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Norma Jean Gilbert
Norma Jean Gilbert, 71, of Greenleaf Care Center, Fort Dodge, Iowa, formerly of Clear Lake, died Saturday, March 24, 2007 in Fort Dodge. According to her wishes her body has been cremated. An Inurnment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.
Norma Jean was born Oct. 28, 1935, in Mason City, the daughter of Charles H. and Marcella M. (Jackson) Thomas. She attended and graduated from Mason City Schools. Following school she married
and had four daughters. She worked in home health care. She then married
Ernest L. Gilbert on Feb. 17, 1972 in Blue Earth, Minn. They lived in Marshalltown, Mason City and Clear Lake where she continued her work in home health care.
Norma Jean loved playing cards and got the perfect score of "21" in cribbage two times. She loved to knit, sew and make rag dolls, including one that looked like her mother. She loved animals, both cats and dogs. She was a Rainbow Girl in Mason City. She was raised in the Lutheran religion.
Norma Jean is survived by her husband, Ernie L. Gilbert, Ft. Dodge; her mother Marcella Thomas, Clear Lake; three daughters, Debbie Jean, Signe Lynn and Nadine Ann; seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her foster brother, Fred Barlow, Mason City.
She was preceded in death by her father and her daughter, Karen Sue.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy N. (Soma) Barkema, 81, a native of Wright County, Iowa, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at the Concord Care Center, Garner, Iowa where she had been a resident for the past four years.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 31, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond, Iowa. The Rev. Troy Flibsen officiated. Burial was in the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery east of Belmond. The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial, may direct them to the Hospice of North Iowa, the Alzheimer's Society, or to the donor's choice.
Dorothy Soma, was born Nov. 13, 1925, in Wright County, the daughter of Norris and Eveline (Johnson) Soma. She attended grades 1-4 at Hickory Grove, 5th grade in Goodell, Iowa and grades 6-12 at rural Belmond and Belmond High School. Dorothy's first career began as a country school teacher.
Dorothy was united in marriage to Lyle Barkema on Oct. 26, 1945, at her parents' home near Belmond. They farmed in the Belmond, Goodell, and Klemme areas before moving to Clear Lake in 1977 where they lived on North Shore Drive, a long time dream of Dorothy's.
She loved spending time decorating the house, enjoying the view and of course dancing at the Surf Ballroom. Dorothy also worked as a nurse aide at the Oakwood Care center in Clear Lake.
Dorothy is survived by three daughters, Deanna (John) Lindblad, Napa, Calif.; Rebecca (Robert) Rise, Storden, Minn.; and Sharane (George) Springer, Asheville, N.C.; two sons, Rodney (Kathryn) Barkema, Forest City, and Dane Barkema, Mason City; four grandchildren, Heather Havard, Sacramento, Calif., Arianne Rise, Eagan, Minn., Meredith (Mike) Wilbur, North Mankato, Minn., and Rachel Springer, Savannah, Ga.; and two great-grandchildren, twins Jacob and Allie Wilbur, North Mankato.
Dorothy's sibilings include five sisters: Eleanor (Alvin) Pals, Belmond; Muriel (Duane) Durant, Dallas, Texas; Betty (Donald) Dorenkamp, Thornton, Iowa; Lois (James) Beisner, Iowa Falls, Iowa; and Shirley (Arlen) Pals, Lake Mills, Iowa. She also has two brothers: Gilman (Sandra) Soma, Belmond; and Charles (Phebe) Soma, Belmond.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Norris and Eveline; husband, Lyle; and brother-in-law, Duane Durant.
Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, was in charge of arrangements.
Lillian Lorraine Shepp, 94, Clear Lake, died Sunday, April 1, 2007 at the Oakwood Care Center, in Clear Lake. A graveside service will be held at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Ottumwa, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 4, at 1 p.m. Memorials may be given to Oakwood Care Center in Lillian's name.
