Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
James R. Fortune
BORN: June 15, 1945
DIED: April 6, 2011
LOCATION: West Point, Iowa
James R. Fortune, 65, of West Point, passed away at 8:48 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City.
Born June 15, 1945, at Fort Madison, Iowa, he was the son of James W. and Marie G. Kuhlmeier Fortune.
Survivors include his special friend Cindy Pranger of West Point, Iowa, four sisters Myrna (Duane) Sherwood of Fort Madison, Iowa, Joyce Bathalter of Florida, Carolyn Stephens of Des Moines, Iowa, Suzy (Todd) Verdon of Fort Madison, Iowa, two brothers Thomas Fortune of Burlington, Iowa, Ronald (Pauline) Fortune of Montrose, Iowa, several nieces and nephews, and his Brittney dog Lucy.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Theresa and Theodore Kuhlmeier and Charles and Ethel Fortune.
James served in the United States Army during Vietnam. He worked at the Chevron Company in Fort Madison.
His body has been cremated.
A private family graveside service will be held at the West Point City Cemetery with Father Dennis Hoffman officiating.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in West Point is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Lela Overton
BORN: August 20, 1923
DIED: March 27, 2011
LOCATION: Donnellson, Iowa
Lela Overton, 87, of Donnellson, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Donnellson Health Center.
Born August 20, 1923, at Franklin, Iowa, she was the daughter of Charles and Bertha Schreiner Hammer. On February 28, 1943, at Burlington, Iowa, she married
Tilford W. Overton. He preceded her in death on January 28, 1984.
Survivors include three daughters Rebecca (Wayne) Conlee of Fairfax, Iowa, Nancy (Jim) Eads of West Point, Iowa, Cynthia (Marty) Walker of Cabot, Arkansas, five grandchildren Andrew Conlee, Katy (Mike) Warehime, Jimmy (Ashley) Eads, Eric Walker, and Zachary Walker, one sister-in-law Bernice Hammer of Donnellson, Iowa, and her lifelong friend Dehlia Krebill of Donnellson, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother Vic.
Lela was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Donnellson, where she worked as church secretary for 14 years. She was a 50+ year member of the Artaban Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as past Matron. Prior to her marriage she worked at Sheaffer Pen Company. She later helped her husband on the farm and in the carpenter shop. Lela enjoyed quilting, cooking, gardening, and working outside in her yard.
Friends may call after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson where the family will meet with friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. that evening.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson with Dr. James Eads officiating.
Burial will be in Clay Grove Cemetery in rural West Point.
Memorials may be made to Clay Grove Cemetery.
W. Fern Beaman
Born in Mason City, Iowa on November 5, 1922
Departed on February 28, 2010. Resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Visitation: Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Service: Thursday, March 4, 2010
Cemetery: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery & Mausoleum
W. Fern Beaman, 87, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday February 28, 2010 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Services: 11:00 A.M. Thursday at First Assembly of God by the Pastors, Larry Sohn and Don Mc Garvey. Entombment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and after 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Survivors include son, Dennis (Linda) Beaman of Hiawatha; daughter, Debbie (Jim) Feight of Cedar Rapids; two sisters, LaVonne Wheeler of Mason City and Donna Wheeler (Robert) of Racine, Wisconsin; brother, Norman (Connie) Wheeler of Mason City; five grandchildren, Kevin (Crystal) Beaman, Lisa (Jamie) Meyer, Jason Feight, Chad (Amy)Feight and Benjamin Feight; and six great grandchildren, Charisa, Mya, Kaden, Alaina, Claire and Bryn. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, parents, and a brother, Eugene Wheeler.
Fern was born November 5, 1922 in Mason City, the daughter of Everett and Clara Cory Wheeler. She married
Gerald Beaman there on June 1, 1947. Fern was employed at Rockwell Collins. She was a member of First Assembly of God, where she helped plan senior events and taught the four year olds in Sunday School for many years. She was also a member of the Collins Retirees and Y M Silver Sneakers. She loved to travel, crochet, walk, garden and spend time with her grandchildren. She loved life and meeting people. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Memorials may be directed to First Assembly of God Church in Fern’s memory.
Carolyn Joy Kirchner
November 8, 1954 - September 9, 2011
Missoula, Montana
Carolyn Joy Kirchner, age 56, peacefully passed away at her home in Missoula, Montana in the loving arms of family and friends on Friday, September 9th, 2011, ending a long journey with cancer.
Carolyn was born November 8, 1954, in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, the eldest child of John Bill Kirchner and Ruth Ann (Sills) Kirchner. As an infant she and her mother traveled to Portsmouth, Virginia, to be with her father who was in the Navy.
