home in Clear Lake.
Memorial services with inurnment in the Ventura Cemetery will be at a later date.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Jeanne Beryl Ringgenberg was born on April 8, 1924, in Royal Oaks, Mich., the daughter of William and Elsie (Davis) Fuller. She attended and received her education in the Royal Oaks school system, graduating from Royal Oaks High School. She was united in marriage to Cecil Ringgenberg on Dec. 8, 1945, in Upper Michigan. After their marriage they moved to Ventura in 1946 where she was a waitress in a coffee shop, before moving to Mason City. Jeanne worked as a bookkeeper for many years for the Montgomery Wards Department Store in Mason City and also worked as a secretary for United Dairy Products in Mason City until her retirement. After her retirement she and Cecil moved to Clear Lake.
She enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing bingo and was an excellent cook.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Cecil Ringgenberg, Clear Lake; a sister, Leona Kitchen, Traverse City, Mich.; three sisters-in-law, Maxine Duclos, Clear Lake, Bertus Daniels and her husband, Bob, Hollandale, Minn. and Almeda Lewis and her husband, Lefty, Mason City; as well as many nieces and nephews as well as other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Bill Fuller.
Nora M. Bonner, 91, of Swaledale, Iowa, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home where she had been residing for approximately two years.
Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 6, at the United Methodist Church in Swaledale with the Rev. Bruce Wittern officiating. Interment was in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, rural Swaledale.
Those wishing to extend memorials may direct them to her church or the American Diabetes Association.
Nora Margaret Bonner was born Nov. 7, 1912 in Dayton, Wis. to Henry A. and Carrie B. (Burnham) Donner. She was the youngest child of five children born to her parents. Nora was baptized in Dayton on Jan. 2, 1913. At the age of five, Nora and her family moved to Cerro Gordo County, where she has since resided. Upon graduation from Swaledale High School in 1930, Nora furthered her education at the Iowa State Teacher's College for one year.
On February 27, 1931, Nora was united in marriage to Lester John Bonner in Bethany, Mo. They enjoyed traveling together to various vacation spots across the United States. Lester and Nora became the proud parents of six children.
Nora was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Swaledale where she was confirmed, active in teaching Sunday school and had a cookbook dedicated in her honor in 1979. Most notably, Nora began playing the piano for services at the United Methodist Church while in her teen years and continued playing both the piano and organ for the next 70 years. Many will remember her as the musician for numerous weddings and funerals. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Sarah Circle.
Nora was a devoted wife and nurturing mother. She was very encouraging and active in attending and supporting the events her children were involved with. Her family states that Nora had a passion for baking and cooking, especially recalling their mother's chocolate cake with caramel frosting, chocolate chip cookies and special baked beans. She was a very caring, positive and loving woman who found great joy in attending parades, especially on the 4th of July.
Nora participated in many community and civic activities throughout the years including the Swaledale Garden Club, Swaledale Area Ladies Club, the Library Board and the Pleasant Valley Apartment Board. In her leisure time, Nora created latch hook rugs for her grandchildren and began playing golf in her late 70's. Most of the grandchildren had the opportunity to accompany their grandmother to Colorado, where they rode the cograil to the top of Pike's Peak. Nora will be missed dearly by all who have shared in her life.
She is lovingly survived by her children, Jim Bonner (Luella) of Clear Lake, John Bonner (Leona) of Swaledale, Janet Suntken (Larry) of Colorado Springs, Colo, Karrie Frenz (David) of Mason City and Edna Isaacson (Jim) of Woodridge, Ill. She will also be sadly missed by her daughter-in-law, Joan Bonner, of Swaledale; 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.
Nora was preceded in death by her husband, Lester, in July of 1985; her son, Tom Bonner, in 1987; her parents, Henry and Carrie Donner; her daughter-in-law, Beverly Bonner, in 1987; one brother, Arvin Donner; three sisters, Edna Richards and two infant sisters and two great-granddaughters, Lindsay Behr and Hope Winkowitsch.
Marie Teresa Henley, 41, of Miller, Iowa, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, Mason City.
Her funeral was held Monday, Feb. 9, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, Iowa with the Rev. Robert Bronson officiating. Music was provided by organist, Beverly Cataldo who accompanied soloist, Doug Hayes and congregational hymns. Ushers were Alvin "Pete" Hansen and Earl Jaspersen. Pall bearers were Jeff Henley, Brian Henley, Ken George, David George, Scott Quastad and Gene Anhalt. Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner was in charge of arrangements.
