Frank Dale Reynolds
Frank Dale Reynolds, one of nine children of Birdie Chestnut Reynolds and Harry Lee Reynolds, was born Sept. 22, 1913, in Pond Creek, Okla. and died March 20, 2002, at Good Samaritan Center in Indianola. He was 88.
Mr. Reynolds attended Clarke County schools. He married Helen Berniece Cornelison on Feb. 22, 1936. They drove a sleigh over fences to the Methodist/Protestant Church parsonage for their wedding. He courted his bride on a motorcycle equipped with a sidecar. They celebrated 66 years of marriage in February. The couple became the parents of three children, Larry, Darrell and Linda.
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds started farming in Washington Township and in 1943 they purchased a farm in Ward Township where they lived for 60 years.
In the days when corn was picked by hand, Mr. Reynolds could pick 120 bushels in a day. He would harness the horses in the dark and the first ear of corn would hit the bang board at first light. Mr. Reynolds farmed all of his life. He loved nature and when he was mowing hay he would mow around a bird’s nest. He enjoyed feeding the finches outside his kitchen window.
He was baptized in the Osceola Presbyterian Church on April 11, 1954.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, John, Glenn and Raymond Reynolds and two sisters, Icie Turk and Alberta Barcus.
Mr. Reynolds is survived by his wife; two sons, Larry Reynolds and his wife, Virginia Reynolds, of Weldon and Darrell Reynolds and his wife, Linda Reynolds, of Osceola; a daughter, Linda Reynolds of Osceola; five granddaughters, Faith Bowlsby and her husband, Jerry Bowlsby, and Heidi Burris and her husband Shawn Burris, all of Osceola; Penny Reynolds of Des Moines; Sue Cumpton and her husband Brian Cumpton, of Garden City, Mo.; and Tanya Desmond and her husband, Joe Desmond of Liberty, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Wilma Fuller of Osceola, Amy Turnipseed of Indianola and Doris VanderEcken of Pleasantville; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Reynolds were held March 25 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Bill Kerns of Chariton officiating. Organist Virginia Reynolds accompanied soloist Ronda Lowry as she sang In the Garden and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Jerry Bowlsby, Joe Desmond, Justin Bowlsby, Brian Cumpton, Shawn Burris and Jared Bowlsby. Honorary bearers were Harold Barcus, Ronald Turk, Steve Fuller, Charles Rodgers and James O’Hair. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Douglas W. Klemme
Douglas W. (Bill) Klemme, 61 of West Des Moines, was born Sept. 9, 1940, and died of a heart attack March 21, 2002, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
The body was cremated and memorial services were held Saturday, March 23 at Dunn’s Funeral Home in Des Moines. Private family burial services will be at a later date.
Mr. Klemme was born in Belmond. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1958 and had lived in the Des Moines area since 1969. He was an independent consultant with Life Care Retirement Communities, a Navy veteran and a member of the Young Men’s Breakfast Club. He enjoyed kayaking.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Anne Klemme, and his father, R. Hoyt Klemme.
Survivors include his wife, June; a son, Douglas Klemme and his wife, Bernadine Klemme of Hunington Beach, Calif.; a daughter, Nicole Klemme of West Des Moines; stepmother, Vera Klemme of Osceola; a brother, Don Klemme of Des Moines; sisters, Kathy Richards and Marilyn Wilkins of Osceola; stepsister, Bette Smith and stepbrother, Dick McWilliams, both of Osceola.
Elaine McNamara
Elaine Mahoney McNamara, daughter of Willie E. and Sylvia Veta Bright Mahoney, was born Sept. 20, 1932, and died Feb. 25, 2002, at a hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. She was 69.
She was a devoted wife, mother and sister and loved working in her church and community and helping others.
Preceding her in death were her parents; a sister, Lois, who died at age 5 and a brother, Edward, who was killed in World War II.
Mrs. McNamara is survived by her husband, Mike McNamara; a daughter, Patricia McNamara Oster and her husband, Joe Oster; four sons, Kevin McNamara and his wife, Mary McNamara, Brian McNamara and his wife, Kathy McNamara, Joe McNamara and his wife, Susan Mc-Namara and Jim McNamara, all of Minneapolis; 13 grandchildren, two sisters, Kathryn Havard and Marguerite Williams, both of Osceola; two brothers, Jerry Mahoney of Lineville, Mo. and Larry Mahoney and his wife, Cicily Mahoney, of Excelsor Springs, Mo.
