Obituaries on this page:

Hildegard C. Beckmann, 78, of 909 Main Street, Clear Lake, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Services were held Monday, Jan. 5, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura, Iowa with the Rev. Daird W. Korth officiating. Memorials may be left to the Hildegard Beckmann Memorial Fund.
Hildegard Charlotte, the daughter of Willi and Elisabeth (Stark) Grunert, was born May 17, 1925 in Berlin, Germany. She received her education in Berlinchen. She worked as an apprentice clerk from 1949 ­ 1952. Hildegard was united in marriage to Willi O. Beckmann on March 25, 1949 in Munich, Germany. In 1952 she moved with her husband and daughter, Traudi, to Ventura, Iowa, later moving to Clear Lake in 1953. She worked for the Clear Lake Bakery, the Fashion Shop, and Dawne's Clothing where she did tailoring. She later did tailoring from her home.
Hildegard enjoyed swimming, biking, walking and quilting for World Relief. She was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Ventura, where she sang in the choir.
Hildegard is survived by her husband, Willi, of Clear Lake; her daughter, Traudi Schwab and her husband, Manfred, and one grandson, Markus Schwab, all of Munich, Germany; one sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Gerhard, Heinz, and Werner.

Betty M. Hegney

Betty M. Hegney, 75, of 510 Main Street, Hanlontown, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 29 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004 at Grace Lutheran Church, Hanlontown, with the Rev. Kris Snyder officiating. Burial was at Brush Point Cemetery. Memorials may be left to the Betty M. Hegney Memorial Fund, 510 Main Street, Hanlontown, Iowa, 50444.
Betty Maxine, the daughter of John and Grace (Barrick) Kennedy, was born Sept. 12, 1928 in Burchinal, Iowa. She attended country school near Burchinal. After her schooling she worked for the Clear Lake Bakery. She married Orain Hegney on April 1, 1961 in Hanford, Iowa. She was a very dedicated homemaker. She also did a lot of babysitting for many families.
Betty enjoyed dancing and bird watching, but her favorite pastime was spending time with her family. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church of Hanlontown, in which she was very active, a member on the Park Board for Hanlontown, and she played an instrumental role in revamping the park. She was also a Girl Scout Leader.
Betty is survived by her husband, Orain, of Hanlontown; her children, Michael Kennedy and his wife, Donna, of Hanlontown, Cheryl Tietjens and her husband, Roger, of Kensett, Iowa, Julie Losee and her husband, Kevin, of Hanlontown and Barbara Suby and special friend, Daniel Kramer of Hanlontown; seven grandchildren, Jeromy and Kelly Kennedy, Amy Pilcher, Andrew Tietjens, Mallory, Selena, and Ethan Losee, and 11 great-grandchildren Andrea, Emily, Arianna, and Cassie Kennedy, Dalton DeWitt, Samantha, Alexis, Trenton, and Leah Tietjens, Aria Pilcher, and Katie Saathoff. Also surviving are her siblings, Delores Klang, Clear Lake, Robert and Carol Kennedy, Mason City, Melvin and Linda Kennedy, Burchinal, Iowa and Dorothy and Don Nichols, Clear Lake and one sister-in-law, Jeanette Holm, Glenwood, Minn.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Aaron Tietjens; one sister, Mildred Bates; two brothers-in-law, Merlin Klang and Donovan Bates and many aunts and uncles, including Ida Thovson.

Dean W. Gilles

Dean W. Gilles of Bradenton, Fla. died Dec. 31, 2003 at Blake Hospital.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, Fla. on Monday, Jan. 5. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church.
Dean "Porky" Gilles was born May 16, 1915 in Osage, Iowa. Porky moved to Florida from Clear Lake in 1973. He owned and operated The Ritz Supper Club in Clear Lake for 36 years prior to his retirement. He was a charter member of the Holy Name Society of St. Bernard Parish and a fervent participant in all fund raising activities.
Survivors include his wife, Pat, of 63 years; two sons, Jack, of Clear Lake, and Tom, of Prescott, Wis.; a daughter, Barbara Leith, Ames, Iowa; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Griffith-Cline Funeral Home Manasota Chapel, 941-748-1011, was in charge of arrangements.

