Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Wednesday, January 21, 1998
Harry G. Ahrens
Harry G. Ahrens, 68, of Sioux City died unexpectedly Monday, Jan. 19, 1998, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Greving officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Monahan Post 64. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.
Mr. Ahrens was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Akron, Iowa, the son of Herman A. and Jennie V. (Hewitt) Ahrens.
He married Elaine M. Twitchell on March 1, 1954, in Vermillion, S.D. She died April 15, 1985, in Sioux City. He married Beverly M. Crichton on Oct. 7, 1989, in Elk Point, S.D.
He was employed with Wells Fargo for more than 40 years.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Ahrens was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Monahan Post 64.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters and their husbands, Sandra and Thomas Kvidera of Sioux City and Deborah and Robert Jeffrey of Correctionville, Iowa; four sisters, Irene Gabel of Akron, Rosie and her husband, Harry Hoffman, of Ireton, Iowa, Ruby and her husband, Art Nordgren, of Pea Ridge, Ark., and Mary and her husband, Henry Ponder, of Shelby, N.C.; and three grandchildren, Cathy and Robert Jeffrey and Desiree Kvidera.
He was preceded in death by a son, David.
Pallbearers will be Brian and Scott Crichton, Charlie Hammond, Robby Soukup, Steve Petersen and Bud Twitchell.
Alan R. Larson
Alan R. Larson, 67, of Sioux City died Saturday, Jan. 17, 1998, in Sioux City.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Whitfield United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Richard Kretzschmar officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., a prayer service at 7 p.m. followed by a Masonic and Eastern Star service, at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel.
Mr. Larson was born May 11, 1930, in Winner, S.D., the son of Raymond and Laura (Mickey) Larson.
He moved with his family to Sioux City in 1945. He graduated from Central High School in 1949 and from Morningside College in 1953. He attended Iowa State University for one semester.
He married Carol Christen on June 9, 1955, in Sioux City.
He was employed with Fairmont Food Company and Swift and Company from 1954 to 1963. He also was employed with the Sioux City Health Department and later became the food sanitarian for the Woodbury County Health Department. He retired from that job in July 1992.
He served on the board at W.A.C.O., was secretary of the Woodbury County Association for Retarded Citizens and was president of the A.R.C. of Woodbury County. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America from 1960 to 1970.
He was a member of Whitfield United Methodist Church, where he served as a layreader, was on the administrative board and was a trustee and Sunday School secretary for 40 years. He was also a member of the Tyrian Lodge 508, the York Rite Bodies, a 32 degree Mason in the Sioux City Consistory, the Scottish Rites of Freemasonary, the Abu Bekr Shrine, where he was a Noble, the Hospital Dads, the Easteran Star Rose Croix Chapter 400, where he was a worthy patron, and the White Shrine of Jerusalem Mispah 13.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Galen and Mark; and many cousins.
Memorials in his name may be directed to the Hospital Dads Transportation Fund or Whitfield United Methodist Church.
Jonas O. Nygard
Jonas O. "Ole" Nygard, 93, of Sioux City died Tuesday at Indian Hills Care Center following a lengthy illness.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Augustana Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 7 to 9 p.m., at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel.
Gerald Robbins Sr.
Gerald R. Robbins Sr., 51, of Sioux City died Monday at his residence following a sudden illness.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Evangelical Church in South Sioux City. Burial will be in McCook Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with the family present from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at the Berkemier Funeral Home.
Florence Thatcher
Florence Thatcher, 95, of Sioux City died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, in Sioux City.
Services will be at 1 p.m. to day at Central Baptist Church, with the Rev. James Brygger Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Thatcher was born Oct. 13, 1902, in Holstein, Iowa, the daughter of Benjamin and Lillian (Wintrode) Freeman. She graduated from Kingsley, Iowa High School.
She married LeRoy Thatcher on June 5, 1925, in Elk Point, S.D. The couple lived in the Sioux City area and California, retiring to Sioux City in 1970. He died April 12, 1981, in Sioux City.
She was a member of Central Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son and his wife, Duane and Helen of Sioux City; three daughters, Ruth Ann Campbell of Iowa City, Iowa, Joan and her husband, Robert Stein of Louisville, Ky., and Janet and her husband, James Cutler of Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia; two sisters, Gladys Harvey of Cherokee, Iowa, and Blanche Wilson of Yorba Linda, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, including Sheryl Cripps; 21 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, four sisters, four grandchildren and a son-in-law.
Memorials in her name may be directed to either Missions at Central Baptist Church, Casa Y Mas Fund at Wesley United Methodist Church or Hospice of Siouxland.
Gerald G. Bechtel
CHEROKEE, Iowa - Gerald G. Bechtel, 72, of Cherokee died Tuesday at his residence following a lengthy illness.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cherokee. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars L.A. Wescott Post 2253. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee.
Jim Blom
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - Jim Blom, 82, of Rock Valley died of a heart attack Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Netherlands Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with the Rev. John den Hoed officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, with the family present from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.