Services were held Feb. 29 at the Assumption Catholic Church in Richfield, Minn. Interment was in the Assumption Church Cemetery in Richfield.
Anne Campbell Norris
Anne Norris, daughter of William Timothy Campbell and Wanda Essex Campbell was born Oct. 18, 1944, in Cairo, Ill. and died March 17, 2002 in Corydon. She was 57.
She graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1966 with a bachelor of arts degree in education. She was a special education teacher at Clarke Community School in Osceola.
She fell in love and married Marty Joseph Norris, a Girard, Ill. native, on June 15, 1968. They became the parents of four children, Amy Kathleen, Timothy John, Marty Joseph Jr. and Katie Anne.
Mrs. Norris’ love and patience and compassion were not limited to her family. In her 22 years of teaching, she touched the lives of countless students and faculty. Throughout the years, she balanced life as a professional and a farm wife with immeasurable grace. Her spare time was filled with quilting, gardening, reading and experimenting with new recipes. In recently years, she took joy in her grandchildren, Abbie, Lillie Anne and Jack.
She is survived by her parents; husband in Humeston; three children, Amy Col"n and her husband, Heri Col"n of Lake Worth, Fla.; Tim Norris and his wife, Heather Norris of Fremont, Neb., Marty Norris and his wife, April Norris, of Ames, Neb. and daughter, Katie Anne, Humeston; a brother, Bill Campbell and his wife, Judy Campbell, Metropolis, Ill. and two nieces.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 22 at St. Francis Catholic Parish, United Methodist Church, Corydon with the Rev. Bill Miller, officiating. Vocalists, Terry, Jonathan and Denna Little sang In The Garden and The Old Rugged Cross.
Burial was in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Assumption, Ill. Casket bearers were Jason Little, Tom Norris, Jonathan Little, John Norris, Jeff Norris and Heri Col"n. Honorary bearers were Gary Goins, Billy Norris, Joe Norris, Paul Norris, Pat Norris and Leo Marty.
Helen Luciell South
Helen Luciell South of Leon, daughter of Charles Franklin and Minnie LaVerna McLaughlin Green, was born Jan. 14, 1918, in Decatur County west of Terra Haute, and died March 24, 2002, at the home she and her son, Doyle, shared in Leon. She had survived cancer in the early 1970s, but had a recurrence in August 2001. Hospice was helping with her care in her home. She was 84.
She married Leland Murel “Dutch” South on Jan 24, 1942. They became the parents of four children, Dennis, Darrell, Devra and Doyle. They shared a happy life on the farm before they moved to their home in Leon in 1965.
Mrs. South started working in the kitchen for the Central Decatur School system in 1965. She liked the children and her co-workers. She also cooked at the Leon County Club.
She loved to cook, quilt, garden and can. Before Mr. South died in 1979, they had made quilts for all their children and grandchildren, other family members and friends.
In later years, she liked to dance and going to jam sessions with her friends and on trips with her sisters.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Leon. She and her sister,Virginia Waddell, were baptized in Little River Lake in September 2000 by son-in-law, the Rev. Max Carmichael and the Rev. Dale Short.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband, were her parents; a son, Darrell, at age 15; a sister, Ruth Reed and two brothers, Dusky Green and Ralph Green.
Mrs. South is survived by a daughter, Devra Carmichael and her husband, Max Carmichael; two sons, Dennis South and his wife, Sharon South and Doyle South, all of Leon; six grandchildren, Shanda South of Iowa City, Travis Hughes, Todd Hughes, Hillary Thompson, Heidi Hughes and Holly Hughes, all of Leon; nine brothers and sisters, Virginia Waddell of Leon and Pauline Young of Creston, Archie Green and his wife, Gertie Green, of Lamoni, Arlene Young, Dick Green and his wife, Martha Green, Marcine Jones and her husband, Bill Jones, all of Leon, Neil Green and his wife, Donna Jean Green, of Decatur; Elmer Green and his wife, Tosh Green, of Lamoni and Eleanor “Ellie” Cornett of Mason City; a sister-in-law, Faye Green of Lamoni; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were March 27 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Vicki Saxton, musician played How Great Thou Art and Beautiful Isle of Somewhere.
Casket bearers were Todd Black, Travis Hughes, Ron Green, Charles McDaniel, Todd Hughes and Dustin Thompson. Interment was in Decatur Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established by the family.
