Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Ruby Karoline Barlow, 94, formerly of Clear Lake, died Monday, July 19, 2004 at the U.S.A. Healthcare Center, Mason City, Iowa. A funeral service was held Thursday, July 22, at the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association.
Ruby, the daughter of John Carl and Maude (Thomas) Grell, was born Oct. 30, 1909 in Ventura, where she attended school. Ruby married
Melvin E. Barlow on March 2, 1940 at Garner, Iowa. They farmed south of Clear Lake until 1978, when they retired to Clear Lake. Neighbors and friends were very important to both Ruby and Melvin.
Ruby enjoyed reading, quilting, sewing and she loved flowers (especially roses). But her greatest love was her family. Ruby was a loving, caring wife, mother and grandmother, who continually was concerned about their welfare. "Mom will be remembered for her infectious laugh, ready smile and pure enjoyment of watching young children."
Ruby was a member of the Clear Lake Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women Circle, Sing and Sew Club and Tina Rebekah Lodge.
Ruby is survived by two daughters, Julie Schelhammer and her husband, Lance, Lenexa, Kan. and Carolyn Nyhus and her husband, Allan, Cedar Falls, Iowa; four grandchildren, Leslie Smith and her husband, Peter, Ann Arbor, Mich., Susan Wray and her husband, Mark, Cedar Falls, Austin Nyhus, Cedar Falls, and Lance Schelhammer II and his wife, Stacie, Shawnee, Kan.; seven great-grandchildren, Victoria and Allan Nyhus, Hannah and Madeline Smith, Brett and Emily Wray and Isabel Schelhammer.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin on May 17, 1992, and six brothers and sisters, Walter Grell, Nettie Zook, Alice Borton, Mildred Caffrey, Cora Spurrier and Carl Grell.
James Maurice Dunlay, 84, of Clear Lake, died Monday, July 26, 2004 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.
Memorial services were held Saturday, July 31, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, New Haven, Iowa with the Rev. Ray Atwood officiating. Inurnment was in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, New Haven. Family suggests memorials to Oakwood Care Center Activity Fund.
James was born Oct. 23, 1919 in Riceville, Iowa the son of Vincent and Matilda (Kleckner) Dunlay. He attended Riceville High School.
James married
Luella Marr on Nov. 3, 1942 at the St. Peter's Catholic Church, New Haven.
He lived in Milwaukee, Wis. during WWII where he worked at a defense factory building parts for planes. James moved to New Haven where he farmed until 1956. He then moved to Waterloo. He was a salesman for Nutrena Foods. In 1967 moved to Postville, Iowa where he worked in sales for the turkey plant. In 1980 moved to Manson, Iowa where he was involved in Sears Catalog sales and operating a grocery business until his retirement in 1992. He then moved to Woden, Iowa. In 2001 he moved to Garner, Iowa and in 2003 moved to Oakwood Care Center to be by his wife.
He enjoyed camping, fishing, going to ballgames and especially spending time with his children and grandchildren. He loved telling stories and having coffee while visiting with friends.
James will be sadly missed by three children: Ronald Dunlay and his wife, Sue, Ft. Madison, Iowa, Kathy Mortensen and her husband, Ken, Ventura, and John Dunlay and his wife, Debbie, Cheyenne, Wyo.; fifteen grandchildren: Jennifer and her husband, Derek, Sara and her husband, Ryan, Ronnie, Joe, Bridget, Angela, Chris, Kristi, Aaron, Nate and his wife, Heather, Chad, Amy, Patricia, Shelly and her husband, Fred, and David and his wife, Joy; nine great-grandchildren: Alyssa, James, Anthony, Jordan, Hunter, Tucker, Sarah, Evan and Ethan; one sister, Dorothy Fox and her husband, James and one brother, Terry Dunlay and his wife, Diane and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Luella on May 23, 2004; three brothers, Rusty, Keith and Rex and one sister, Kate.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
David Endre Lansrud, Houston, Texas, much-loved husband, father and grandfather, went home to be with Jesus on July 27, 2004, after a long courageous battle with emphysema.
Graveside services were held on Saturday, July 31, at Hollywood Cemetery, Houston. Pat H. Foley Funeral Directors, Houston, were in charge of arrangements.
David was born in Mason City, Iowa. Among other family members, he is survived by a sister, Barbara Roth, Mason City.
