Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Lois Alvina Smidt, 85, of Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, Iowa died Tuesday June 21, 2005 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. Services will be Friday 10:30a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, Iowa with Pastor Dave Wiersbe officiating. Interment will be in the Madison Twp. Cemetery, Forest City, Iowa. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Friday at the church. The family suggests memorials to Evangelical Free Church.
Lois was born March 10, 1920 in rural Thompson, Iowa the daughter of Ezra and Fern (Dingman) Smidt. She lived at home with her parents until her mother died and has spent her remaining years at Duncan Heights, Concord Care Center, Opportunity Village and Oakwood Care Center. The family would like to thank the staff for the wonderful care that was given to her.
Lois enjoyed her visits with her family, friends, her pastor and listening to Rod Carlson sing. She will always be known for her beautiful smile. She was a member of Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake.
Lois is survived by her sister Ruth B. Ouverson, Fertile, Iowa; brother Donald Smidt and his wife Marvel, Forest City, Iowa and a sister Darlene Holecek and her husband Glen, Centuria, Wis. and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Harold "Moke" Ouverson and an infant sister.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Radio Eliasen, 86, resident of Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, died Sunday, July 3, 2005 at the Oakwood Care Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 6, 10:30 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. S., Clear Lake, with Msgr. Robert Hogan officiating. Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to Mary Eliasen Memorial fund.
Mary was born Dec. 6, 1918 in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Gus and Pauline Radio. She attended school in Mason City and graduated from Mason City High School in 1936. Mary married
Harry John Eliasen on Oct. 21, 1939 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City. She was the mother of Richard Eliasen, Hernando, Fla. and Roger Eliasen, Clear Lake. She was a grandmother of six and great-grandmother of nine.
Mary enjoyed her home, gardening, spending time with her family and watching her grandchildren play sports. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 52 years, Harry John Eliasen, who died in 1991; her brothers, Steve, Harry, John and Ted "Buck" Radio and one sister, Ann Netzel.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Bernice E. "Bonnie" Coble, 80, of Silvercrest at the Woodlands, Clive, Iowa, died Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at Taylor House in Des Moines, Iowa. Memorial services were held Saturday, July 16, 2005 at Dunn's Funeral Home in Des Moines.
Bonnie was born on July 28, 1924 in Binghamton, N.Y., the daughter of Marjorie (Nolze) and Dudley Wright and lived in Kansas City, Mo. until 1953. Bonnie earned a nursing degree in Kansas City and in 1947 was married
to R.J. "Rex" Coble, M.D.
Bonnie was a wonderful nurse and worked with her husband, Rex, in private practice for 18 years, though she helped him throughout his career. They lived in Lake Park, Iowa from 1954 to 1973 then moved to Clear Lake for a couple of years. From 1975 to 1988 they lived in Iowa City, Iowa, where Rex was integral in developing the Family Practice Department at the University of Iowa. In 1988 they retired and moved to the south side of Des Moines.
Bonnie enjoyed antiques, collectibles, genealogy, dogs and dog shows.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex, in 2000; her parents, Dudley and Marjorie in 1986 and her sister, Polly Strathman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1986.
Bonnie is survived by four children: Katherine Horlamus of West Des Moines; Paul "Rex" Coble; Tim Coble and his wife, Janice, of Des Moines; Ruth Jones and her husband, Larry, of Des Moines; two grandchildren, Paul Ryan Coble of Tempe, Az. and Josh Messer of Des Moines.
Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation Iowa Chapter or Mercy Hospital Foundation, Iowa City.
Harry Lane Ginkens, 87, and his wife, Bette Mae (Duncan) Ginkens, 77, of Vincent, Iowa, formerly of the Clear Lake/Ventura Iowa area were killed in a car/train accident in Webster County, Iowa, on July 13, 2005. Memorial services were held Monday, July 18, at the Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor Dave Wiersbe officiating. Inurnment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery with military honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W. The family suggests memorials be directed to the Harry and Bette Ginkens Memorial Fund.
Harry was born Jan. 17, 1918, the son of Frank & Ella (Johnson) Ginkens at Slayton, Minn. His family moved to Missouri, where he attended school, and later they moved back to Iowa and armed. Harry served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Following his discharge from service Harry returned to Clear Lake and worked with his brother, Harold, at their Phillips 66 Gas Station.
Bette Mae Ginkens, 77, was born Oct. 17, 1927, the daughter of Jesse Duncan and Leota (Howard) Duncan at Henderson, Mo. At an early age Bette moved with her family to Clear Lake. Bette and Harry were married
Dec. 10, 1950 at Mason City, Iowa and lived in Clear Lake.
Harry worked for Northern Natural Gas until retiring in 1981. Bette worked at Witkie's, Holiday Inn and as a Hostess at Bennigans. Harry enjoyed gardening and animals, reading (especially Zane Grey Westerns), square dancing and listening to Blue Grass Music.