Samuel Richard West
Samuel Richard West, son of Gerold Leslie and Eula Genevieve Hall West, was born Sept. 21, 1933, in Wayne County and died March 17, 2002, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 68.
He grew up in Grand River and Van Wert and graduated from Van Wert High School in 1953. He was a member of the Van Wert Christian Church.
Mr. West served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. While he was home on leave, he married Colleen Joy McDowell on May 29, 1955, at the Van Wert Christian Church. They lived in Louisiana and Texas while he completed service.
They became the parents of two sons, Mark Richard and Brett Samuel.
Mr. West began his career with Great Lakes Pipeline in Osceola. In the late 1950s, they moved to Des Moines where he worked in the pipeline industry. They moved to Osceola in the early 1960s and he continued his career for 27 years with Northern Natural Gas Company (later to become Enron Pipeline) in Des Moines. He was a natural gas plant supervisor at the downtown Des Moines station when he retired in 1997.
After he retired he worked part time at Lakeside Casino in Osceola from when it opened until he died.
He was a quiet man. He enjoyed golfing with his wife and sons and liked to attend Hawkeye football games in Iowa City.
Mr. West was a member of the Osceola Eagles.
Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Marion West.
Mr. West is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Colleen, of Osce-ola; two sons, Mark West and his wife, Deborah West, of Iowa City and Brett West and his wife, Melissa West, of Winterset; three grandchildren, Susan West and Tyler West of Iowa City and Jack West of Winterset; two brothers, Wendell West of Osceola and Wayne “Toots” West and his wife, Ida West, of Weldon; a sister-in-law, Sandi Mandell, of Plattsburg, Mo.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were March 21 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Terry D. Roberts officiating. Casket bearers were Gary McDowell, Ron McDowell, Lee McDowell, Shane McDowell, Rick McDowell and Tyler West. Honorary Bearers were Bradley West, Mickey West, Matthew West and Ronal West. Interment was in Van Wert Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established by the family.
Irene Mae Abell
Irene Mae Abell, daughter of William McElroy Sevier and Ella Matilda O’Dell Sevier, was born June 10, 1902, in Union County and died May 26, 2002, at the Afton Care Center. She was 99.
She was educated in Union County country schools. She married Ernest Ray Abell, on Dec. 25, 1920, in Creston.
After their marriage, she worked as a homemaker and farmwife. She did extensive gardening. She also did house cleaning and wall papering at homes in Union County. She sold Avon products for many years. Mrs. Abell also worked as the custodian for the Arispe United Methodist Church for 45 years and took many friends and neighbors on errands.
The couple worked and farmed at a number of places while rearing their family. In 1957, they moved to Arispe. Mr. Abell died on Dec. 11, 1965. She continued to live in their home until she moved to the Afton Care Center in September 2001.
Mrs. Abell was a member of the Arispe United Methodist Church where she was active with the United Methodist Women, serving in every office and diligently working with the quilting group.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her parents; three daughters, Margaret in infancy, Maxine Jones and Wilma Vanderpluym; three granddaughters; seven brothers, Warren William, Vernard Sevier, Clarence Sevier, Harold Sevier, Lloyd Sevier, Cecil and Eugene Sevier; a sister, Pauline German.
Mrs. Abell is survived by two sons, Lavel Abell and his wife, Carolyn Abell, of Murray and Bill Abell and his wife, Ferne Abell, of Arispe; a daughter, Carol Perry and her husband, Darrell Perry, of Osceola; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Frank Sevier of Greenfield; a sister, Ruth Graham of Creston and two sisters-in-law, Elnora Sevier of Blue Springs, Mo. and Betty Sevier of Creston.
Funeral services were May 29 at the Arispe United Methodist Church, the Rev. Lynn Garrison and the Rev. Dwayne Henrichs officiating. Interment was in Graceland Cemetery in Creston. Arrangements were by Powers Funeral Home in Creston. A memorial has been established.
F. Eugene ‘Gene’ Baethke
Floyd Eugene Baethke, known by most as “Gene”, the son of Floyd Wilmer Baethke and Phyllis Jane McCay, was born Dec. 18, 1953, at Sigourney and died May 26, 2002, of cancer at Kavanagh House on 56th Street in Des Moines. He was 48.
He was raised in Montezuma and received his early education in Montezuma Community Schools where he graduated in 1972. He graduated from William Penn College in 1976 with a degree in education.
Mr. Baethke married Karen Lynn Fleming on Aug. 3, 1974, in Montezuma. The couple became the parents of two daughters, Jennifer and Brianna. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Baethke moved to New Virginia where he began his teaching and coaching career at Interstate 35 Schools.