Lisle Dewey Whisler, 93, of 2400 South Shore Dr, Clear Lake, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at the IOOF Home, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 31 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. Interment was at the Madison Township Cemetery, Forest City, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Lisle Whisler Memorial Fund.
Lisle was born June 3, 1911 at Midland, S.D. the son of Eugene and Irene (Powell) Whisler. Lisle graduated from Midland High School and then attended and graduated from Open Bible Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. Lisle married
Elaine Rowcliffe at South Dakota. He pioneered churches in South Dakota before moving to Webster City, Iowa. After Elaine passed away due to cancer, Lisle married
Marlys Wagner Hawkinson on May 11, 1973, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. Lisle also was custodian for Clear Lake Open Bible Camp Grounds, and worked at Opportunity Village, retiring in 1984. In 1985 they moved to Minnesota where he was a fill-in pastor for several churches and Bible Study minister. Lisle and Marlys wintered at Clear Lake and in May 2002, he entered the IOOF Home. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Mountain Lake, Minn. He enjoyed playing the organ and vegetable gardening.
Lisle is survived by his wife, Marlys Whisler, of Clear Lake; four children, Dan (Kathy) Whisler of Des Moines, Iowa, Mary Lee (Ean) Hastie of Denver, Colo., Sharon (Darwin) McIntosh of Colville, Wash., Byron (Vicki) Whisler of Cucamonga, Calif.; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, Mary Whisler of Midland, S.D.; one step-daughter, Kathy (Jerry) Nydegger of Redwood Falls, Minn.; two step-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and friends.
His parents; first wife, Elaine; three brothers; five sisters, and a granddaughter, Sherry Moore, preceded him in death.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Larry L. Benson, 56, of 709 S. 9th St., Clear Lake, died Friday, July 30, 2004 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa from a long battle with cancer.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery with military honors by the 1133rd Transportation Unit. Family suggests memorials to the Larry L. Benson memorial fund.
Larry was born Jan. 6, 1948 in Harlan, Iowa the son of Bert and Agneta (Flug) Benson. He graduated from Ventura High School in 1967. He entered the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam War. Following the service with the Navy he joined the 1133rd Transportation Unit and served during the Desert Storm and was a member for 22 years.
Larry married
Judy Dyre on Nov. 16, 1973 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura.
Larry worked for the City of Clear Lake in the Street Department for over 28 years.
He enjoyed woodworking, riding his motorcycle, bowling, racing his hornet at the fair grounds and spending time with his grandsons.
He was a member of Clear Lake Muddy Pond CB Club and was known as the Paper Tiger until it disbanded. He was a member of the Clear Lake Volunteer Fire Department for over 13 years and a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Larry is survived by his two children: Trinity Benson and his wife, Erica, and their two children, Nathan and Pierce Benson, Clear Lake, and Terry Benson, Clear Lake, and her fiancé, Jon Moritz, Ventura; his brother, Gary Benson and his wife, Sibyl, Dalton, Ga.; his four sisters, Ardelle Pope, Harlan, Iowa, Rosemary Gross and her husband, Russell, Aurora, Minn., Betty Page, Albert Lea, Minn. and Carol Steinlicht, Garner, Iowa; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Colleen and Jim Dyre, Clear Lake and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Bertha and wife, Judy, in 1998.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Donna Isabelle Luscomb, 77, 405 27th Ave S., Clear Lake, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. No services will be held. Her body was cremated.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider memorials to the charity of their choice in memory of Donna I. Luscomb.
Donna was born Dec. 14, 1926, in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Forrest and Irene (Shaffer) Judd. Donna married
Melvin I. Luscomb on Sept. 24, 1943 in Clear Lake. They farmed northwest of Clear Lake until they retired in 1970. She enjoyed traveling and painting.
Survivors include one son, Dennis Luscomb and his wife, Susan, Mission, Texas; daughters, Sheila Luscomb, Clear Lake, and Jan Beal and her husband, Jim, Sioux Falls, S.D.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Ruley and her fiancé, Jason Rosauer, Ventura, Jeffrey Ruley and his wife, Sarah, Mankato, Minn. and Ted Beal, Las Vegas, Nev. and one great-granddaughter, Karenna Ruley, Mankato.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, on April 3, 1999; her parents and one granddaughter, Angela Beal.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Thomas D. Gilles, 63, of Prescott, Wis., died Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Center, St. Paul, Minn. following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 5, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Prescott. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Mr. Gilles was born on April 19, 1941 in Osage, Iowa, the son of Dean "Porky" and Patricia A. (Mesenbrink) Gilles. He was a 1963 graduate of Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa and was associated with Piper, Jaffrey and Hopwood as an investment counselor, before becoming a partner in the Ritz, a popular supper club in Clear Lake. After becoming disabled, he moved to Prescott to be closer to his family. Tom was a loving and caring grandfather.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Prescott.
