Don Fredrick Fickes
Don Fredrick Fickes, Leon, son of Orville O. and Lula May Sinn Fickes, was born June 8, 1928, at Clive in Polk County and died Nov. 29, 2001, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon. He was 73.
Mr. Fickes lived and farmed at Cumming for 30 years and worked at Firestone Tire Company from 1952 to 1982.
He married Verna Mae Chiles on July 1, 1966, at Princeton, Mo. The couple became the parents of three children, Edward, Laura and Dona.
The couple moved to the Leon area in 1978 where Mr. Fickes farmed and continued to work at Firestone. He milked cows until 1985. He was an avid horse trader. In his younger days he broke horses. He loved gardening and selling his harvest.
Mr. Fickes was a member of the Decatur County Saddle Club, the Quarter Horse Association, and the Appaloosa Horse Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a half sister, Evelyn and three half brothers, John, Dick and Dale Fickes.
Mr. Fickes is survived by his wife of Leon; a son, Ed Fickes and his wife, Brenda Fickes, of Van Wert; two daughters, Laura Williams and her husband, Lonnie Williams and Dona Fickes, all of Leon; daughter-in-law, Dianna Johnson and her husband, Roger Johnson, of Mount Ayr; nine grandchildren; a sister, Deloris Walker of California; three nephews; a niece and other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Fickes were Dec. 1 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Casket bearers were Steve Cummings, Chris Petty, Tony Jackson, Tom Whirrett, Eric McClure and Tod Zion. Interment was in the Linn Grove Cemetery at Prole in Warren County.
Jo Caroline Hutchens
Jo Caroline Hutchens, daughter of Frank and Josephine Zantel Carpenter, was born Dec. 14, 1933, at Strasburg, Mo. and died Nov. 21, 2001, in Dickinson, N.D. She was 67.
She was raised and educated in Missouri and graduated from East High School in Kansas City.
She married Richard W. Hutchens on Jan. 20, 1957, in Kansas City. The couple lived in Overland Park, Kan., Paola, Kan., Osceola and the past 24 years in Ballwin, Mo. before moving to Dickinson. Mrs. Hutchens worked as a librarian in the high school and junior high school in Osceola. She was an administrative assistant for a manufacturing company and an insurance agency before retiring in 1998.
Mrs. Hutchens was a member of the United Methodist Church in Osceola and St. Louis, Mensa International and Library Club. She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, reading and serving others.
She was preceded in death by a son Mark, her parents and two brothers.
Mrs. Hutchens is survived by her husband of Dickinson; two sons, Richard Hutchens Jr. and his wife, Mary Hutchens, Dickinson; and Victor Hutchens and Sheryl Wheatley, St. Louis, Mo.; three grandchildren, Kendra, Kaleb and Keely Hutchens, Dickinson; a sister, Mary Carpenter Reid and her husband, Howard Reid, Brea, Calif.; and a brother, Frank Carpenter, Woodland, Calif.
Services for Mrs. Hutchens were Nov. 24 at Ladbury Funeral Service in Dickinson, the Rev. Scott McKirdy of the Dickinson United Methodist Church officiating.
Robert Bainter
Robert “Bob” L. Bainter, 66, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at home. Services were Dec. 7 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home. Music selections were One Day At a Time and Grandpa.
Honorary casket bearers are Mark Bainter, Randy Bainter, Jesse Bainter and Dick Bainter. A private burial of the cremains will be at 2 p.m.in Woodland Cemetery in Iowa Center on Dec. 12.
Robert “Bob” L. Bainter was born April 20, 1937, in Des Moines where he was raised and lived until he moved to Osceola 20 years ago. He loved to farm and raise animals, especially horses and cattle.
He had worked for Massey Ferguson for 26 years and later was a maintenance supervisor for Jann Realty. He retired in 1995.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Trilla and Jesse Bainter; a brother, Harv Bainter and two sisters, Hazel and Clara.