Through the years, he has been very involved in coaching. He started as assistant girls basketball coach and later became head girls basketball coach. He was then the assistant boys basketball coach. Throughout his coaching tenure, he was also the I-35 assistant football coach. Mr. Baethke was currently the head boys basketball coach.
He was a member of the Iowa State Education Association, National Coaches Association and was involved with the weightlifting program at I-35. He loved sports and enjoyed attending all of the sporting events at the school, especially when his girls were playing. He also liked ESPN and if it could be labeled as a hobby, it was his.
Preceding him in death were his grandparents; a brother, Phillip and two sisters, Pamela and Janine, all three in infancy.
Mr. Baethke is survived by his wife, Karen Baethke, of New Virginia; two daughters, Jennifer Baethke of New Virginia and Brianna Baethke of Iowa City; his parents, Floyd and Phyllis Baethke of Montezuma; three brothers, Mark Baethke and his wife, Lizz Baethke, of Urbandale, Larry Baethke and his wife, Denise Baethke, of Williamsburg and Greg Baethke and his wife, Dawnetta Baethke, of Spencer; nieces and nephews, Chad, Autumn and Calvin Baethke of Urbandale, Tyler, Dustyn and Cody Baethke of Williamsburg and Cade, Payton, Carson and Kramer Baethke of Spencer; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were May 29 at the Interstate 35 High School Gymnasium in Truro, the Rev. Skip Rushing of New Virginia officiating.
Musicians, Tim and Kelly McKinney and Anne Johnson performed the musical selections Amazing Grace, I Will Remember You and Spirit in the Sky.
Casket bearers were Dick Sulentic, Tim Bogs, Everett Kephart, Randy Calvert, Jeff Douglas and Brandon Kelly. Honorary bearers were Tyler Baethke, Dustyn Baethke, Cody Baethke, Cade Baethke, Payton Baethke, Carson Baethke, Kramer Baethke, Chad Baethke, Autumn Baethke and Calvin Baethke. Interment was in New Virginia Cemetery. Arrangements were by Kale Funeral Homes-Osceola and Truro.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Kavanagh House, 900-56th in Des Moines or Interstate 35 Little League.
Vera Gardner
Vera Gardner, 92, of Carlisle died May 16, 2002, of heart failure at the Carlisle Care Center where she had lived for the past 3-1/2 years.
Mrs. Gardner was born in Mondale. She graduated from Van Wert High School and married Orval Newton Gardner also of Van Wert in 1930 at Ames. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner operated a grocery store in Woodburn for several years before moving to South Gate and Visalia, Calif. in 1955. .
Mrs. Gardner moved back to Iowa 10 years ago and lived at Crestview Retirement Center in Des Moines before moving to the care center in Carlisle.
She was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter, Kay Johnson.
Mrs. Gardner is survived by a daughter, Twyla Davis of Carlisle; four sons, Dean Gardner of Clifton, Colo.; Don Gardner of Broken Arrow, Okla., Phillip Gardner of Alexandria, Va. and David Gardner of Castle Rock, Colo.; a sister, Mildred Joy of Willits, Calif. and a brother, Robert Lee of St. Charles.
A visitation was held at the Richardson Funeral Home in Carlisle for Mrs. Gardner on May 19. Graveside services were May 22 at Rose Hills Cemetery, in Whittier, Calif., the Rev. Randy Gardner officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made in in Mrs. Gardner’s name to the Woodburn Community Center.
Harry C. Horton
Harry Clark Horton, son of Jesse LeGrand and Fairie Elizabeth McCarl Horton, was born May 11, 1910, in Franklin Township in Clarke County and died May 23, 2002, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 92.
He attended country school in Franklin Township and graduated from Osceola High School and Osceola Junior College.
He married Velma Loraine Hoover on Jan. 12, 1931, in Clarke County and they became the parents of three children, Betty, Loraine and Robert.
Mr. Horton was a teacher in the country schools and worked for the City of Osceola in the wastewater department. He also worked at the Iowa Ordnance Plant and the munitions factory during World War II. He helped build the detonator for the atom bomb.
After the war Mr. and Mrs. Horton moved to Millard, Neb. where they lived for a number of years and he did construction work. The couple returned to Osceola in 1965 where he owned and operated a mechanic shop, H and V Service.