DeLos James Armstrong

DeLos James Armstrong, 93, of 901 N. 12th St, Clear Lake, passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 at the United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave N, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delos James Armstrong Memorial Fund.
DeLos was born Sept. 3, 1910, the son of Harry and Pearl (McCormick) Armstrong at Iona, S.D. Delos moved with his folks at an early age to Dows, Iowa to the home farm. DeLos was united in marriage to Margaret Smith on March 30, 1930 and they farmed in the Franklin County area. In 1950 they moved to the Clear Lake area and continued to farm and later he was in trucking, hauling livestock and grain. Margaret passed away in August of 1965.
DeLos married Loretta Jahnke on Aug. 15, 1970. They enjoyed square dancing and camping. They wintered in Texas from November to April for over 20 years. He was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church
DeLos is survived by his wife, Loretta, of Clear Lake; three sons, James Armstrong, Clear Lake, Robert Armstrong and his wife, Sally, Detroit, Mich., Paul Armstrong and his wife, Linda, Des Moines, Iowa; one daughter, Irene Alshouse and her husband, Lyle, Dubuque, Iowa; two step-children, Ronald Jahnke and his wife, Ruth, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Judy Whitfield, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; two sisters, Alice Creighton and her husband, Rex, Hampton, Iowa and Ann Brinkman, Dows, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Lois Armstrong, Texas; nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchilren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Margaret; a sister, Avis Armstrong and a brother, Walter Armstrong.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge or arrangements.

Lilah A. Trowbridge

Lilah A. Trowbridge, 91, Clear Lake, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 at the Sheffield Care Center, Sheffield, Iowa. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan 12, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Chaplain Kathy Graves officiating. Interment was held at the Fairview Cemetery, Dows, Iowa. Officiating at the Graveside service was the Rev. Anthony Hershey of the Dows United Methodist Church. Memorials may be given to Ventura Senior Citizens Center, 10 S. Weimer St, Ventura, IA 50482 in memory of Lilah A. Trowbridge.
Lilah was born March 27, 1912 at Bristow, Iowa the daughter of Alva and Dorothea (Elkema) Mathews. Lilah graduated from Bristow High School in 1930 and attended one year of business school in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lilah married Mitchell Trowbridge on June 23, 1932 in Galt, Iowa. Lilah and her husband farmed for over 43 years in Wright, Mitchell and Howard counties, retiring to Clear Lake in 1974. Lilah was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church. She was also a 50 year member of Queen Rebekah Lodge. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, canning and trying new recipes. She crocheted many afghans for her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren in her later years.
She enjoyed traveling very much and had visited every state in the U.S., plus Europe, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. She wrote many stories of her travels and enjoyed talking about it. She enjoyed her many visits and spending time with all her family and friends.
She took great pride in living in her own home and taking care of herself up until Thanksgiving, when she fell and had to be hospitalized and was transferred to the Sheffield Care Center where she passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 9, 2004.
Survivors include two sons, Jon and Maryln Trowbridge of Akron, Iowa, George and Jan Trowbridge of Largo, Fla.; five daughters, Doris and Charles Greibel of New Ulm, Minn., Dorothea and Gary Borchardt of Sheffield, Iowa, Doreen Machin of Lakeville, Minn. and Leann and Calvin Rasmusson of Mason City, Iowa, Linda and Duane Rodamaker of Clarksville, Iowa. Lilah leaves 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Lilah is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mitchell T. Trowbridge on Dec. 10, 1981; two brothers, Lloyd and Laverne Mathews; one sister, Lilian Hopkins and two great-grandchildren.

 Hazel Marie Wonsmos

Hazel Marie Wonsmos, 88, Thornton, Iowa, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Muse-Norris Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. According to her wishes, she is being cremated. She will have a private inurnment at the Richland Lutheran Cemetery, Thornton, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Richland Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.
Hazel was born Feb. 2, 1915 in Jackson, Minn., the daughter of Marius and Ida (Rosedahl) Oredsen. She graduated from Fertile High School. Hazel married Chris Wonsmos on Nov. 15, 1948 in Hampton, Iowa. They lived in Thornton. Hazel cleaned homes and several businesses in Thornton. She also worked at the Clear Lake Bakery. Hazel was a member of the Richland Lutheran Church in Thornton.
Hazel is survived by two sisters, Dorothea Hansen, Los Angeles, Calif. and Edna Mae Seager, Sacramento, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Dorothy A. Wonsmos, Albuquerque, N.M., several nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1961; four brothers, Melvin, Stan, Don, and Pete Oredsen and two sisters, Fern and Frances.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Donald E. Hoversten