Mr. Bainter is survived by his wife, Mary Fry of Osceola; two sons, Randy Bainter and his wife, Janet Bainter and Mark Bainter and his wife, Joy Bainter, all of Des Moines; three grandchildren, Jesse, Kati and Cassie of Des Moines; two brothers, Floyd Bainter of Des Moines and Jerry Bainter of Georgia; three sisters, Pauline Curry of Altoona, Duke Dyer of Elysian, Minn. and Daisy Douglas of Des Moines.
Memorial gifts may be made to multiple sclerosis.
Willis Burgus
Willis Eugene Burgus, son of William Burgus and Winifred Stephenson Burgus, was born Jan. 15, 1926, at the family home in Clarke County and died Dec. 6, 2003, at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines. He was 77.
Willis grew up on the farm in Clarke County and attended country school; he graduated from Murray High School. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army. He married Viola Gray on Jan. 17, 1950, in Princeton, Mo. He was again called to serve his country during the Korean War.
Mr. and Mrs. Burgus farmed until they moved to Osceola in 1968. Mr. Burgus ran Gray Oil Company for a few years and then began working for the Clarke Community Schools as the bus maintenance supervisor. He retired in 1988 after 15 years.
Mr. Burgus was mechanical and always kept things running in good working order whether it was the farm equipment or school buses. He also tried fixing anything around the house that stopped working.
He enjoyed family picnics, camping trips and reading. After his retirement the couple enjoyed spending winters in Arizona.
He was a member of the Osceola Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Burgus was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Raymond and Calvin and sister, Eunice Davis.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Brian Burgus and his wife, Judy Burgus, of Des Moines and Mike Burgus of Osceola; a daughter, Brenda Snashall and her husband, Kevin Snashall, of Suffolk, Va.; five grandchildren, Luke and Melody Burgus, Jessica and Joshua Snashall and Shelby Burgus; several nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Burgus were Dec. 9 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Karen Norton of Newton officiating. Organist was Pennie Gonseth and musical selections were Beyond the Sunset and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Ron Seaton, Billie Chase, Dan Wolfe, Bill Wolfe, Ralph Miller and Richard Aringdale. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Osceola Public Library.
Opal Ellars
Opal Irene Ellars of Leon, daughter of Lewis Ezra and Carrie M. Martindale Bright, was born Aug. 14, 1907, in Decatur County and died Dec. 3, 2003, at Westview Acres in Leon. She was 96.
Opal attended Diamond School in Decatur County. She married Clarence Riley “Dick” Ellars on Oct. 25, 1923, in Leon and they became the parents of three children, Maudie Irene, Clarence Richard, and Lyman Earl. They also raised Maurice Eldon Reynolds, loving him as their own.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellars were longtime residents and farmers in Decatur County. They lived in Madison County for seven years before retiring and returning to Leon. Their home was open to anyone and nieces and nephews often lived with them. Mrs. Ellars enjoyed cooking large family dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Mrs. Ellars was a member of the Leon Assembly of God for 60 years. She was actively affiliated with her church as long as health allowed.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Richard and Lyman; a grandson, Darwin Lester Priest; son-in-law, Bill Priest; two sisters Cecile and Lulu Phipps; and four brothers, Gail, Frederick, Earl and Clarence Bright.
Mrs. Ellars is survived by her daughter, Maudie Priest of Leon, son Maurice Reynolds and friend Lana of Osceola; daughter-in-law, Eva Ellars of Des Moines; seven grandchildren, Dick Priest and Janet Menkens, both of Leon, Rick Ellars of Cedar Rapids, Bonnie Ellars of Las Vegas, Nev., Linda Hauck of Omaha, Neb., Jennifer Reyolds of San Diego, Calif. and Mark Reynolds of Cedar Rapids.