Mr. Horton was a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Osceola and a member of the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department for many years. His favorite pastimes were fishing and woodworking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and a brother, Edward.
Mr. Horton is survived by two daughters, Betty Webb and her husband, John Webb, of Osceola and Loraine Brimm and her husband, Richard Brimm, of Weldon; a son, Robert Horton and his wife, Janet Horton, of St. Louis, Mo.; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, Lester Horton and his wife, Arlene Horton, of Osceola; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.
Services for Mr. Horton were held May 28 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Doug Hamilton officiating. Musical selections, by the Church of Christ Singers, were Sweet Bye and Bye and Take My Hand Precious Lord .
Casket bearers were Jim Brimm, Dan Brimm, Sam Brimm, Tom Nolan II, Mike Gasick, Brandon Brimm and Kooper Brimm. Honorary bearers included Shadoe Miller, Keegan Brimm, Zachary Gasick, Chase Miller, Konner Brimm, Joshua Gasick and Kooper Brimm. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Horton’s name to the Church of Christ or the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department.
Arrangements were made by Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
Sally Ann Hunsaker
Sally Ann Hunsaker, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Jamerson Marthini, was born July 30, 1931, in Seattle Wash. She was adoped and raised by William and Hazel Hill in Chicago, Ill. She died May 23, 2002, at her home at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr. She was 70.
As a young adult she moved back to the west coast and got to know her natural family. She moved and traveled many places before settling in Iowa in 1988.
She married Dee Leon Hunsaker in 1974.
Through out Mrs. Hunsaker’s life she enjoyed car racing motorcycles, crocheting, traveling and the Internet. She also enjoyed working on her family genealogy and investigating different religions.
She was preceded in death by both sets of parents; her husand on Dec. 21, 2001, and many of her brothers and sisters.
Surviving are her three children, John Hill and his wife, Mary Paul, of Colchester, Vt.; Lisa Ward and her husband, Mike Ward, of Grand River and Mike Owens and his wife, Jennifer Owens, of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Shawn Hill and his wife, Sheri Hill, Christopher Hill and his wife, Heather Hill, all of South Burlington, Vt., Britanee Ward and Mike Ward of Grand River and Sean Owens of Phoenix; two great-granddaughters; two brothers; two sisters; and other relatives and friends.
Services were graveside May 28 in Greenlawn Cemetery at Afton, Pastor Dwayne Henrichs officiating. Casket bearers were Wayne Barnes, Ron Brown, Jesse Henrichs, Matt Henrichs, Mike Marshall and Jeff Ward.
Arrangements were by Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home at Leon.
Robert Reed Sponsler
Robert Reed Sponsler, son of Francis Reed and Madge Almeda Spencer Sponsler, was born on Oct. 17, 1925, in Wayne County and died May 8, 2002, at the Wayne County Hospital in Corydon.
He graduated from Humeston High School in 1943.
Mr. Sponsler married Muriel Ilene DeVore on July 24, 1950, at the Christian Church parsonage at Chariton. They became the parents of four children, Kathryn, David, Kristin and Doyce.
He started farming at a young age. Farming was something he liked and work that needed to be done after his father’s early death. He continued until his own retirement with great attention to detail and the love of his occupation.
Mr. Sponsler was an advocate of soil conservation. After retirement his green thumb was directed to his garden where he grew abundant fruits for family and friends. He liked his garden and flowers, birds, reading and collecting bells.
He was baptized into the Humeston Christian United Methodist Church with his wife.
Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Alice Wells and a brother, James Sponsler.
Mr. Sponsler is survived by his wife of Humeston; two daughters, Kathy Heckman and her husband, Glenn Heckman, of Osceola and Kristin Sponsler of Denver, Colo. ; two sons, David Sponsler and his wife, Patty Sponsler, of Chariton and Doyce Sponsler and his wife, Diana Sponsler, of Des Moines; eight grandchildren; two great-grandsons; two brothers, John Sponsler and and his wife, Virginia Sponsler, of Lakeville, Minn. and Joe Sponsler and his wife, Phyllis Sponsler, of Atlantic; a stepsister, Mary Ann Storm and her husband, Keith Storm, of Chariton; sisters-in-law, Virginia Sponsler of Humeston and June Halferty of Numa; brothers-in-law, Bill Wells and his wife, Choral Wells, of Eustis, Fla., Rex DeVore and his wife, Sue DeVore, of Williamson and Paul DeVore and his wife, Dorothy DeVore, of Russell; aunts, Margaret Throckmorton of Chariton and Mildred Stevenson of Story City; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were May 14 at the Humeston Christian United Methodist Church, the Rev. Joan White officiating. Burial was in Humeston Cemetery.