Lillian was born Feb. 9, 1913 in Ottumwa, the daughter of Joseph and Emma Wiley. She attended and graduated from Ottumwa High School and business school in Ottumwa. She married
Max Shepp on May 3, 1942 in Ottumwa. They moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. in 1957. She worked for the Veteran's Administration.
In 1990 they moved to Clear Lake to be closer to their family. She was a very loving grandmother and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She also liked visiting with her neighbors. Lillian was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Lillian is survived by her son, Mark Shepp and his wife, Linda, Clear Lake; two grandsons, Drew Shepp, St. Paul, Minn. and his fiancé, Erikka Anderson, and Colin Shepp, Mankato, Minn.
Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; a stillborn son, Max; her husband, Max on Nov. 27, 2004; three sisters; and two brothers.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.
Neva Georgia Sheridan Bertagnolli, 95, of Las Cruces, N.M., formerly of Albuquerque, N.M. and Clear Lake, died March 31, 2007 in Las Cruces. A funeral mass was held April 3 at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum, Albuquerque, with interment to follow.
Neva was born Jan. 27, l912 in Clear Lake, the daughter of George and Jesse (Johnson) Sheridan. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1929 and the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. with a business degree in 1935. Colorado was the place to be for Neva as she loved being outside any time of year. Neva was united in marriage to C.M. Bertagnolli on Aug. 19, l939 in the St. Louis Catholic Church in Englewood, Colo. After living in Colorado Springs they moved to Albuquerque in 1954. Neva was employed with the government 21 years; 14 years as chief of audit for the Service Branch of the IRS in Albuquerque. She retired in 1975. Neva was active as a pink lady at St. Joseph's Hospital, AARP volunteer at the NM State Fair, and a Good Shepherd Center Volunteer delivering home meals. She worked at the annual Irish feast on St. Patrick's Day in the Albuquerque convention center.
Neva is survived by a daughter, Nancy Matteucci and her husband, Alex, of Las Cruces and a son, Jim Bertagnolli of Castle Rock, Colo. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Christine Simon (Scott), Cheryl Nikirk (David), Caren Lewis (Kevin), John Matteucci (Michelle), Martin Bertagnolli, Nicole Moran (Ted); 11 great-grandchildren and one sister, Harriet Allison, of Mason City, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 19, 1968; her parents; a brother, Phillip and a sister, Margaret.
Elsie Christina Armfield, 90, of Clear Lake, died Thursday, March 29, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 3, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Clear Lake Senior Citizen's Center.
Elsie was born Aug. 18, 1916, the daughter of Jens Marius and Olga (Christiansen) Nielsen in Thornton, Iowa. Elsie attended Thornton school system. She married
Roy Shook in June 1939 and they farmed north of Clear Lake until his death in 1947. Elsie moved to Clear Lake and worked for Clear Lake Creamery for 15 years where she candled eggs. She worked for Park Hospital as a nurse's aide and later at Ritter's Care Center as a cook. Elsie married
Russell Armfield on October 15, 1979. Elsie enjoyed growing flowers, gardening, fishing, traveling. As a snowbird she spent winters in Yuma, Az. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake.
Elsie is survived by two sons, Roger (Alicia) Shook of Stanwood, Iowa, and Larry Shook (Sharon) of Clear Lake; two step-sons Roger (Renett) Armfield of Victoria, Texas, and Larry Armfield of Garner; twin brothers, Floyd (Alice) Nielsen of Clear Lake, and Lloyd Nielsen and his special friend, Dorothy, of Wildwood, Fla.; six grandchildren, Matt (Heather) Shook, Jenny (Doug) Stolley, Neil (Cami Dixon) Shook, Julie (Shane) Muth, Cory Shook, Sandra (Brian) Johnson; as well as several step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both her husbands; her twin sister, Esther Foster and her older sister, Anna Thielen.
Betty L. Hatch, 79, of Clear Lake and formerly of Oelwein, Iowa, died Thursday, March 29, 2007 at the Hospice of North Iowa Inpatient Unit in Mason City after a brief illness.