Other survivors include 17 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great-grandchildren; several great-great-stepgrandchildren; a great-great-great-granddaughter; a sister-in-law, Jettie Bright of Des Moines; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ellars were Dec. 6 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Richard Queener officiating. Organist was Virginia Webb and vocalists were Mark Priest and Terry Roberts. Music selections were What a Day That Will Be and Safely Home.
Casket bearers were Dick Priest, Mark Priest, Rick Ellars, Luke Priest, Michael Priest and Jim Menkens. Interment was in Leon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leon Assembly of God.
Lavonne Kamber-Bauman
LaVonne Kay Kamber-Bauman, 60, died Dec. 1, 2003, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines.
Mrs. Kamber-Bauman was born in Des Moines and lived in Norwalk before moving to New Virginia. Her loving support encouraged her son Michael to serve as the 1988 senior class president in Norwalk. Her support continued to her husband, Bob, with whom she worked in their home remodeling business. She was an active, creative woman interested in antiques, travel, cooking, decorating and gambling. Her good-hearted nature will be missed.
She is survived by her husband, Bob, of New Virginia; son Michael Todd Alcantar of New Virginia and his father, Arthur Alcantar of New Mexico; grandson, Chase Eugene Michael Alcantar of Des Moines; a sister, Sandra Kuhns of Des Moines, two brothers, Vic Kamber of Arizona and John Kamber of New Jersey; niece, Rachelle Bixler of Des Moines and special grandnephew, Sheldon Todd Glick.
Marvin Osgood
Marvin Raymond Osgood, son of James William Osgood and Myrtle Hilterbrand Osgood, was born March 18, 1915, in Clarke County and died Dec. 5, 2003, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 88.
He attended Clarke County rural schools including Pleasant Ridge. He enjoyed attending barn dances in his youth.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II for three years and spent two years overseas; he fought in the Battle of Normandy and also was in northern France and central Europe.
Mr. Osgood was a farmer and lived in Clarke County except from 1979 to 1995.
Mr. Osgood married M. Hazel Dickey on Dec. 9, 1978, at Truro; they lived in various locations in Missouri until1995 when they returned to Iowa to make their home in Osceola. Mrs. Osgood died April 6, 2000.
Mr. Osgood was preceded in death by his parents; wife; two brothers, Vernen LeRoy and Gernie Russell and a sister, Velma Miler.
He is survived by 12 nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law, Alice Osgood of Moncks Corner, S.C. and Etta Osgood of Pompano Beach, Fla.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Dec. 8 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Neville Clayton of Osceola officiating. Organist was Virginia Reynolds and soloist was Pastor Chuck DeVos. Musical selections were Beautiful Garden of Prayer and We Are Going Down the Valley.
Casket bearers were Eldon Proctor, Norman Cook, Larry Phillips, Gary Phillips, Robert Snyder, Red Thompson and Phillip Henrichs. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Marie Carson
Marie Carson, daughter of Elton Oliver and Myrtle Cathrine Wirick Atkinson, was born Feb. 11, 1908, in Leslie and died Dec. 9, 2002, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 94.
A lifetime resident of Clarke County, she graduated from Osceola High School on May 14, 1928. She married Marvin Ray Carson on Dec. 21, 1928, in Chicago, Ill. and they became the parents of a daughter, Carolyn.
Mrs. Carson worked as an operator for General Telephone Company in Osceola for 42 years. She retired in 1968. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Osceola and was a member of the Women’s Circle of the church. She was baptized on March 31, 1942.
Mrs. Carson enjoyed Shirley Woods bus tours and had seen all but two states. A good cook, she helped prepare meals for many church functions. She loved to cook for her family, picnicking and tending her flower garden.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1996 and three brothers, Don, Dale and Herbert Atkinson and two sisters, Phoebe Steele and Beth Atkinson.