Bette enjoyed canning, sewing, Blue Grass Music and her family.
In 2002 Harry and Bette moved to Vincent and lived on their daughter and son-in-law's acreage. They were members of the Evangelical Free Church while living in Clear Lake and when they moved to Vincent they became members of Epworth Methodist Church, Ft. Dodge, Iowa.
Harry and Bette are survived by three children, Mary (Bob) Ockerman of Adel, Iowa; Nancy Ouverson of Mitchellville, Iowa and Connie (Tim) Cox of Vincent; three grandchildren, Jeff (Tammy) Ockerman of Adel; Sheila (Brad) Tomlinson of Altoona, Iowa and Stephanie Cox of Ames, Iowa; granddaughter-in-law, Shari Ockerman, Boise, Idaho; nine great-grandchildren, Scott, Stephanie, Austin, Kyle, Katie, Tessa, Jesse, Hailey and Connor.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bette; grandson, David Ockerman; brothers, Homer, Howard and Harold Ginkens; sisters, Lucy Dalin and Bessie Taylor.
Bette was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry; grandson, David Ockerman; two brothers, Wayne and Lawrence Duncan.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne F. Hicks, 77, 110 Fairway Dr., Clear Lake, died Monday, July 18, 2005 at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 20, 1 p.m., at Galilean Lutheran Church, Highway 18 W., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jeff Ungs officiating. According to his wishes, his body has been cremated. A private inurnment will be held at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in his name to Galilean Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or the American Cancer Society.
Wayne was born Sept. 13, 1927, in Mason City, the son of Virgil and Lou (Freeman) Hicks. He attended school in Mason City until sixth grade, when the family moved to El Paso, Texas where he attended school and graduated from Austin High School in 1945. Wayne entered the military, serving in the U.S. Navy on an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He attended Iowa State University for three years where he was a member of Iowa Beta of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.
Wayne married
his college sweetheart, Paula Marcusen, on Dec. 28, 1949 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa. He worked for Standard Oil of Indiana, where work transferred him between Mason City, Des Moines, Kansas City and Omaha. He retired from BP Amoco after 28 years. Following retirement, he owned and operated Lake Sport Shop in Clear Lake. His hobbies included fishing and trading sport cards on eBay. Wayne was a member of Galilean Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Paula Hicks, Clear Lake; four children, Deborah Hyland and her husband, Garry, Omaha, Neb., Jeff Hicks, Ventura, Iowa, Janna McQuinn, Omaha, and Melinda Wilson and her husband, Skeeter, Clear Lake; nine grandchildren: Roben Hicks; Dorthy Hyland; Josh Hicks and his wife, Crescent; Sam Hicks; Meghan and Nick McQuinn; Carly, Walker and Ivy Wilson, and one great-grandchild, Ethan Hicks.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Donald F. Baker, 78, died at Muse-Norris Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, on July 18, 2005. A memorial service will be held at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake, Friday, July 22, at 2 p.m., with Jared Baker officiating. Visitation with family will be held Thursday from 4 7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke. Inurnment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Clear Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4868. Memorial donations may be directed to the Donald Baker Memorial Fund.
Donald F. Baker was born Nov. 29, 1926 in Corydon, Iowa, the son of Halleck and Hazel (White) Baker. He graduated from North High School in Des Moines. After high school he was drafted into the US Army of the Occupation, and served in Frankfort and Berlin Germany in the Man Power Division, under General Lucius Clay in WWII, 1946.
After being honorably discharged, he married
Marian Caudle in November of 1947. After the war he owned Don's Place in Jewel, Iowa until 1963. He served on the Jewel City Council for three terms, he was the Post Commander and Post Adjutant of the American Legion in Jewel. He was a member of the American Legion for 58 years, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a member of the V.F.W. in Clear Lake. After selling Don's Place he moved to Clear Lake and sold insurance and real estate. He married
Gladys "Myke" Spilman on June 28, 1974. Don and Myke moved to Sun City, Az. in 1983 and moved back to Clear Lake in 1988.
Don liked to sing and dance. He was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes and he was an avid golfer, scoring six hole-in-ones in his golfing career.
Don is survived by his wife, Gladys "Myke" (Spilman) Baker, Clear Lake; three sons, Dennis (Kathy) Baker, Denver, Colo., Mark Baker, Denver, and Tim (Deidre) Baker, Henderson, Nev.; step-daughters, Sheryl (Tim) Johnson, Fargo, N.D. and Carol Spilman, Los Angeles, Calif.; two brothers, Keith Baker, Branson, Mo., and John Baker, Chicago, Ill; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Richard Baker, Dwight Baker, Charles Baker; his sisters, Doris Richard, Ruth Baker, and Sally Crim.