Tom is survived by his son, Thomas B. (Laurie) Gilles, Apple Valley, Minn.; his granddaughter and the light of his life, Grace Frances Gilles; his mother, Pat Gilles of Bradenton, Fla.; his brother, Jack, Clear Lake; his sister, Barbara, Ames, Iowa; a niece, Traci and nephew, Alex.
His father, Dean "Porky" Gilles, preceded him in death.
Memorials may be directed to: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 269 Dakota, St. S., Prescott, WI 54021; Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Center, 2076 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 or Heartland Homecare Network, P.O. Box 487, Hammond, WI 54015.
Mark R. Boulton, 52, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Tje family will greet friends one hour prior to service time. Memorials may be directed to the Mark R. Boulton Memorial Fund or Hospice of North Iowa.
Mark Randall Boulton was born Oct. 30, 1951 in Forest City, Iowa, the son of Max Richard Boulton Sr. and Maxine Rose (Monson) Sears.
He graduated from Clear Lake high school in 1970. He was a foreign exchange student to Bogata, Columbia, South America while in high school. After high school he attended Iowa State University for two years, majoring in engineering. While there he was a thespian participating in drama. He worked for General Electric Telephone Company in Forest City. He later transferred to Oxford, Iowa and ending in Michigan, where he lived for many years. Mark started doing construction work independently, specializing in roofing, gutters, and siding. In 2002 he moved back to Iowa when he was diagnosed with leukemia to be closer to his family.
He belonged to the R.O.T.C. in Ames and was a member of the C.B. Club known as "Cable Cutter." He was a volunteer fireman for Forest City Fire Department.
He loved to sing karaoke and play guitar, fish, camp, and anything to do outdoors. His greatest love was his family.
He is survived by significant other, Doris Franzen, of Rock Falls, Iowa; three daughters, Candice Sue Boulton, of South Korea, Crystal Marie Boulton, of Kansas City, Kan., Cassandra Jean Boulton, of Woodward, Iowa; one son, Randall Dean Boulton-Sougstad, of Forest City; brothers and sisters, Michael Richard Boulton, of Waco, Texas, Marsha Rose Thayer, of Clear Lake, Matthew Roger Boulton, of Gardner, Kan., Max Richard Sr. and his wife, HyeonJu Boulton, of Seoul, South Korea, Merry Rebecca Boulton-Trosper and her husband, William, of Rock Falls; step-father, Rancher Sears, of Clear Lake; Linda Ann Boulton, of Wayland, Iowa; a very special four-legged friend, Divot, along with many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by grandparents; parents; a brother, Martin "Marty" Ralph Boulton and sister-in-law, Delores Moore.
Robert W. B. (Bob) Krieger, 59, of 8 Woodbine Road, Mason City, Iowa, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 6, at First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, Mason City, Iowa with the Rev. Jim Stiles, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St NE, Mason City and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Memorials may be given to the Robert W. B. Krieger Memorial Fund.
Robert W. B. Krieger was born March 5, 1945 at Chicago, Ill., a son of Robert O. and Shirley (Hoy) Krieger. Bob was raised and educated in Chicago. He attended Byford Elementary School, and was a graduate of Austin High School, where he served as class president, and was in the swim club and senior choir. He received a Bachelor of Science degree, from the University of Illinois.
He was united in marriage to Sandy Carlson on June 22, 1968 at Chicago.
Bob worked at Defense Systems, Sperry Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn. for several years. In 1979 he moved to Mason City, where he worked at the Sperry/Unisys Company, Clear Lake.
In January 1991, Bob formed TeamQuest Corporation, a software development company, with offices in Clear Lake and Gottenberg, Sweden. In addition to his corporate duties, Bob founded TeamQuest Foundation, which was organized to assist non-profit entities in enhancing the use of technology in their daily operations.
Bob enjoyed fishing, woodworking, genealogy, golfing, and especially the Chicago Cubs.