Mr. Blom was born March 24, 1915, in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He moved with his family to the United States, first to the Pella, Iowa, area and later to the Sioux County area, when he was 16 years old.
He married Agnes Van Beek on Feb. 19, 1941, in Rock Valley. The couple farmed near Rock Valley until retiring and moving into Rock Valley in 1972. She died Sept. 5, 1974.
He enjoyed working with horses.
Survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Clarene and Roger Kooima of Canton, S.D., and Mary and Vern Postma and Geneva and Arlin Van Kekerix, all of Rock Valley; a daughter-in-law, Gert Blom of Rock Valley; four brothers and their wives, Cornie and Jean of Corsica, S.D., Arie and Clazina of Inwood, Iowa, John and Tillie of Rock Valley and Henry of Rock Valley; two sisters, Jennie Kramer of Arlington, S.D., and Marie and her husband, Les Schmidt, of Storm Lake, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence, three brothers and a sister.
Eugene Dirkschneider
BANCROFT, Neb. - Eugene Dirkschneider, 70, of Omaha, Neb., formerly of Bancroft, died of lung cancer Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Mr. Dirkschneider was born Nov. 27, 1927, in Dodge, Neb., the son of Frances and Tillie (Bazata) Dirkschneider.
He graduated from Howell High School in 1946 and attended the University of New Mexico and the Unviversity of Nebraska as a student in the Navy V-5 aviation program. He graduated from Wayne State Teachers College with a bachlor of arts degree in secondary education. He received his master's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in education administration.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy under the V-5 program in 1946. In 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as a master sergeant during the Korean War.
He married Minnie Anderson in 1953, at Fort Polk, La.
He was a teacher and coach at Platte Center, Neb., where he was promoted to superintendent. He served as superintendent of schools in Valley, Paxton, Wilber, Doniphan and Burwell, Neb., schools. He retired in 1990 from the Burwell School District and moved to Omaha.
He served on the Board of Control of the Nebraska School Athletic Association, as district manager, the Beatrice Southeast Area School Board, the Nebraska School Board Association, the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber and the Nebraska Federation of High School Administrators. He was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. In Omaha, he was active in the Harvey Oaks Home Owners Association and served as area director and on the Harvey Oaks Citizens Patrol.
He enjoyed reading, woodworking and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, Tillie Safarik of Omaha; two daughters and their husbands, Diane and Charles Flohr of Sioux City and Dawn and Dale Livermore of Fall Creek, Wis.; three sons, Scott and his wife, Marge, of Park City, Utah, Todd and his wife, Kathy, of Tucson, Ariz. and Kip of Omaha; a sister and her husband, Joyce and Robert Lohner of Vero Beach, Fla.; four half sisters and their husbands, Carol and Duane Hylton and Mary Jane and Perry Lindsey of Belton, Mo., Vivian and Al Ellis of San Benito, Texas, and Martha Sue and Richard Newhouse of Kansas City, Mo.; a half brother and his wife, Frankie and Charlene Dirkschneider of Kansas City, Mo.; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father and his stepfather, Joseph Safarik.
Memorials may be directed to either the Epply Institute for Cancer Research or the St. Wenceslaus Parish in care of his wife.
John H. Droll
EVERLY, Iowa - John Harrison Droll, 71, of Everly died Monday at his residence.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Everly. Burial will be in Lone Tree Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Everett Boyles Post 414 of Everly. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer, Iowa. Visitation will resume from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church.
Dorothy M. Godfrey
WASHTA, Iowa - Dorothy M. Godfrey, 102, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Washta, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at Hilltop Care Center in Cherokee.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, with a family prayer service at 1:45 p.m., at Washta United Methodist Church, with the Rev. John Scherb and the Rev. Peter O. Sanderson officiating. Burial will be in Sunset View Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee.
Mrs. Godfrey was born Dec. 16, 1895, in Woolston, North Cadbury, Somerset, England, the daughter of William and Florence Mary (Norman) Clothier.
She married Albert Godfrey on Aug. 2, 1915, in North Cadbury.
The couple came to the United States and settled in Washta in 1925. They farmed in the Washta area for many years. She became a naturalized American citizen in October 1959. He died Aug. 6, 1982. She entered the Hilltop Care Center 11 years ago.
She was a member of Washta United Methodist Church, the Bethany Circle, the Washta Senior Citizens, the Washta American Legion Auxiliary and the Sunset View Cemetery Association.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews in England and Australia, and special friends, Paul and Ferne Wych and Marjorie O'Neal, all of the Washta area.
She was preceded in death by eight brothers and five sisters.
Verla M. Harvey
HAWARDEN, Iowa - Verla Mae Harvey, 55, of Hawarden died Monday at the McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Services will be at 1:30 a.m. Thursday at American Lutheran Church in Hawarden. Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the Porter-Dow Funeral Home in Hawarden.