Mrs. Carson is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Lingle and her husband, Darrell Lingle, of Osceola; a grandson, David Lingle of Fort Collins, Colo.; two granddaughters, Beth Lingle of Osceola and Patty Hostetler and her husband, Dan Hostetler, of Grand River; a great-granddaughter, Claire Lingle of Loveland, Colo. and a great-grandson, Hayden Hostetler of Grand River; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Carson will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Phil Coe officiating. Organist Belva White will accompany Emil Rinderspacher while he sings In the Garden and How Great Thou Art.
Casket bearers will be Dan Hostetler, Harold Carson, Merrill Thornton, Randy Watson, Donald Carson and Nelson Fry. Honorary bearers will be Gene Fry, Bob Horton, Emil Muller and Fayne Reynolds. Interment is in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church or Clarke County Hospital Exended Care.
Visitation is open after 9 a.m.Thursday at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with the family present to greet friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Everette Pearl "Swede" Fleming
Former Osceola native and long time resident of Salinas, Calif., Everette Pearl “Swede” Fleming, 85, died in Riverside, Calif. on Oct. 21, 2002.
Mr. Fleming was born in Osceola, the son of John and Zoa Fleming in 1917. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1937 and moved to Salinas where he married Salinas native, Alta Fiese, in 1938.
Mr. Fleming served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations as a medical corpsman and surgical technician during World War II. He earned the Medical Badge, the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, along with other ribbons.
After the war he worked for Spiegal Foods, now Del Gety Foods, until he retired in 1982.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Salinas and was an avid golfer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Arlie and George Fleming and a sister, Alice Fleming Gross.
Mr. Fleming is survived by his wife; two daughters; a sister, Gladys Grimes of Albia and two brothers, Wayne Fleming of Woodburn and Don Fleming of Salinas.
Funeral services were held in Riverside.
Mary Jeanette Smith
Mary Jeanette Smith of Warrensburg, Mo., the daughter of Ebert Garner and Minnie Lakins Paul, was born May 22, 1920, in Osceola and died Dec. 4, 2002, at Western, Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg.
She graduated from Osceola High School in 1938 and attended Clarke County Community College in Osceola for two years.
Mrs. Smith was a service representative for United Telephone Company and then for Sprint. She retired in 1985.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg, Memarco Sunday School Class and Fellowship Trinity Circle. She was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter CB of Warrensburg.
She married Allen Lavere Smith on May 17, 1943, in Bethany Mo.
She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Susan Love and her husband, Kirt Love, of Warrensburg; a son, the Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith and his wife, Lori Smith, of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; five grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Linda Reed and her husband, Ron Reed, and Betty C. Smith, all of Osceola and Betty G. Smith of Charleston, Ill.; and a brother-in-law, Dick Smith and his wife, Orpha Smith, of Davenport.
MARIE REGINA LAMOREE
Marie Regina Lamoree, daughter of William Henry and Lucy Lavina McMurtrey Simmerman, was born on March 10, 1902, in Decatur County and died Dec. 7, 2001, at Osceola Nursing and Rehab Center in Osceola. She was 99.
She married Cledwyn Buckley on Nov. 15, 1923. The couple became the parents of a daughter, Shirley who died at 15 months.
Mr. and Mrs. Buckley purchased the home place a mile north of Van Wert in 1931 and opened a general store which they operated for 23 years. Mr. Buckley died April 22, 1955.
She married Ralph Lamoree on Feb. 23, 1957. They retired and moved from the farm to town in 1970. Ralph died on Oct. 3, 1976.
Mrs. Lamoree was a member of the Methodist Church She loved music and in her younger days played the organ. She enjoyed visiting with people and had lots of friends.
In addition to her daughter, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers and their wives, Virgil and Mamie Simmerman and Paul and Evelyn Simmerman; two sisters, Maxine Ryan and Lucille Brown Cole and her husbands, Herman Brown and Sylvian Cole; and three brothers-in-law, Carl LaFollette, Merlyn Oiler nd Donald Kelley.