Kenneth ‘Nicky’ Turlock
Kenneth “Nicky” Turlock, 41, of Corning died May 21, 2002, in Adams County. Services were May 25 in Oak Hill Cemetery at Corning with the Rev. Ken Rummer of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Memorials may be given in his name.
He was born April 3, 1961, in San Francisco. He moved to Las Vagas when he was 10 and moved to Iowa in 1991.
He worked for Fansteel Wellman Dynamics in Creston since 1998 as a lead man.
He loved music and playing tennis and was an avid morel mushroom hunter.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Danielle Turlock who died at age 10 on Feb. 14, 2000.
Mr. Turlock is survived by his mother, Lynn W. Shepherd of Lorimor; fiance, Simone Skowronek of Corning; three children, Aaron Turlock, 10, and Tayler Turlock, 8, both of Corning and Brice Turlock, eight months, of Murray.
Bernard Adams
Bernard Wayne Adams, son of George Wilson and Adrian Ellen Sibbet Adams, was born Dec. 10, 1917, in Osceola and died at home in rural Van Wert on July 25, 2002. He was 84.
He attended school in Osceola and spent three years in the CCC Camp near Chariton. He married Mildred Corsbie on Nov. 12, 1941, in Princeton, Mo. The couple became the parents of four children, Kathy, Mike, Mary and Vicki.
Their first 18 months of marriage were spent in Osceola and then they moved to a farm Mrs. Adam’s grandparents owned near Van Wert. In 1944 they purchased an acreage from her great-grandmother and aunt on the Popcorn Corner and moved in on Thanksgiving Day 1945. The four children were raised there.
Mr. Adams joined the M.P. (Methodist Protestant) Chuch in Osceola when he was young and transferred to the United Methodist Church in Van Wert in 1948 where he was an active member until health kept him at home.
Mr. Adams owned a portable mill and ground feed for farmers for 21 years. He drove a truck for Miller Products until he retired.
His two favorite pastimes were roller skating and bowling. He managed a roller rink in Osceola for several seasons and bowled on two leagues at Leon Lanes for several years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; a sister; a grandson; two brothers-in-law and their first-born Kathy Draper.
Mr. Adams is survived by his wife who was his nurse for the past four years; a son, Michael Adams of Blue Springs, Mo.; two daughters, Mary Renner and her husband, Pete Renner, of Neosho, Mo. and Vicki Leeper and her husband, Ron Leeper, of Blue Springs; a son-in-law, Garland Draper of Leon; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Don Adams of Des Moines and George Adams and his wife, Dorothy Adams, of Fort Madison; a sister Willene Strong of Omaha, Neb.; two sisters-in-law, Mamie Craig and her husband, Emmett Craig, of Osceola and Mable Horney and her husband, James Horney, of Van Wert; a brother-in-law, John Corsbie and his wife, Pat Corsbie, of Des Moines; other relatives and friends.
A funeral service for Mr. Adams was held July 29 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Pastor Jud Stover officiating. Organist and vocalist, Vicki Saxton played and sang Safe in the Arms of Jesus and Does Jesus Care.
Casket bearers were grandsons, Matt Alldredge, Greg Draper, Rod Draper, Dan Leeper, Steve Leeper and Terry Martin. Honorary bearers were grandchildren, Michelle Adams, Mark Leeper, Melissa Martin and Angie Samms.
Interment was in the Van Wert Cemetery.
Emmett Craig
Emmett Charles Craig, son of Percy Edward and Minnie Ethel Bennett Craig, was born April 1, 1911, in Decatur County and died Feb. 10, 2004, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 92.
He grew up quickly, he had to quit school at a young age to help his ill mother with the housework and the other children.
He married Madolyn Jean Hatcher on May 13, 1936, in Decatur County. They became the parents of three daughters, Lois, Roberta, and Joyce. Mr. Craig married Mamie Lorane Corsbie Gordon on Oct. 14, 1962, at Eaglesville, Mo. Her four children, Meryle, Donald, Kenneth and Ronald, became a part of his family. Mr. Craig lived all of his life in Decatur County until he moved to Osceola in 1995.
Throughout his life he did numerous jobs including working for the railroad, owning and operating restaurants in both Leon and Lamoni, deputy sheriff for Decatur County and maintenance work at the Decatur County Hospital.