Once discharged, the family returned to Donnellson, Iowa where she was raised. Carolyn attended local Iowa schools, graduating from Fort Madison High School in 1972. She resided in the Fort Madison/Burlington, Iowa area, where she worked for Shaeffer Pen Company in Fort Madison, then managed an Orange Julius franchise in Burlington. After it closed she was partners in a local business and worked as a waitress at the Coach House Restaurant in Burlington. In 1991 she moved to Helena, Montana. She graduated from the University of Montana – Helena College of Technology, with an associate of applied science in accounting technology degree on December 21, 1993. Following graduation she moved to Newark, California, where she was employed as the office manager for Delta Machine Systems Inc. in Fremont, California. In May 2000 she moved to Missoula, Montana, and in 2002 relocated to a small acreage northeast of Ronan. In 2008 Carolyn started her own business, Spirit of the Crone Artworks, specializing in jewelry and home décor fabrication. Due to the debilitating effects of her illness, Carolyn was no longer able to work and discontinued her business in 2009. She returned to Missoula, Montana in April 2011.
Carolyn enjoyed gardening, art, reading, the theatre, baseball, travel, gatherings with friends and family and her dog, Miss Cinnamon. Carolyn was a quiet, kind and gentle person who enjoyed life. Despite the horrendous pain she endured, she never complained or felt sorry for herself. If asked, she was always "fine" putting on the mask of wellness so as not to worry family and friends. She was a remarkable woman of silent courage, perseverance, strength, spirituality, compassion and dignity. She is admired for the way she faced her cancer and the many difficult challenges it presented. She never thought of herself as being in the limelight but preferred the shadows. Carolyn received the admiration of those whose lives she impacted. Her laugh was contagious, her smile heartwarming. There are few on this earth who offer their hearts unconditionally, with genuine love and friendship, expecting nothing in return. Carolyn was one of those few. Even in death she brought quiet, dignity, calm and peace.
Carolyn is survived by her life partner of 20 years, Glennette Crawford; her mother, Ruth Ann (Sills) Kirchner of Fort Madison; two sisters, Renita (Dana) Heagy of Fort Madison and Lori (Harlan) Pundt of Donnellson; one brother, Jerry Kirchner of Durham, North Carolina; three nephews, Joshua Pundt and fiancé Heather Dresden of Coralville, Iowa, Jeremy (Beth) Pundt and Nicholas Pundt of Donnellson; one niece, Georgina Gordon of Fort Madison, and step-mother Maggie Kirchner of Sun Lakes, Arizona. She is also survived by her aunts Betty (Sills) Stockton of Blue Springs, Missouri, Leona (Walter) Weber "Aunt Sis" of Fort Madison and Vera (Bob) Baxter of Indiana and one uncle, Raymond (Darlene) Sills of Jacksonville, Illinois. Other survivors include Kathy (Bruce) Johnson of Missoula, Montana, Joyce (Bryan) Hostetler of Glendive, Gloria (Jason) Vaughn of Dallas, Georgia and Gene Crawford of Lambert, Carolyn will be greatly missed by all of her extended family and friends.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, John Bill Kirchner; paternal grandparents, Henry and Virgie (Derr) Kirchner, and maternal grandparents Paul and Leona (Burrows) Sills. She was also preceded in death by Glenette's mother and nephew, Katherine Crawford and Thomas Hostetler.
Friends may call and meet with the family beginning at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 1st, 2011 at the Community of Christ Church in Fort Madison, Iowa (30th & Avenue L) where a memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. with Raymond Sills officiating. Burial will be in the Montrose Cemetery at Montrose, Iowa. A memorial has been established in her memory. Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzlynkfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be sent to Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa 52625
Mary Luce
BORN: January 8, 1935
DIED: October 3, 2011
RESIDENCE: Farmington, IA
Mary May Huston Luce, 76, of Farmington, passed away at 11:20 a.m. Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at at her home.
She was born January, 8, 1935, in Caribou, Maine, she was the daughter of Gerald and Nellie (Taylor) Huston. She was married
to Darroll Luce, they later divorced.
Survivors include three daughters Rhonda Franzosie of Kentucky, Holly Huston of Montana, Patricia (Garry) Bruegge of Farmington, Iowa, ten grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren and nine siblings.
She was preceded in death by her son Eric, daughter Roselie, mother Nellie, sister Paula and brother Gary.
Mary was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Fairfield. She volunteered teaching Bible classes for over thirty years in prisons, she volunteered overseas in Finland helping to build greenhouses. Mary's main occupation was as a health food chef.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 14th at the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Fairfield.
A memorial has been established in her memory. Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzlynkfuneralhome.com. Memorials can be sent to Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home at P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa 52625.