Mrs. Lamoree is survived by her three sisters, Helen LaFollette of Loveland, Colo. Pauline Oiler of Osceola and Gwendolyn Kelley of Weldon; a brother-in-law, Robert Ryan of Weldon; nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
Services for Mrs. Lamoree were Dec. 11 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Terry D. Roberts officiating. Organist Connie Hook accompanied soloist Bud Hook as he sang Beyond the Sunset and The Old Rugged Cross. Casket bearers were Marvin Blanchard, Dennis Kelley, Jerry Ryan and Steve Simmerman. Interment was in the Van Wert Cemetery.
OLIVIA JOYCE ROBUCCIO
Olivia Joyce Robuccio, eight-month-old daughter of Joseph A. and Jeanne Fitzpatrick Robbucio, died Nov. 22, 2001, after a brief illness at Hershey Medical Center in Columbia, Penn.
She was born in Lancaster and was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Columbia.
In addition to her parents she is survived by three sisters, Maria, Anna and Rose, and a brother, Joseph F., all at home; grandparents, Harold and Mary Fitzpatrick of Osceola, Joseph S. Robuccio of Columbia and Shirley Robuccio of Gardner, Mass.
Services for Olivia were Nov. 26 at Holy Trinity Church in Columbia, the Rev. Father Kenneth Lawrence officiating. Burial was in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery.
RUTH ELLEN SIMMERMAN
Ruth Ellen Simmerman, daughter of George Washington and Eldora Ellen Dobson Barnett, was born Aug. 22, 1908, at Givin and died Dec. 7, 2001, at her home at Westview Acres in Leon. She was 93.
She was a member of the Eddyville Christian Church until the family moved to Van Wert in 1921. She transferred her membership to the Van Wert Christian Church. Mrs. Simmerman spent most of her adult life in Decatur County.
She graduated from Van Wert High School. She married Hoyle Raymond Simmerman on Sept. 14, 1927, at Newton. Three years to the day their first daughter, Viola Faye was born. The couple became the parents of two more children, Merrill Wray and Wanda Mae.
Mrs. Simmerman was owner and operator of the Van Wert Cafe for many years. She began work as a server at Younkers Tea Room in 1955. Later she was a telephone operator in Van Wert until it ceased operation and she retired.
Baking pies was something Ruth enjoyed. She made them for her cafe, her daughter’s cafe and to sell at the Humeston sale barn for her church. She raised a huge garden and canned or froze the harvest. She also made quilts and made sure each of her family had one.
Mrs. Simmerman was active in the Van Wert Assembly of God Church and the Van Wert Lioness Club until she moved to Westview Acres on Jan. 4, 1993.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband on Sept. 18, 1969; four sisters, infant Mabel Barnett, Millie DeWild, Nellie Smith and Erma Ellis; and infant brother, Roy Barnett; sister-in-law, Mary Hein; two sons-in-law, Layton Schuldt and Worth Jones; daughter-in-law, Dolores Simmerman and granddaughter-in-law, Shirley Jones.
She is survived by her two daughters, Viola Jones of Van Wert and Wanda Schuldt of Bentonville, Ark.; a son, Wray Simmerman and his wife, Kim Simmerman, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Bill Jones and his wife, Sandy Jones, of Kansas City, Kan., Jerry Jones and his wife, Debbie Jones, of Conyers, Ga., Kevin Simmerman and his wife, Terri Simmerman, of Northville, Mich., Keith Simmerman of Reynoldsburg, Howard Schuldt and his wife, Nancy Schuldt, of Osceola, Denny Schuldt and his wife, Jeanette Schuldt, of Auxvasse, Mo. and Denise Morgan and her husband, Tim Morgan, of Rogers, Ark.;22 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; numerous other relative and friends.
Services for Mrs. Simmerman were Dec. 10 at the Assembly of God Church in Van Wert, the Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Organist Connie Hook accompanied soloist Bud Hook as he sang In the Garden and Precious Memories.
