Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Lona 'Madge' Gowing, 98, Mitchellville
MITCHELLVILLE – Lona “Madge” Gowing, 98, formerly of Keokuk and West Branch, passed away March 28, 2017, at Mitchell Village Care Center.
A memorial visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at United Presbyterian Church in Keokuk, with memorial services to follow at 11 a.m. at the church.
Burial will be in Keokuk National Cemetery.
Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Madge was born Jan. 17, 1919, in Grant City, Mo., to Joe and Artie Dehart Miller. She was the oldest of three children.
She attended high school in Hatfield, Mo., and received her bachelor of science degree from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1948. She received her master’s degree in home economics from the University of Illinois in 1954. Her teaching career started in a rural grade school in Grant City, followed by teaching at several other small schools. Her last position was teaching home economics at Keokuk High School.
She was married
to Robert J. Gowing on Aug. 14, 1955, in Keokuk. Madge’s life was centered around her family and friends whom she loved immensely. With her love of cooking, she had many gatherings at holidays and all year long for family and friends. Anyone was always welcome. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Madge is survived by her daughter, Sherri (Mike) Anderson of Altoona; grandchildren, Ryan (Lesley) Anderson of Johnston and Sarah (Chad) Rahm of Bondurant; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob in 2003; and her two brothers, Doyle and Leland.
Alfred Ransdell, 82, Keokuk
Alfred Leroy Ransdell, 82, of Keokuk died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City.
He was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Eolia, Mo., the son of Marvin and Florence Graham Ransdell. He married
Toni Orth in 1955 in Keokuk, and they later divorced.
Alfred was a veteran of the United States Army. He had worked as an independent carpet-layer for many years.
Alfred enjoyed woodworking and made many tables and shelves, which he sold at the Colony Flea Market. He was a jack of all trades, master of none, and was always looking for a new project to work on. Above all, he loved his family, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his pride and joy.
He is survived by a daughter, Vickie (George) Genck of Keokuk, a son, Richard Ransdell (Amy Shafer) of Lake of the Ozarks, MO; a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Ransdell of Burlington; two grandchildren, Amber Genck (David Beavers) and Mandy Ransdell; a great-grandson, Mika McGuire; a brother, Marvin “Boogie” Ransdell and wife Mary of Keokuk; a sister, Velda Coovert of Keokuk; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jimmy Ransdell.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, with Pastor David Turner officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Keokuk National Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the family meeting with friends at that time.
Memorials may be made to his family.
Sala "Sam" Marlin, 70, Keokuk
Sala Ann “Sam” Marlin, 70, of Keokuk, died Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.
She was born on Nov. 16, 1946, in Keokuk, the daughter of Carl Otis and Ina “Sally” Pearl Eilers Marvin.
On Feb. 27, 1965, she was united in marriage to William Charles Marlin Sr. in Keokuk.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years; two sons, William Charles (Shelley) Marlin Jr. of Fort Madison and Scott Allen (Staci) Marlin of Montrose; five grandchildren, Amanda, Anthony, Addison, Samantha and Matthew; two great-grandchildren, Kyrianna Lynn Boshier and William Nicholas Boshier; a sister, Sharon (James) Lemon of Keokuk; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, David Michael Marlin; a sister, Sandra Marvin; and a brother, Carl Marvin.
Sala graduated from Keokuk High School with the Class of 1965.
She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk.
Her grandchildren were the sunshine of her life and Sala was an enthusiastic fan of all her grandchildren’s school and sport activities.
Sala enjoyed listening to ’50s and ’60s music, playing cards, keeping in touch with her classmates, and wintering in Arizona where she could soak up the warm winter sun. One of her favorite sayings was, “If the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.”
Sala had been employed at Northrup Grumman in Palmdale, Calif., Armour Dial, Keokuk school system as a baker and cook, and as a waitress at Tip-n-Buds in Keokuk before her retirement.
A memorial mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk, with Father Robert Lathrop officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk.
Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Thursday, with family meeting with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Sean O'Day, 46, Keokuk
Sean Junior O’Day, 46, of Keokuk, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in Keokuk.
Sean was born on March 4, 1971, in Keokuk, the son of Andrew J. and Margaret Chewning O’Day.
He married
Karry Haage on May 27, 1992, in Keokuk. She survives.
He enjoyed and took great care in detailing and working on his cars. Sean enjoyed spending time outdoors, long drives in the country, or just sitting around with his kids and grandkids and telling stories.