Audrey Darlene Bleeker
Born in Clear Lake, South Dakota on December 6, 1932
Departed on November 30, 2009. Resided in Shellsburg, Iowa.
Visitation: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Service: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Audrey D. Bleeker, 76, of Shellsburg, died November 30, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Peace Christian Reformed Church. Rev. Gary Brouwers will officiate. Friends may call from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, and after 9:30 AM on Thursday at the church.
Surviving are her husband Edward; her children Todd (Linda) Bleeker of Beloit, WI, Joel (Lynn) Bleeker of West Des Moines, Glen (Lisa) Bleeker of Firestone, CO, Ross (Shirley) Bleeker of Cedar Rapids, Beth Bleeker of Marion, Paul (Dawn) Bleeker of Newton, and Reed (Angie) Bleeker of Solon; 11 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Also surviving are her sisters Marlys Moore, LaVonne (Marlyn) Broksiek, Carol (Roger) Tully.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother Harold (Bud) Scheifelbein.
Audrey was born December 6, 1932 in Clear Lake, SD to Melvin and Theresa (Hoitsma) Schiefelbein. She graduated from Clear Lake High School. She was united in marriage to Edward L. Bleeker on August 12, 1955 in Clear Lake, SD. She was a member of the Sorosis Women’s Club, and Peace Christian Reformed Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who will be greatly missed.
The family requests that all donations are made to Peace Christian Reformed Church to be donated to Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Linda Kay Brecount
BORN: April 3, 1973
DIED: September 24, 2011
RESIDENCE: IA
Linda Kay Brecount, 38, of Primrose, passed away Saturday September 24, 2011 at her home.
Born April 3, 1973 in Washington, Iowa the daughter of Herman V. and Maggie Viola Stoner Laird. On November 24, 2001 at Donnellson, Iowa she married
Clarence Brecount III.
Survivors include her husband Clarence of Primrose, two sons Stephen Eastwood of Solon, Iowa and Joshua Bell of Phoenix, Arizona, her mother and step father Maggie Viola and John Bottger of Ollie, Iowa, one sister Susan (Gary) Batterson of Abingdon, Iowa, one brother Alan Laird of Ollie, Iowa, two nieces Julie Boyd of Ottumwa, Iowa and Alora Brecount of Fort Madison, Iowa, two nephews Chris Batterson of Fairfield, Iowa and Hunter Brecount of Fort Madison, Iowa, her mother and father-in-law Clarence, Jr. and Sheila Brecount of Primrose, mother-in-law Joetta Cole of Fort Madison, one brother-in-law Tony (June) Brecount of Fort Madison, Iowa and one sister-in-law Amanda Oliver of Fort Madison, Iowa. Also surviving are several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Linda was preceded in death by her father Herman V. Laird and her grandparents.
She was Baptized and saved in 1981 at the Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, Iowa. She was a graduate of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Linda enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, her cats and dogs.
Friends may call and meet with friends from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday September 28, 2011 at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson with Reverend Bill Willis officiating.
Burial will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery near Ollie, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her memory.
Lester Pomberg
July 9, 1921 - October 3, 2011
West Point, Iowa
Lester John Pomberg, 90, of West Point, passed away at 7:05 p.m. Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics.
He was born July 9, 1921, in West Point, Iowa, he was the son of Christ & Dora (Umthun) Pomberg. On April 10, 1948 he married
Bernice Merschman at St. James Catholic Church, St. Paul, Iowa.
Survivors include his wife Bernice of West Point, Iowa, three daughters Carleen (Ray) Krogmeier of West Point, Iowa, Shirley (Jim) Evans of Maple Valley, Washington, Christine Pomberg of Ankeny, Iowa, three grandchildren, Michelle (Spencer) Sawyer, Jennifer (Carlos) Clements II, Matthew Krogmeier, one great grandchild Jack David Sawyer, several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son Michael, three sisters Gertrude, Mary and Doris.
Lester was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, a life member of the West Point Knights of Columbus, he served as an usher at St. Mary's Catholic Church, he sung in the St. Mary's Resurrection Choir, he belonged to the Circle Eight Square Dancing Club. Lester enjoyed playing cards, golf and square dancing. When he was just twenty one years of age, his father passed away and Lester took over the family farm in St. Paul, Iowa to provide for his family. He worked as a farmer until later in life when he retired.
Friends may call after 12:00 noon Sunday, October 9, 2011, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in West Point where the family will meet with friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 3:00 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:00 that evening.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 10, 2011, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dennis Hoffman as Celebrant. Burial will be at the Calvary Cemetery, West Point.
Memorials may be made in lieu of flower to West Point Fire & Rescue or Holy Trinity Catholic Schools.