Casket bearers were Vernon Binning, Dennis Fierce, Wendell Jones, Kevin Schuldt, Bill Tiedje, Malcolm Tiedje, Bob Tompkins and Wayne West. Honorary bearers were her grandchildren, Bill Jones, Jerry Lee Jones, Denise Morgan, Denny Schuldt, Howard Schuldt, Keith Simmerman and Kevin Simmerman. Interment was in the Van Wert Cemetery.
Dorothy Boles
Dorothy Lucille Rauch Boles, 96, daughter of Lawrence Cleveland and Nora Minerva Rains Toney, was born May 20, 1907, in New Buda Township of Decatur County and died Dec. 11, 2003, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.
She married Forret Herndon Rauch on Feb. 28, 1925, at the Osceola Methodist Church. They became the parents of six childen: Junior, Margaret, Donald, Hazel, Jim and Gloria.
Mr. and Mrs. Boles farmed south of Grand River. She worked hard on the farm, canned and gardened. She was a good mother to her chdren and enjoyed cooking big family dinners. She especially liked having all of the grandchildren and little onews around.
Mrs. Boles was baptized at Elk Chapel Church on Oct. 5, 1978.
After Mr. Boles died in 1979, Dorothy married Orel Boles on July 2, 1983. they lived in Osceola until Mr. Boles died in 1999. Following a stroke, Mrs. Boles has made her home at the Carlisle Care Center for the past three years.
She loved people and liked to visit. She was “on the go” and enjoyed bus tours, dancing and playing bingo. She enjoyed a 95th birthday celebration with many family and friends last year.
Mrs. Boles was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; a son, Jim Rauch; a granddaguhter, Marilyn Anderson; great-grandsons, Tony Rauch and James Coral Morris; son-in-law, Raymond Smith; daughters-in-law, Gerogia Rauch and Teresa Rauch West; six sisters, Florence Baker, Gladys Covey, Anna Marie Kyle, Bernice Bryant, Louise Bigley and Marjorie Toney; and two brothers, Gerald and Thayer Toney.
Mrs. Boles is survived by her children, Junior Rauch and his wife, Doris Rauch, of Grand River, Margaret St. John and her husband, Galen St. John, of Pleasant Hill, Donald Rauch and his wife, Emma Rauch, of Lamoni, Hazel Smith of Decatur and Gloria Pierson and her husband, Don Pierson, of Wills Point, Texas; a daugther-in-law, Bette Rauch of Decatur; 19 grandchildren and several stepgrandchildren; great and great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Georgia Allen, of Leon; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Dec. 15 at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with the Rev. Terry Roberts officiating.
Casket bearers were Myron Leonard, Bill Mertz, Richard Perry, Eddie Rauch, Ronnie Rauch and Doyle St. John. Interment was in Elk Cemetery west of Decatur.
Charles Hall
Funeral services were Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m., at Grandview Park Funeral Home in Des Moines for Charles C. Hall, 60, who died on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines. Burial is in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Hall was born in Osceola and had lived in Des Moines most of his life. He served in the Army.
Survivors include his mother, Margaret A. Hall of Des Moines; a brother, Marion A. (Candy) Hall of Harrison, Mich.; a sister, Judy K. Graesch of Des Moines, nephews and nieces.
Memorials may be made to the New Life Church.
Troy Herndon
Troy Eric Herndon, son of Roger and LaVonne Herndon, was born March 17, 1972, in Newton and died Dec. 11, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines of a pulmonary embolism. He was 31.
Mr. Herndon attended Osceola High School and lived in Osceola before moving to Des Moines. He married Tammy Samson on April 12, 1997 and they became the parents of three children, Alyssa and twin sons, Garrett and Zachary. He was a great father and enjoyed his family very much. He was especially close to his brother Bob.
He was a crane operator for Local 234 of which he was a member. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting and mechanics.
He was preceded in death by his father and grandfather, James Rinehart.