Anita (Chizek) Peters of DuQuoin, Ill., died on July 7, 2005 at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin.
Anita was born to John and Barbara (Haege) Chizek on Feb. 6, 1913 at the family home in Clear Lake. She attended Clear Lake Schools and graduated in 1930.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Barbara Chizek; brothers, Cletus Chizek and Robert Chizek and her sister, Angela (Chizek) DuSold.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Peters; two daughters, Patricia Jent of Dallas, Texas, her husband, Nicholas and children, Elizabeth and Andrew; Susan Downey of Atlanta, Ga., her husband, John A. and children, Richard and Jennifer. Her great-grandchildren are Victoria, Jack and Blake Cronin, Finn and Jake Jent and Christina Downey. She is also survived by three nieces, Nancy (Chizek) Harris, Diane (DuSold) Quigley, and Anne (Chizek) Bagby and one nephew, David Chizek.
She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she served as a member of the Altar Society and the National Council of Catholic Women.
She was a 50-year member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority where she held many offices over the years.
A rosary was held Saturday, July 9, with a Mass of Christian burial said at Sacred Heart Catholic Church by Msgr. Harry J. Jerome. The only visitation was held at the church on Saturday morning.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Richard Peters, 222 East North, DuQuoin, IL 62832.
Richard V. Shaw, 57, of 251 Parkridge Drive, Mason City, Iowa died Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th Street, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean C. Hess Officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Full military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Memorials may be given to the Mason City Community Theatre or Hospice of North Iowa.
Richard Vernon Shaw was born Jan. 13, 1948 to Everett H. and Eleanor L. (Carlsen) Shaw in Estherville, Iowa. He was baptized in Estherville Lutheran Church and attended school in Estherville. Rich moved with his parents to Forest City, Iowa in 1960 and graduated from Forest City High School in 1966. He was very active in sports and musical events such as chorus, band and drama, which was a life-long interest. Rich attended Waldorf College where he sang in the Waldorf Choir. He graduated in 1968. He then enrolled in Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minn. In the spring of 1969, Rich received his draft notice. He elected to enlist in the U.S. Navy. While at boot camp in San Diego, Calif. he served as assistant director for the Blue Jacket Choir. He received additional training in Navel security in Washington D.C. and then served in Guam for 18 months. He returned to the Washington D.C. area and worked for D.C.I., Distribution Codes Incorporated, for several years. Rich moved to Mason City where he became manager of Sid's Gas & Grocery. He was currently employed at Kraft Foods. Rich married
Beth Short on June 28, 1986 at the Congregational Church in Clear Lake. He was very active in the Mason City Community Theatre and at one time directed "Man of La Mancha." Ironically, Rich's very first show at Waldorf and his first and last shows at the Mason City Community Theatre was "Fantasticks" Rich was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He lived as a child of God, trusting in Jesus his Savior and died in confidence of eternal life.
Rich is survived by his wife, Beth, of Mason City; children, Sarah, Scott Richard, Malinda and Daniel, all of Mason City; father, Everett Shaw of Forest City; brother, the Rev. Carlton J. Shaw of Sumner, Iowa and his children Eric, Beth and Andrew; sisters, Carmen Shaw of Oshkosh, Wis., Roberta Shaw of Minneapolis; mother-in-law, Katherine Short of Mason City; sisters-in-law, Jean Giarraffa and husband, Frank, of St. Charles, Mo. and their children, Lisa, Natalie, Joseph and Emily; Karen Henely and husband, Paul of Grundy Center, Iowa and their children, Michael, Christopher and Katherine; brother-in-law, David Tempus and wife, Kathy, of Nora Springs, Iowa and their children, Marcy and Brandon.
Rich was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanor; father-in-law, Glenn Short; two sisters-in-law, Gerd Shaw and Suellen Tempus and a nephew, Richard Henely.
A. Agnew, 91, Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, died Sunday, July 31, 2005 at Mercy Medical Center, Mason City, Iowa. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Galilean Lutheran Church, Hwy 18 W., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jeff Ungs officiating. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Coulter Cemetery, Coulter, Iowa. Memorials may be given to Galilean Lutheran Church in her name.
Della was born July 5, 1914 at Latimer, Iowa, the daughter of Chris B. and Minnie (Riis) Johansen. She attended Latimer schools graduating from Latimer High School in 1931. She attended Dana College in Blair, Neb. Della worked at Latimer State Bank for 10 years. She married
John Agnew Jan. 24, 1945 in Coulter. John and Della farmed in the Coulter area until they retired and moved to Clear Lake in the spring of 1979.
John and Della loved to dance, especially square dancing. She loved playing the piano, baking and cooking. She was a member of Galilean Lutheran Church.
Della is survived by her sister, Dorothy Thomsen, Clear Lake; sisters-in-law, Vera Johansen, Northfield, Minn. and Neva Johansen, Latimer; brother-in-law, Richard Azeltine, Chatsworth, Calif. and several nieces and nephews.