Marie Teresa Henley, the daughter of Neal and Helen (Johnston) George, was born May 28, 1962 at Albuquerque, N.M. She attended school at Janesville Consolidated School in Iowa where she graduated from high school in 1980. On May 28, 1993 she was married
to Gregory J. Henley at the Methodist Church in Clear Lake. They lived in the Garner area where they raised their two sons, Terence, age 11, and Patrick, age five. Her life was devoted to her boys. Marie was employed as a pharmacy technician at the Corner Drug Store in Clear Lake. She enjoyed camping, horseback riding, gardening, cats, riding motorcycles with her husband, Greg, and, especially, spending time with her family.
Marie is survived by her husband, Greg, of Miller; two sons, Terence and Patrick Henley; her parents, Neal and Helen George of Janesville; a sister, Carol Anhalt and her husband, Gene, of Jesup; two brothers, Ken George and wife, Christy, of Kansas City, Mo. and David George and wife, Mary, of Cass Lake, Minn.; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Thelma Purviance, 89, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. According to her wishes, she has been cremated. A memorial service will be held April 10, 2004, 11 a.m. at the Clear Lake Cemetery (weather permitting) or Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Richard Scott, Lay Assistant of Zion Lutheran Church, will be officiating. Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa in her name in lieu of flowers.
Thelma was born March 6,1914 in Clear Lake, the daughter of David and Catherine (Mier) Stricker. She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1932 and attended Iowa Teachers College. She taught school in Lincoln Township for four years. She married
Jesse Purviance on Dec. 24, 1936 at the Trinity Lutheran parsonage in Mason City. They farmed in Lincoln Township 44 years and moved to Clear Lake in 1981. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She also belonged to the DD Club.
Thelma enjoyed cooking, sewing and reading books. When she was young she was addicted to fishing. She enjoyed the beauty of flowers and the song of the bird.
Thelma is survived by her three children, JoAnn Kaasa and her husband, Merwyn "Bud", Hanlontown, Iowa, and their children, Tim Kaasa and his wife, Alice, Joel Kaasa and his wife, Teresa, Doy Gilbert and her husband, Chad; Dennis Purviance and his wife, Joyce, Ft. Worth, Texas, and their children, Kati Bewley and her husband, Ronald, Jesse Purviance and his wife, Monica, John Purviance and his wife, Kristie, James Purviance and his wife Stephanie; and Linda Matson and her husband, Jon, Clear Lake, and their children, Shelly Benton and her husband, Doug, Mindy Zaruba and her husband, Tim, Marcy Bitner and her husband, David; seventeen great-grandchildren; three brothers, Dave Stricker Jr. and his wife, Marie, Mason City, Ralph Stricker and his wife, Jerry, Mason City and Harold Stricker and his wife, Mary Ann, Orchard, Iowa.
Thelma is preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Leah Hage, brothers, Ronald and Ben Stricker and an infant great-granddaughter.
Ruth L. Balstad, 88, of 222 Pierce Ave. S., Mason City, Iowa died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 at the USA Health Care Center, Mason City. According to her wishes she was cremated and inurnment will be held at a later time.
Ruth was born June 13, 1915 in Anamosa, Iowa the daughter of Lawrence and Jeanette (Leinen) Merrill.
Ruth is survived by her three daughters, Dixie Houck and her husband, Roy, Palatine, Ill., Ann Borgman and her husband, Dr. Robert Borgman, Clear Lake, and Jean Marie Balstad, Union Grove, Wis.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harald Balstad; her son, Richard Balstad and great-grandson, Richard Balstad Jr.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Charles Jay "Chuck" Krambeer, 54, of 108 N. Wiemer, Ventura, passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery. The Clear Lake V.F.W. conducted military honors. Memorials may be made to the Charles Krambeer Memorial Fund.
Charles was born Dec. 10, 1949 at Forest City, Iowa the son of Clifford and Dorothy (Olson) Krambeer. Charles attended Clear Lake High School and then entered the US Army serving as a tank operator during the Vietnam War. Throughout his military career he was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Bronze Star. He was honorable discharged in 1971, and returned to Clear Lake. On July 5, 1974 Charles married
Laura Zobel at Mason City. He was employed by Winnebago Industries for 10 years and then Armour Con Agra in Mason City for 14 years.
Charles was a member of the Clear Lake V.F.W. He enjoyed NASCAR races and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by three sons, Christopher John Krambeer of Ventura, Jon Robert Krambeer of Boone, Iowa, and Kenneth Wayne Krambeer of Mason City; a sister, Linda Moeller and her husband, Ken, of Naperville, Ill., and a brother, Phillip Krambeer, of Ventura.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Laura; infant daughter, Teresa Jean Krambeer and sister-in-law, Rhonda Krambeer.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Stephen James Simbric, 64, of Waterloo, Iowa, died at home Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Services were held Monday, Feb. 16, at First Presbyterian Church, with inurnment at a later date in Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the church.