He was involved with many organizations, including; board member of Mason City Economic Development Corporation; Mason City Barbershop Chorus and a barbershop quartet; and the Iowa Traction Railroad. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy Krieger; a son, Michael Krieger, Mason City; a daughter, Ashley Krieger, Mason City; his parents, Robert O. and Shirley Krieger, Chicago; one sister, Darlyn Haussmann, Aubrey, Texas; one brother, Richard (Susan) Krieger, Crystal Lake, Ill.; a brother-in-law, Quill Carlson, Lombard, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Lonarta Walsh, Cary Ill.; Aleeta Murawski, Woodale, Ill.; 14 nieces and nephews; and one great-nephew.
Marie Stricker, 83, 17396 Kingbird Ave, Mason City, Iowa, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City. A funeral service was held Friday, Aug. 6, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with Lay Assistant Richard Scott officiating. Interment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Memorials may be given to the Marie Stricker Memorial Fund.
Marie was born Jan. 15, 1921, in Mason City, the daughter of John and Marie Speakar. Marie married
Dave Stricker on Nov. 6, 1938 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mason City. They farmed north of Mason City until 1943 when they moved northwest of Mason City to farm. They moved to Willow Pointe Assisted Living in 2000.
Marie loved to sew, knit, crochet, fish, and go to casinos. She was a great cook. She collected dolls, ceramic chickens and spoons. Marie and Dave enjoyed spending their winters with their friends and relatives in Harlingen, Texas from 1977 to 1988. Marie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the DD Club.
Marie is survived by her husband, Dave Stricker, Mason City; two sons, Richard Stricker and his wife, Linda, Ventura, and Marlen Stricker and his wife, Nancy, Clear Lake; one daughter, Nadine (Stricker) Schallock and her husband, Wayne, Mason City; five grandchildren, Kristie Niemi, Derek Stricker, Sara Truax, Jacob Schallock and Jason Schallock; one great-granddaughter, Taylor Stricker; three step-grandchildren, Billy Case, Donnie Case and Gary Case; and two step-great-grandchildren, Austin and Abby Case.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Stricker, and four brothers John, Alex, Bob and Emanuel (Monty) Speakar.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
William R. Gerk died July 29, 2004 at home with family and friends approximately one month after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He lived to the end with strength of will, humor and dignity, and his daughters and nephew, Ron Gerk, will never forget those last few weeks together.
The youngest of 11, Bill was born July 10,1929 to George and Elizabeth Gerk and was raised on a farm in Clear Lake. He earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Loras University and a Master of Arts degree in public speaking from the University of Iowa. While teaching, he met his future wife and fellow teacher, Carolyn Campbell. He served in the Army from 1955 - 1957 in Germany and received an award for his articles in the military's Stars and Stripes newspaper.
After settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bill joined the SSF Fire Dept and received a state commendation for teaching fire safety in the schools. He was president of the SF Toastmasters and won the annual humorous speech contest. A self-taught magician and juggler who could handle six balls at once, he often performed for organizations and family.
An avid tennis player, Bill was founder and president of the San Mateo Tennis Club. He played in many statewide Police and Firemen Olympics', winning gold in 1975. He was also president of the SF Table Tennis Club.
After 24 years as a firefighter, Bill retired to Tucson, Az., where he pursued his passion for tennis, ranking fourth in a three-state tournament. A lifetime scholar, he amassed a personal library of over 10,000 books and frequented Bookmen's bookstore where he was known as "Wild Bill." Multi-talented, eccentric, an original, Bill used his love of humor to connect with people. In his own words, "This was not my plan - but perhaps I will find endless beauty, happiness, love and wisdom there."
He is survived by his four daughters and their families, Barbara and Lindo Morucci, daughter, Monica, of San Francisco, Calif.; Mary and Bill Murphy, daughters, Sydney and Fiona, of Denver, Colo.; Pamela Gerk and husband, Rodolfo Rivas, children, Rafael and Gabriela of Aptos, Calif.; Julie Gerk and husband-to-be, David Hernandez, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and his three brothers, Chuck Gerk of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Art Gerk of Mason City, Iowa; Don Gerk of Mankato, Minn. and many nieces and nephews.
A ceremony was held Aug. 6 at Skylawn Memorial Park, Highway 92 at Rte 35, San Mateo, Calif. In deep appreciation of Bill's caregivers, donations may be made in his memory to Carondelet Hospice or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, c/o Barbara Morucci, 240 Colon Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112.