Mr. Herndon is survived by his wife Tammy, daughter, Alyssa and sons Garrett and Zachary, all of Des Moines; his mother, LaVonne Herndon of Osceola; grandmother, Marjorie Rinehart of Newton; brother, Robert “Bob” Herndon and his wife, Donna Herndon, of Des Moines; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Dec. 15 at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, Pastor Randy Cormeny conducting the services. Interment was in Chariton Cemetery.
A memorial will be established for his children.
Barbara McCarl
Barbara Ann McCarl, daughter of Philip Azel Terry and Edyth Mae Reeves Terry, was born Feb. 17, 1931, at Bedford and died Dec. 12, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Home in Indianola. She was 72.
She was educated in the Bedford schools and graduated from Bedford High School. She married Jack Eugene McCarl on July 22, 1950, in Osceola. They became the parents of five children.
After growing up in Bedford she lived in Des Moines; but spent most of her life in Clarke County.
Mrs. McCarl worked as a waitress at Champlain’s truck stop in Osceola for many years. She was also a nurse’s aide at the Clarke County Hospital and was a farm wife when she and Mr. McCarl farmed for a short time. Mrs. McCarl retired from Furnas Electric in 1993 where she had worked for 15 years as a punch press operator.
She enjoyed quilting, sewing, knitting, gardening and canning.
Mrs. McCarl attended the First Christian Church in Osceola. She was also a member of the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 3495 and a former Cub Scout Den Leader.
Mrs. McCarl was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Doyle Terry and brother-in-law, Eddie Allen.
She is survived by four sons, Stephen McCarl and his wife, Sally McCarl, of Dacona, Colo., David McCarl of Mankato, Minn., Jack McCarl and his wife, Vicki McCarl, of Osceola and Randy McCarl of Boulder, Colo.; a daughter, Joy Hildreth and her husband, Denny Hildreth, of Osceola; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Donna Jenkins and her husband, Ralph Jenkins, of Red Oak and Phyllis Allen of Hopkins, Mo.; a brother, Ron Terry of Oscoda, Mich.; other relatives and friends.
Graveside services and interment were Dec. 15, 2003, in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola, the Rev. Neville Clayton officiating.
Casket bearers were Steve McCarl, Phillip McCarl, Corey Glenn, and Greg Hildreth. Honorary casket bearers were Paul Winship, Doug Stearns, Dick Gunderson and Larry Page.
Kale Funeral Homes of Osceola and Truro were in charge of arrangements.
Alvin Scrivner
Alvin Grant Scrivner, the third child of Robert and Mattie Scrivner, was born June 7, 1914, north of St. Charles and died Dec. 11, 2003. He was 89.
He attended school in Patterson for the first two years before moving with his family to the farm four miles west of St. Charles where he lived and attended first a rural school and then school at St. Charles where he graduated from high school. After he graduated from high school he lived with his family for the next 10 years helping with the farming.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the Aleutian Islands, Bougainville of the Solomon Islands and the Invasion of the Philippine Islands of Leyte and Cebu where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He also received a Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Bronze Service Arrowhead.
Mr. Scrivner was interested in farming especially conservation and animals. He enjoyed sheep and goats and sheared sheep throughout the county. He was a prolific reader and was especially interested in religion.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; a sister, Ruth Smith; and two brothers, Guy Scrivner and Gene Scrivner.
Mr. Scrivner is survived by four brothers, Ivan Scrivner and Paul Scrivner of St. Charles, Charlie Scrivner of Springfield, Ill., Joe Scrivner of Eagle Rock, Mo.; three sisters, May Ewart of Pineville, Mo., Mary Peak of Knoxville and Lois Burt of Cedar Rapids; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Scrivner were held Dec. 15 at the St. Charles Parish Church in St. Charles. Burial was in the Close Cemetery in rural Madison County.
Bessie Berniece Beeler
Bessie Berniece Beeler, daughter of Homer W. and Elsie Mae Landis See, was born Nov. 8, 1903, on the family farm in Madison County and died Dec. 16, 2002, at the Madison County Hospital in Winterset. She was 99.