Sean is survived by his wife, Karry O’Day of Keokuk; a daughter, Megan O’Day of Keokuk; a son, Jacob O’Day of Keokuk; father, Andy O’Day of Wayland, Mo.; father-in-law, Ed Haage of Keokuk; mother-in-law, Cheryl Higbee of Keokuk; two half-sisters, Connie Campbell of Kahoka, Mo., and Judy O’Day of Warrensburg, Mo.; and half-brother, Charlie O’Day of Hannibal, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret O’Day.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Kahoka Cemetery, with the Rev. Dan Deatrick officiating.
Memorials have been established.
DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Centers in Keokuk is in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Gillespie, 62, Keokuk
Barbara Gayle Gillespie, 62, of Keokuk, died at 3:08 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2017, at Great River Medical Center, West Burlington.
Barbara was born April 24, 1954, in Keokuk, the daughter of Reva Mae Wear.
A lifetime resident of Keokuk, Barbara was employed at Henniges in Keokuk for more than 43 years. She was a creative person – sewing, crafts, enjoyed NASCAR racing, playing pool, and fishing. She was a lifetime member of USW Local 444.
Barbara is survived by a son, Jerry (Brandy) Gillespie of Lewiston, Utah; former daughter-in-law, Jonell Gillespie of Keokuk; six grandchildren, Garrett, Madysen, Dicota, Alliecia, Arianna and Allison Gillespie; and a brother, J.R. Bryant of Alexandria, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Barbara’s life will be celebrated with family and friends gathering from 7 to 10 p.m. today at the Keokuk Labor Temple. A benefit dinner will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the Labor Temple.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the funeral home.
DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Centers is in charge of arrangements.
Craig Price, 69, Keokuk
Craig Price, 69, of Keokuk, passed away on March 23, 2017, at his home.
Arrangements are pending at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Centers in Keokuk.
Clyde 'Gene' Alvis, 81, Keokuk
Clyde Eugene “Gene” Alvis, 81, of Keokuk, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Iowa City.
He was born March 18, 1936, in rural Montrose, the son of Raymond and Mabel Leona Carlson Alvis.
He was first united in marriage to Christine Luis “Liz” Heidecker on July 11, 1961, in Gunzenhausen, Germany. She preceded her in death on Feb. 28, 2001. He later married
Dorothy Louise Heimer on Dec. 17, 2005, and she preceded him in death on May 24, 2011.
Clyde was a veteran of the U.S. Army and proudly served his country from 1959 to 1976 during the Vietnam War.
Clyde graduated from Montrose High School with the Class of 1956. He later furthered his education by attending Southeastern Community College, where he completed the Criminal Justice Program and received his associate of arts degree.
Clyde had been employed by Sheller Globe in Keokuk for 17 years until his retirement in 1991.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church in Keokuk and VFW Post 3508.
Clyde enjoyed collecting stamps and coins.
He is survived by a son, Eugene (Jewels) Alvis of Keokuk; two daughters, Leona (Charles) Scudder of Keokuk and Viola Auvil of Louisville, Ky.; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Glen Alvis.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church, 3238 Brookshire, Keokuk, with Branch President Steve Brumble officiating. The family will meet with friends at the church following the service
Burial with military rites will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Keokuk National Cemetery.
Memorial may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Leukemia Association.
Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk is assisting the family with arrangements.
Jovan 'John' Djordjevich, 82, Gilbert, Ariz.
GILBERT, Ariz. – Devoted and loved husband, father and grandfather, Jovan “John” Djordjevich, 82, formerly of Keokuk, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017, at his home in Gilbert, Ariz., with his family by his side.
John was born on July 16, 1934, in Kosovo, Yugoslavia. He moved to Omaha, Neb., in 1963 and began working at Armour Dial as a production worker. In 1970, he married
his beloved wife and “buddy,” Zorica, and they settled in Keokuk in 1979 to raise their family. John retired from the Dial Corporation in 2000 after 37 years of service, and enjoyed his retirement by gardening, planting fruit trees and enjoying the warm days outdoors. Most of all, John enjoyed spending time with his family and especially, his loving grandchildren.
John is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Zorica; his four children, Danica Djordjevich (fiancé, Eric Ruiz) of Gilbert, Dejan (Francesca) Djordjevich of Ankeny, Dusan (Bethany) Djordjevich of Phoenix, Ariz., and Dusica (Jonathan) Lueck of Gilbert; and his grandchildren, Joshua McMeins, Addison Lueck, Ava Djordjevich and Connor Lueck.
There will be no funeral service, and a private burial will be today in Arizona.
The family would like to thank all of those in Keokuk that made John’s life so special while he resided there.