There will be a private family graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein. Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Betty Lillian Droste was born Jan. 13, 1928 at Oelwein, the daughter of Frederick A. and Bertha J. (Thoemke) Droste. She graduated from Oelwein High School and received her registered nursing degree. Betty was united in marriage to Dwight G. Hatch on July 15, 1957 at Tulsa, Okla. She lived in Oelwein for many years and moved to Clear Lake in 1991.
Survivors include her son, Andrew (Kathy) Hatch of Clear Lake; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bob Droste.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dwight, on March 20, 1988 and three brothers, Dick, Fred, and Albert.
Betty E. Lackore, 79, Clear Lake, died Thursday, March 29, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. According to her wishes her body has been cremated. A private family service will be at a later date.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Lesley Lackore, Ames, Iowa, Joleen Smith and her husband, Kevin, Belmond, Iowa and Cheryl Garrett and her husband, Mark, Clear Lake; three grandchildren, Abbie Smith, Claire Smith and Brent Lackore.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers; and one sister.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Duran D.C. "Hootch" Hill, 89, of Belmond, Iowa, passed away with his family by his side on Friday, March 30, 2007, at the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond.
He gifted his body to the University of Iowa-Carver College of Medicine for scientific purposes per his request, no funeral service will be held. His family is planning a public wake to celebrate his life on April 14, 2007, at his home, 503 3rd Ave. N.E. in Belmond for the afternoon and evening with further details to be announced later next week.
Duran was born Aug. 31, 1917, in Belmond, the son of Arthur W. Hill and Edith B. (Luick) Hill. He was raised in Belmond and graduated from the Belmond schools. From a very young age he had a desire to fly and worked in exchange for flying lessons. He became a service and flight inspector prior to enlisting in the Army-Airforce in 1943, serving until 1946.
Duran married
Marie Osborne of Centralia, Ill. in 1946 and they returned to Belmond where he worked at the General Mills plant for several years. He also did floor covering installation for family and friends until it became his full time trade. He later worked for Winnebago Industries until he retired. Duran enjoyed music, dancing and playing the drums. He was a member of Bob and the Raiders Band and sat in with others whenever there was an opportunity. He loved his family and looked forward to visits from his grandchildren and later, great-grandchildren as he always had an imaginary tale to tell them.
Airplanes continued to be his favorite pastime; owning, flying, building, and restoring several kinds until recently. He was an active young member of the Civil Air Patrol, and later in life, the EAA, Chapter 94 and Chapter 13 Antique Classics, traveling to Oshkosh annually. He volunteered his time and knowledge to the Young Eagles Program to keep the joy of flying alive.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters, Muriel and Norma Jean, half-brothers, Clair and Raymond, and his former wife, Marie.
His is survived by his two children; daughter, Jorja and her husband, Jim Erickson, Clarion, Iowa; and son, Bruce Hill and his wife, Tina of Manly, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Jimi Hill and his wife, Lindsay of Springfield, Mo., Neil Wood and his friend, Kris of Des Moines, Iowa, Ryan Wood and his wife, Jodi of Ankeny, Iowa, Dante Hill and his wife, Jennifer of Portland, Or., Amber Knapp and husband, Travis, Ciara Hill, Trenton Hill and friend, Marissa, all of Manly; eight great-grandchildren and his special friend and companion, Lena Peyton of Belmond.
Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, was in charge of arrangements.
Zelma Mary Petersen, 76, Meservey, Iowa, died Feb. 9, 2007 at Weslaco, Texas. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m., at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave N., with the Rev. Rose Calderson-Khan officiating and the Rev. Dennis Ganz as guest speaker. Visitation with family will be Friday from 5 -8 p.m., at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. Inurnment will be at the Meservey Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa.