She received her education in the Madison County country schools and graduated from Peru High School. She worked for Shearers General Store in Peru after high school. She married Leo D. Beeler on Feb. 21, 1923, at the church parsonage in Peru.The couple became the parents of two daughters, Phyllis and Donna. Mr. Beeler died in 1954.
Mrs. Beeler moved to the farm with her husband after they were married and she lived there until she moved to the Westbridge Care and Rehab Center in Winterset in 1996.
Mrs. Beeler was a member of the Peru Garden Club, the Oak Run Community Circle and a member of the Peru United Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Harry and a sister Freda Burns.
Mrs. Beeler is survived by her daughters, Phyllis Ward and her husband, Ira Ward, of Tampa, Fla. and Donna Stegmann and her husband, Gillis Stegmann, of Harrison, Ark.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Bill See and his wife, Doris See, of Peru; other relatives and friends.
Services for Mrs. Beeler are Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Peru United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dennis Shepherd of Truro officiating.
Casket bearers will be Carl Beeler, Karry Beeler, Keith Nelson, Jim See, Raymond Nelson and Charles Traster. Interment will be in Ebenezer Cemetery in Madison County.
Family will greet friends one hour before services at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peru United Methodist Church.
Kale Funeral Home of Osceola and Truro is in charge of arrangements.
Pauline Marie Brooks
Pauline Marie Brooks, former resident of Decatur and Osceola of Bettendorf, was born Nov. 9, 1919, in Clayton, Kan. to Fred LeRoy and Cora Alice Hardinger Young and died Dec. 12, 2002, at the Iowa Masonic Health Facility in Bettendorf. She was 83.
She grew up in Clayton and attended schools there. She married Woodrow William Brooks on Oct. 10, 1936, in Norton County Kan. and they became the parents of two children, Robert LeRoy and Loretta Faye.
She married Howard Kenneth Brooks on March 2, 1947. They took in their two month-old grandson, Brad LeRoy Brooks in 1958 to raise as their own.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks ran Brooks Service in Decatur for many years. Mrs. Brooks changed tires and oil and did whatever was necessary to operate the business while Mr. Brooks farmed. She also helped with farming gardening and canning. A talented woman, she was good at drawing, fixing hair and interior decorating. She was happiest when she was working.
She moved to Bettendorf in 1997 to be near her daughter and later moved to the Iowa Masonic Health Facility.
Mrs. Brooks accepted Christ and joined the United Brethren Church in 1946. She attended the First Baptist Church in Bettendorf for four years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1989 and a brother, Ralph Young.
Mrs. Brooks is survived by her two sons, Robert Brooks and Brad Brooks and his wife, Tammy Brooks, of Osceola; a daughter, Loretta Buchanan and her husband, James Buchanan, of Bettendorf; four grandsons, Doug Buchanan and his wife, Tammy Buchanan, of East Moline, Ill., David Buchanan of Bettendorf, Blane Brooks and his wife, Shelly Brooks, of Woodburn and Brian Brooks of Osceola; seven great-grandchildren, Emily, Elizabeth, Abbey and Audrey Buchanan and Brett, Brittany and Dalton Brooks; stepmother Isma Havens of Grand Island, Fla.; a sister, Alice Duncan of Manhattan, Kan.; and a special friend, Lena Reinier of Bettendorf.
Funeral services for Mrs. Brooks were Dec. 16 at the Decatur United Methodist Church, the Rev. Robin L. Thomas and Pastor Dale Short officiating. Pianist Ruth Scott accompanied soloist Robin Thomas as she sang Rock of Ages and In the Garden.
Casket bearers were her grandsons, Doug Buchanan, David Buchanan, Blane Brooks and Brian Brooks. Interment was in the Decatur Cemetery.
Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home of Leon was in charge of arrangements.