Della was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John on April 3, 2003 and two brothers, Lewis and Earl Johansen.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Ruby E. Hoyt, 92, of rural Garner, Iowa passed away Monday, Aug. 1, 2005 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, with Richard Scott, Lay Assistant, of Zion Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Cemetery, Garner. Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service at Ward-Van Slyke. Memorials may be given to the Ruby E. Hoyt Memorial Fund.
Ruby Eva Hoyt was born July 4, 1913 in rural Goodell, Hancock County, Iowa to Charles and Amanda (Willer) Halfpop. Ruby graduated from Goodell High School in 1931. She was united in marriage to Emmett D. Hoyt on July 3, 1934 at Britt, Iowa. They had two children. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church.
Ruby and Emmett farmed together all of their married
life, living on the same farm since 1946. She took an active part in the farming and after retirement in 1978, continued to live on the farm. Even after retirement she would help out with chores, etc. until she was no longer able. They enjoyed spending summers in Minnesota on fishing trips.
Ruby was a quilt maker, making quilts for all of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. One of her quilts won a purple ribbon at the North Iowa Fair. Ruby enjoyed cooking and read cookbooks instead of novels. She was always trying out new recipes. You couldn't enter her kitchen without being fed. She continued to feed the "farmhands" until age 90 when she broke her hip.
She loved her family and cherished Christmas when they were all together.
She will be missed by her family and friends: son, Robert and his wife, Pat, Garner; daughter, Dixie Boehnke, Clear Lake; grandchildren, Twyla Coe and her fiancé, David Schrader, Melody Coe, and Suzanne Copas and husband, Tim; great-grandchildren, Joshua Coe, Amanda Johnson and her husband, Troy and children, Alexis, Cade and Coy, Sandra Coe and her children, Brenna and Jackson; Sarah Myers and her husband, Eric and son, Jacob and Krystal Copas; sister, Gladys McNutt of Fargo, N.D.; dear friend and roommate, Eloise Prescott; many nieces and nephews.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Emmett in 1995; sisters, Edith Hubbard, Margaret Christie; brother, Paul Halfpop and sister-in-law, Elsie Frandson.
L.B. "Mike" Wolfe, 94, of rural Fertile, Iowa died Friday, Aug.. 5, 2005 at the USA Heathcare, Mason City, Iowa. A funeral service was held Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, Forest City, with Pastors Robert Snitzer and Lindsay Jordan officiating. Burial was at the Brush Point Cemetery, rural Fertile.
L.B. "Mike" Wolfe was born April 17, 1911 in Blairstown, Iowa the son of Arthur and Alma (Dolge) Wolf. He attended school in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Forest City.
Mike married
Ruth Myhre on Aug. 26, 1936 in Fertile. They farmed in the Fertile-Forest City area.He enjoyed working together with his neighbors. Mike also did custom work, such as combining and baling.
He loved his family and liked to "romp" with his grandchildren and tell stories. They will always remember grandpa with his striped overalls. Mike enjoyed watching boxing and was once a boxer in his younger days. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye Football Fan. He also enjoyed fishing in northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, and woodworking.
Mike was a member of the Fertile Lutheran Church and later Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, Fertile Consolidated School Board of Education, board of the Fertile Creamery, and the Fertile Lion's Club. He also was the Cerro Gordo Weed Commissioner for several years.
Mike is survived by his four children: Deanna Jordan and her husband, Raymond, Fertile; Harold Wolfe, Clear Lake; Robert Wolfe and his wife, Sandra, Clear Lake; and Linda Nuehring and her husband, Lowell, Clear Lake; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; son, Bernard; brothers, Marvin and Kenneth, and sisters, Greta Hansler, Maxine Otis, and Marian Waller.
Norma Jean "Johnson" Kirchgatter, 45, of Mason City, Iowa died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Family suggests memorials to Norma Jean Kirchgatter.
Norma was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Norman L. and Sandra J.(Rasmuson) Johnson. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.
She attended school in Clear Lake. She enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. Norma married
Tom Kirchgatter on May 27, 1994 in Mason City. Norma had been battling cancer for 10 years and was a fighter right up until the end. Norma was always smiling and had a positive attitude. Norma enjoyed cooking, flowers, her cats and spending time with her family - especially her son, Lucas.
Norma is survived by her husband, Tom Kirchgatter, Mason City; a daughter, Mindy, (Jason) Floyd, Mary Esther, Fla. and a son, Lucas Kirchgatter, Mason City; a brother, Allen Norman Johnson and a sister, Sheral (Dennis) Abbott, a nephew, Zachary Abbott and a niece, Alicia Abbott, all of Clear Lake; along with aunts and uncles.
Norma was proceeded in death by her parents and a son, Luther.
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.