He was born Aug. 12, 1939, in Waterloo, the son of Lawrence Richard and Marthellen Lunkley Simbric. He married
Mary Mishler on July 9, 1971 in Waterloo.
Mr. Simbric was a graduate of East Waterloo High School and was employed as a sales representative for Sisco Corp. until retiring Dec. 31, 2001.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Richard (Diane) of Springfield, Mass.; three daughters, Jody (Wayne) Davis of Grant Island, Neb., Joan (Tracy) Nanke of Cedar Falls, Iowa and Beth (Kevin) Wagner of Waterloo; seven grandchildren, Aaron and Julie Wagner, Mitchell Davis, Jacob and Joshua Nanke, Chrystal and Erika Arrastia; and his mother of Waterloo;
He was preceded in death by his father and a grandson, Ben Davis.
Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Beryl Clayton Hansen, 91, of 1037 19th St. S.W., Mason City, Iowa died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City. Due to his wishes he donated his body to University of Iowa School of Anatomy. Graveside services will be at a later time in Buffalo Township Cemetery, Titonka, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to I.O.O.F. Home, 1037 19th St. S.W., Mason City, Iowa.
Beryl was born March 13, 1912 in Titonka, the son of Ernest Arthur and Beulah (Hall) Hansen. He graduated from Rudd High School and Hamilton Business College, Mason City.
Beryl married
Dorothy Wilma Ervay April 1, 1934 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. He worked for his father in the hardware business in Rudd, Iowa until they moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1942. He was an Iowa State Highway Patrolman from 1942-1952 and he and his brother, Daryl, were one of the first 50 highway patrolmen and also the first set of brothers on the patrol.
Beryl moved to Clear Lake in 1952 where he went into sales and later was employed with Pinkerton and then as a security guard for K-Mart.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake.
Beryl is survived by three children, Terrance Hansen and his wife, Judy, Jenison, Mich., Judith McCaslin, Mason City, and Pamela Stewart and her husband, Wayne, Camanche, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great- grandchildren and his sister, Audrey Bailey, Humboldt, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; son-in-law, Harold McCaslin; brother, Daryl; son, David, and great-granddaughter, Megan Barr.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Lou Horan, 67, of Opportunity Village, Clear Lake, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Monsignor Robert Hogan officiating. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Cemetery, Eagle Grove, Iowa with the Rev. David Beckman officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. the day of the service at the church. Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of the service. Memorials may be directed to Opportunity Village of Clear Lake.
Mary Lou was born April 10, 1936 in Clarion, Iowa, one of two daughters of Joseph Augustus and Alma H. (Carlson) Horan. She grew up in Clarion, attending St. John's Catholic School. Mary Lou became a resident of Opportunity Village in Clear Lake in 1976 and since then has enjoyed many activities there including music, crafts, and computers. She had a great love of dogs and loved visiting with her family and friends. Mary Lou was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Clear Lake.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, Dick Forbes and his wife, Beverly, of Eagle Grove; three nephews, John Forbes and his wife, Cindy, and their children, Adam and Meredith, all of Urbandale, Iowa, Brian Forbes and his wife, Kate, and their children, Lauren and Grant, all of Tulsa, Ok., and Mark Forbes and his wife, Karen, and their son, Spencer, also of Tulsa; and one niece, Monica Siemens and her husband, Ron, of Goldfield, Iowa.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Patricia A. Forbes.
Max Bernard Morning, 71, of Clear Lake, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa passed from this life on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 of Cancer at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. His loving family was at his bedside at the time of passing. Funeral services were held at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Garden in Des Moines on Friday, Feb. 20.
Max was a veteran of the United States Navy. In 1995 he retired from USWest Direct Yellow Pages after 29 years of employment. His greatest enjoyments were golfing, bowling, boating, church, his friends and family, neighborhood gatherings and living the lake life. He was a member of Oak Hills Golf Club, Telephone Pioneers, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Zion Lutheran Church of Clear Lake.
Max is survived by his wife, Mary, of Clear Lake; his son, Michael and daughter, Linda Hendricks of Des Moines; a sister, Maxine Groven of North Carolina; grandsons, Ace Hendricks (wife Marsha) of Hesper, Iowa, and Nicholas Morning of Des Moines; a granddaughter, Jennifer Pierson (husband Martin) of Tampa, Fla.; three great-grandsons, Scotty, Jackson and Pacen Hendricks of Hesper and two great-granddaughters, Hope and Julia Requeno of Tampa.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society.