Zelma was born April 17, 1930, south of Kanawha, Iowa to Oliver Henry and Eva Belle (Goodrich) Schnebly. She moved with her family to Hayfield, Iowa in 1941 where she graduated from high school. She attended and graduated from Waldorf College. Zelma married
Darreld Floyd Petersen Sr. in Algona, Iowa on Sept. 12, 1949. They moved near Fort Knox, Ky. until Darreld was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. They moved to Forest City, Iowa in 1952 and in 1957 located to Clear Lake. Zelma worked for the Farm Bureau Insurance Co. in Algona, Lake Realty and Wood-N-Things in Clear Lake, and Bergo's in Mason City for 12 years. She was an "Eagle" member of "Hour of Power," Dr. Schuller's Air Crystal Cathedral Church, and a member of the United Methodist Church for the time she lived in Clear Lake. She was currently a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Meservey, where she and her husband resided in the summer. She was a member of the UMW.
Zelma is survived by her husband, Darreld Floyd Petersen Sr.; four children, Darreld (Buzz) Petersen Jr. and wife, Beverly, of Clear Lake; Clifford Henry Petersen and wife, Mary, of Fertile, Iowa; William Boyd Petersen (Surf) and Margaret Dickens of Clear Lake; and Zelene Marie (Petersen) and husband, Mark Schilling, of Meservey; two sisters, Winona Schultz and Wanita Priebe; three brothers, Orvin Schnebly, Russell Schnebly, and Roger Schnebly; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren along with many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Zelma was preceded in death by her parents in 1993; one grandson, Joey C. Petersen of Fertile in 1981; and one daughter-in-law, Diane Petersen of Clear Lake, in 2002.
Judy Ann (Darland) Wiemann, 60, died Monday, April 9, 2007, after a long courageous battle with cancer, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services for Judy will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 13, at the First Reformed Church, 620 2nd St., Meservey, Iowa with the Rev. Rodney Meester officiating. Interment will be in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Memorials may be directed to the Judy Ann Wiemann Memorial Fund.
Judy Ann Darland was born on March 31, 1947 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Glenn and Marion (Wiggins) Darland. She graduated from Goldfield High School in 1965. She was united in marriage to Gordy Wiemann on Oct. 15, 1965. She was a loving mother of four children. They made their home on an acreage by Meservey. She was a nurse's aide for numerous facilities including Fort Dodge, Waverly, Eagle Grove, and Belmond. Judy worked at Unisys in Clear Lake for 12 years. The last place she worked was Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Mason City. She worked there for 15 years. Judy also helped with Wiemann Auction service for 36 years.
Judy loved to read books, watch movies, and hang out with her grandchildren. Judy also loved 50 and 60's music, swimming and all holidays, especially Christmas. Judy especially loved her nine grandkids. She was a member of the First Reformed Church of Meservey.
Judy is survived by her husband of 41 years, Gordon Wiemann, Clear Lake; three children, Marcy Hyde and her husband, Randee, Becky Formanek and her husband, Rich, all of Garner, Iowa, and Gary Wiemann and his wife, Brooke, Mason City; nine grandchildren, Jamie Halfpop, Jesse Halfpop, Jacob Hyde, Britney Formanek, Nick Formanek, all of Garner, Cody Wiemann, Haley Wiemann, Conner Wiemann, and Cooper Wiemann, all of Mason City; one sister, Beverly Hartnett, Denver, Colo., a sister-in-law, Carmen Johnson, of Belmond, Iowa; along with nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Judy was preceded in death by her daughter, Heidi Wiemann; parents, Marion Darland and Glenn Darland; mother and father-in-law, Leonard and Lyda Wiemann.
Douglas (Doug) Dale Cohrs, 50, of Mason City, Iowa died Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Funeral Services were held Monday, April 16, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura, Iowa with the Rev. Daird Korth officiating. Interment will be in the Pilot Knob Cemetery, Forest City, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Douglas Cohrs Memorial Fund.
Douglas was born June 29, 1956 the son of Duane and Lorraine (Readinger) Cohrs in Atlantic, Iowa. Doug was a graduate of Atlantic High School in 1974. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic, on July 29, 1956 and confirmed May 17, 1970. Following high school Doug moved to Clear Lake and worked at Andrews Prestress and later for Clear Lake Bakery. Doug enjoyed woodworking, restoring antique furniture, collecting marbles and other antiques. Doug loved his family and especially his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time chauffeuring them around. He was a very mischievous, but loveable man. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura.