Leland D. Jensen
STORM LAKE, Iowa - Leland Duane "Lee" Jensen, 64, of Storm Lake died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake following a sudden illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Alta Church of Christ in Alta, Iowa, with the Rev. Aaron Jones officiating. Burial will be in Storm Lake Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Alta Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6172. Visitation will be Thursday, with the family present from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Fratzke Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Mr. Jensen was born Oct. 1, 1933, in Soldier, Iowa, the son of Ephraim and Clara (Jensen) Jensen. He graduated from Soldier High School in 1952 and attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake for two years.
He married Shirley Leone Reed on April 9, 1955, in Whiting, Iowa.
He was employed with Hy-Grade in Storm Lake for 27 years. In 1982, he purchased Ken-A-Bob restaurant.
He was a member of Alta Church of Christ, where he was an elder a deacon, a trustee and a Sunday School teacher, and Alta Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6172.
He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He enjoyed playing golf and driving semi-trucks.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Laurie Kay and her husband, Russ Allen, of Pender, Neb., Judy Lynne and her husband, Scott Sievers, of Albert City, Iowa, and Diane Lee Thompson of Des Moines; a son and his wife, Barry Reed and Lucy of Springfield, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Arnold and Peggy of Indianapolis, Ind., and Harvey and Joyce of Dana Point, Calif.; and a sister and her husband, Helene and Warren Willis of Pharr, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Irma Sankey; and a brother, Marian.
John W. Johnson
BLENCOE, Iowa - John W. "J.W. or Bill" Johnson, 65, of Blencoe died Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, Neb.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at United Church of Christ Congregational Church in Blencoe.
Mr. Johnson was born May 5, 1932, in Onawa, Iowa, the son of Carl and Lola (Heitsman) Johnson. He was raised and attended school in the Blencoe area. Following graduation, he attended railroad school in Omaha to be a telegraph and depot agent.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954.
He married Maurine (Nickoleison) Frisk in 1951.
He was employed in sales and then construction.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Craig of Alameda, Calif., and Bruce of Sioux City; a daughter, Betheen McClure of Auburn, Neb.; his father of Yucca Valley, Calif.; two brothers, Richard of California and Tom; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
John Kersting
MERRILL, Iowa - John "Kermit" Kersting, 87, of Merrill, formerly of Sioux City, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998, at his residence.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, with the Rev. Edward Girres officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Sergeant Floyd Post 1973. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and a scriptural wake service at 7 p.m., at the Anderson-Perasso Funeral Home.
Mr. Kersting was born Oct. 16, 1910, in O'Neill, Neb., the son of John and Elizabeth (Ahlstrand) Kersting. He moved to Sioux City in 1924.
He married Esther E. Newman on Feb. 6, 1940, in Sioux City. She died June 8, 1967, in Sioux City. He married Wilma I. Harty on Nov. 18, 1971, in Sioux City. She died April 22, 1983, in South Sioux City. He married Marguerite Hamilton on Dec. 2, 1985, in Merrill. She preceded him in death.
He was a cabinet maker by trade.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Merrill, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Monahan Post 64, Veterans of Foreign Wars Schull Post 580, the AmVets and Disabled American Veteran Sioux City Chapter 54.
Survivors include a son and his wife, Bill and Lucy of Spencer, Iowa; a brother and his wife, Myron and Blanche of Kingsford, Mich.; a sister, Frances Dames of Sioux City; two grandchildren, Angie Kudrna and Marc Kersting; two great-grandchildren; and his special friend, Virginia Heien of Merrill.
Thelma Nelson
ESTHERVILLE, Iowa - Thelma Nelson, 83, of Estherville, formerly of Fostoria, Iowa, died Tuesday at Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Warner Chapel in Spencer, Iowa. Burial will be in Dickens Cemetery at Dickens, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.
George Rosenfeld Sr.
STORM LAKE, Iowa - George A. Rosenfeld Sr., 94, of Storm Lake died Monday at Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake following a brief illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Ames Municipal Cemetery at Ames, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Fireside Room of the church. Fratzke Funeral Home of Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Henry Schiebout
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - Henry Schiebout, 80, of Sioux Center died Monday at Sioux Center Community Health Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m., at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.
Odessa Shaffer
MOORHEAD, Iowa - Odessa Genevieve (Hutcheson) Shaffer, 93, of Whiting, Iowa, formerly of Moorhead and Onawa, Iowa, died Monday at Care Center in Whiting.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Christian Church in Moorhead. Burial will be in Spring Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m, at the Pearson Funeral Home in Onawa.
Clifford J. Wiese
HOLSTEIN, Iowa - Clifford J. Wiese, 75, of Holstein died Monday at Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital in Cherokee, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Holstein. Burial will be in Holstein Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Dessel-Schmidt American Legion Post 225 of Holstein. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 3 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m., at Barker Funeral Home in Hosltein.
Jacob Willroth
DEFIANCE, Iowa - Jacob Willroth, 9, of Defiance died Sunday at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa. There will be no visitation.