He was a member of the Masons, Lions Club and Loving Chapel United Methodist Church before transferring to Van Wert United Methodist Church.
In earlier years Mr. Craig enjoyed hunting and fishing and playing cribbage.
Preceding him in death were his parents; five brothers, Basil, Neil, John, Roe and Cletus Craig; and two stepsons, Kenneth and Ronald.
Survivors include his wife of Osceola; five children, Lois Hullinger and her husband, Doug Hullinger, of Davis City, Roberta McKern and her husband, Richard McKern, of Des Moines and Joyce Shirley and her husband, Ray Shirley, of Winnsboro, La., Meryle Gordon and his wife, Freda Gordon, of Osceola and Don Gordon and his wife, Cherry Gordon, of Denver, Colo.
Other survivors are two daughters-in-law, Marilyn Gordon of Denver and Sue Gordon of Nashville, Tenn. two sisters, Berniece Hoffman of Lamoni and Helen Gilliland of Leon; a brother, Willard Craig and companion, Betty Pattie, of Lamoni; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Craig were held at the Slade-O’ Donnell Funeral Home in Leon on Feb. 13, Pastor Jud Stover officiating. Musician was Myrtle Coy and music was Beyond the Sunset and Precious Lord, Take My Hand.
Casket bearers were Mr. Craig’s grandsons, Kevin Hullinger, Troy Hullinger, Rick McKern, Wyatt Dunbar, Rich Gordon, Doug Gordon and Clinton Shirley. Interment was in the Van Wert Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established by the family.
Marjory Randol
Marjory L. Randol, daughter of Kittie Belle Mattix Randol and Thomas Fred Randol was born Nov. 6, 1926, in Clarke County and died at the Clarke County Hospital on Feb. 18, 2004. She was 77.
She graduated from Weldon High School. Her first employment was in Osceola at Snowdons Inc. She retired from Farm Bureau in 1972 after working as an underwriting clerk for 23 years.
Miss Randol was a member of the Osceola United Methodist Church.
She lived in the Osceola area her whole life and was living at the Osceola Nursing and Rehab Center at the time of her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, John Randol and George Randol.
She is survived by a sister, Helen Randol Glover and her husband, Norman Glover, of Spain; two brothers, Keith Randol and his wife, Freda Randol, of Osceola and Tom Randol and his wife, Margie Randol, of Weldon; nephews and nieces; other relatives and friends.
Graveside services and interment were Feb. 20 in Hebron Cemetery in Clarke County, Tom Murr conducted the service.
Walter Vogel
Walter Charles Vogel of Bella Vista, Ark., son of Herman and Ethel Werner Vogel was born Nov. 17, 1920, in Hinsdale, Mont. and died Feb. 21, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers, Ark. He was 83.
He graduated in 1940 from Hinsdale High School. He entered the military service in 1942 at Milwaukee, Wis. He was a World War II veteran and served in the 91st Infantry Division in Italy until 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war he returned to Afton to farm. He met and married Marjorie Fluckey on Dec. 9, 1978. She died in 1981. He found love a second time when he married Maurine Jeter on June 25, 1983. They lived on a farm southwest of Afton until 1990 when they moved to Bella Vista and began a career in real estate.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; a brother, Clarence; a sister, Celia Kahl and a stepdaughter, Marsha Jeter Patience.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years of Bella Vista; three stepsons, Mike Jeter and his wife, Sara Jeter, of Harris, Minn., Mark Jeter and his wife, Laurie Jeter of Excelsior, Minn, Marlin Jeter and friend Lynette Dallas of New York City, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; a brother Lawrence Vogel of Independence, Mo.; two sisters, Marjorie Peterson of Billings, Mont. and Lois Barker of Mount Ayr; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Bella Vista Community Church, the Rev. David McKay officiating.
Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Due to his granddaughter’s illness memorial contributions are preferred to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association in memory of Walter Vogel, 850 Sligo Ave. Suite 800, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
Wilma Cunningham
Helen Wilma Cunningham, daughter of Wilmer Vere Prall and Helen Chenoweth Prall, was born March 20, 1930, in Des Moines and died July 26, 2002, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 72.
She spent her early years in Des Moines and attended East High School. She married Clifford Delmar Cunningham on Aug. 24, 1947. The couple became the parents of four children, Laura, Marcia, Jan and Connie.
Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham moved to Leon in 1966 where they owned and operated Elder Lane Manor from 1966 until 1974 and the Leon Care Center from 1974 to 1997. They moved to Spencer in 1981 and lived there 15 years before moving to Osceola in 1997.
Mrs. Cunningham was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Organization in Leon. She had attended Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Leon and Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer.
She liked to play bingo, and card games. She also liked collecting antiques, reading, watching old movies, shopping and traveling in the couple’s motor home. She was known for her wonderful sense of humor.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Marilyn Shephard; two brothers, Jerry Prall and Richard “Dick” Prall and her granddaughter, Jessica Lee Gorsline.
Mrs. Cunningham is survived by her husband; four daughters, Laura Bendlin and her husband, Larry Bendlin, of Spencer, Marcia Waugh and her husband, Jerry Waugh, of Grundy Center, Jan Lukes and her husband, Ron Lukes, of Mason City and Connie Gorsline and her husband, Steve Gorsline, of Osceola; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; an aunt, Clara Prall of Des Moines; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A graveside service and interment of the cremains were held in the Leon Cemetery on July 30 for Mrs. Cunningham, the Rev. J.R. Wheeler of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osceola officiating.
Vocalist Gail Duerr sang the Lord’s Prayer. Honorary bearers were Larry Bendlin, Donnie Bendlin, Jerry Waugh, James Martin, Ron Lukes, Andy Lukes, Steve Gorsline and Danny Gorsline.
Kale Funeral Home of Osceola was in charge of arrangements.
Curtis P. Eckman
Curtis Phillip Eckman, son of Rita and Jeff Griffith, was born Oct. 22, 1986, in Torrance, Calif., and died July 22, 2002, near his home in rural Murray, as result of injuries suffered in a four-wheeler accident.
Curtis moved with his family to Murray in January of 1994. Prior to moving to Murray, they had lived in Des Moines for one year after coming from California.
He would have been in the sophomore class at Murray High School.
Curtis enjoyed four wheelers and anything dealing with wheels, engines or motors. He loved the outdoors, particularly fishing and deer hunting. He had a special horse named Missy, his cat named Tippy, and his dogs that he loved.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandmothers, Olive Eckman and Melina Movsesian; great-aunt, Joyce Stewart; great-uncle, Gene Trinkle; great-great-uncle, Jack Andelian and grandfather, Bill Griffith.
Curtis is survived by his parents, Rita and Jeff Griffith of Murray; step-sister, Brittney Griffith of Des Moines; grandparents, Marge and Mel Eckman of Afton; grandmother, Jean Griffith of Des Moines; uncle, Melvin Eckman of Burbank, Calif.; aunt, Jackie Eckman of Frazier Park, Calif.; cousin, Elizabeth Eckman of Frazer Park; great-great-aunt, Louise Andelian, of Tustin, Calif.; great-aunt and uncle, Sheila and Laurence Eckman of Denver, Colo.; as well as special friends, Mary and Leonard Siefkas of Murray, whom he loved like grandparents, as well as many cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held July 26 at Kale Funeral Home, the Rev. John Tunnicliff of Afton, presiding. Casket bearers were Melvin Eckman, Cole Sorter, Kyle Wilson, Jason Griffith, Todd Myers and Jacob Ashby. Honorary bearers were Brian Griffith, David Griffith, Chris Brown, Jerry Griffith, Mike Griffith and Ed Snyder. Interment was in the Union Cemetery in Clarke County.
Sandra Sue Houston
Sandra Sue Houston, the daughter of Willard Warren Galvin and Alice Irene King Galvin, was born Jan. 28, 1948, in Swan and died of an aneurysm at her home in Thayer on July 27, 2002. She was 54.
She was raised in the Swan and Pleasantville area and graduated from Pleasantville High School.
She married John D. Houston on June 17, 1967, in Indianola. The couple lived in Des Moines for a year following their marriage and then moved to Indianola and Hartford. The couple has lived on a farm near Thayer for the last 25 years.
Mrs. Houston worked for an insurance company in Des Moines for a few years and then for the last 18 years she was employed by Murray Products in Murray.
Her favorite pastimes were reading and watching movies. She had a large ceramic pig collection. Her greatest joy in life was her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mrs. Houston is survived by her husband; a son John G. Houston and his wife, Autumn Houston, of Fort Hood, Texas; a daughter, Dana Ray Church and her husband, Clint Church, of Muscatine; three grandchildren; a sister, Edith Jenkins of Carlisle; a brother, Earl Galvin of Missouri and many other family members and friends.