Doug married
Debra Meling on Aug. 31, 2002 at Redeemer Lutheran Church after being together for over 18 years.
Doug is survived by his wife, Debra Cohrs of Mason City; daughter, Teri Cohrs of Klemme, Iowa; two sons, Andrew Cohrs and his wife, Amanda, of Garner, Iowa and Nicholas Cohrs and fiancée, Nicole Drey, of New Hampton, Iowa; eleven grandchildren, McKenna, Morgann, Alexys, Allyssa, Samuel, Alex, Harli, Brooklyn, Jefferson, Joslyn and Summer; his mother, Lorraine Cohrs of Garner; three sisters, Pam (Ray) Nielsen of Avoca, Iowa, Julie (Brian) Zwald of Farmington, Minn., and Kristie (Dave) Christians of Garner; two step-daughters, Teresa Bergan of Mason City and Tanya Harley of Garner.
Doug was preceded in death by his father, Duane; brother, Dann and his grandparents.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Donald Johnson, 84, of 114 Orchard Lane, Clear Lake, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, April 12, 2007. Memorial services were held Monday, April 16, at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Military honors will be at the church. He has donated his body to the University of Iowa Medical School. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Hospice of North Iowa
Donald Wilfred Johnson was born June 7, 1922 in Ellington Township, Hancock County, Iowa. He was the son of Philip and Ada (Solsaa) Johnson. He graduated from Garner High School in 1941. In September 1942 he entered the Army and served with the 42nd Rainbow Division as Staff Sergeant during WWII. While serving in Germany he was awarded the Bronze star. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 31, 1945.
On Sept 18, 1948 he married
Waneta June Birkholz at the Methodist parsonage in Clear Lake. They were the parents of one daughter, Margaret Ann.
Don worked in the poultry industry for many years. He worked at Butz Hatchery in Garner for many years, eventually moving to Sioux Falls and Tyndall, S.D. In 1973 they moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa where they owned a Sears Catalog store. In 1992 they retired and moved to Clear Lake.
He was a member of the American Legion for 62 years, First Congregational Church and the National Clock Association.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, June; daughter, Margaret Ann (Dennis) Stachour, Apple Valley, Minn.; three grandchildren, Ann Marie (Peter) Czarnecki, Apple Valley, Elizabeth (Capt. Jim) Gourley, Ft. Campbell, Ky. and 1st Lt. Charles Stachour, Oklahoma City, Okla.; four great-grandchildren, Avery, Ben, Noelle, and Lindsey; a sister, Arlene Goepel, Britt; a brother, Charles (Virginia) Johnson, Chula Vista, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Ada, and two sisters, Wanda Hartwig and LaVonne Harmon.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Maxine E. Marlow, 71, of Clear Lake died Thursday, April 12, 2007 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.
Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at First Congregational Church in Clear Lake with the Rev. Jim Allard officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner, Iowa is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Maxine Elaine Marlow, the daughter of Clarence and Eunice (Doege) Riebhoff, was born Feb. 13, 1936 at Burt, Iowa. She attended and graduated from Burt High School. Maxine was a career woman who rose to become head of corporate purchasing and materials management for Scantron Corporation in California. She retired at the age of 62, and returned to Iowa to be close to her family and to help care for her mother.
She was a member of First Congregational Church in Clear Lake.
Maxine is survived by her three children, Debra (Kenneth) Dennis of Studio City, Calif., Robert (Lisa) Marlow of Wake Forest, N.C. and Michelle Sanner (Tom Chizek) of Garner; three grandchildren, Casey Dennis, Ryan Sanner and Jenna Chizek; and a brother-in-law, John Geesman, of Charles City, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Clarice Luedtke and Lavonne Geesman; and her brother, Donald Riebhoff.