Donald E. Hoversten, 72, of 604 S. 3rd St., Clear Lake, died suddenly of a heart attack Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. Memorial services were held Monday, Jan. 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. Inurnment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Memorials may be given to the Don Hoversten Memorial Fund.
Don was born July 28, 1931,the son of Elmer Truman and Bessie Ilo (Weaver) Hoversten, in Hamilton County, Williams, Iowa. Don graduated from Alden High School in 1949, and entered the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 29, 1949 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was an Airman 1st Class serving during the Korean War and was discharged July 16, 1952. Don married Jacqueline H. Hall on Aug. 2, 1952 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. They lived most of their married life in Clear Lake where Don worked at the Clear Lake Bakery for seven years on the loading dock. He joined the staff of the Clear Lake Sanitary District in 1973 where he was employed until retiring in 1993. Don was a collector of wooden trains. He enjoyed gardening, watching the Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune and football, especially the Vikings and Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed going to the casino and playing games of chance. Don liked to dine out with his family at many local restaurants and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion, and Thrivent.
Don is survived by his wife, Jackie Hoversten of Clear Lake; three children, Susan Swartwood and her husband, Steve, Mason City, William Hoversten, Clear Lake, and Kathy Verhalen and her husband, Eric, Clear Lake; five brothers, Wally, Merle, Dave, Butch and Ron Hoversten; five sisters, Evelyn Kinstle, Verna Scott, Betty Richtsmeier, Fran Rout and Delia Rockow; five grandchildren, Joshua Heginger, Mason City, Justin, Nathan, Nicholas and Jami Verhalen, Clear Lake, and one great-granddaughter, Kourtney Verhalen-Hare, Mason City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Richard, Robert, Harold and Gene and two infant sons, Todd and James.

Yasuko K. Amundson

Yasuko K. Amundson, 66, passed away at her residence, 6032 South Shore Dr., Clear Lake, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. Inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Yasuko K. Amundson Memorial Fund.
Yasuko was born Dec. 21, 1936 at Yokosuka, Japan the daughter of Yoshimi and Matu (Nakagawa) Kojima. Yasuko married Ronald Amundson, July 24, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan. During his 22 years of service in the U.S. Navy, they lived in Spain, Taiwan, Philippines and Italy. After his retirement in 1970, they returned to Clear Lake.
Yasuko was an excellent cook and was a very generous, caring person and very devoted to her family.
Yasuko is survived by her son, Rick Amundson of Clear Lake; daughter-in-law, Jeana Amundson; two grandchildren, Jacob and Taya Amundson, all of Clear Lake; a brother-in-law, Jerry Amundson and his wife, Beverly, of Kansas City, Kan. and a sister-in-law, JoAnn Montilla and her husband, Jose, of Orlando, Fla.; three sisters, Eiko Takahashi, Masako Tukloka, and Chiyko Kosaki; two brothers, Kotaro Kojima and Yoshio Kojima, all of Japan.
Her parents, husband, mother-in-law, one sister and two brothers preceded her in death.
 

Ida U. Goethe

Ida U. Goethe, 101, Clear Lake, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 at Heritage Care Center, Mason City, Iowa. She had been a resident since Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003. The body was cremated with an inurnment to be held at Parkersburg, Iowa at a later date.
Ida was born March 6, 1902 at Cylinder, Iowa. She was the daughter of Gidvert and Cora (Satter) Dyrland. She attended school through the eighth grade. She was united in marriage on July 17, 1943 to Chris Jacobson, of Britt, Iowa in St. Louis, Mo. They made their home in Britt. Chris passed away June 11, 1950.
On Nov. 26, 1953 Ida was united in marriage to Robert L. Goethe at the Goethe home in Omaha, Neb. They resided there until Robert passed away Jan. 26, 1957. Later that year Ida and her step-daughter, Marlys Goethe, moved to Clear Lake. Marlys passed away Aug. 28, 1976. Ida spent most of her life as a homemaker. She was famous as a good cook and bread maker.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Betty (Jacobson) Anderson, Indian Head Park, Ill.; four step-grandchildren, Roger Jacobson, Britt, Jim Jacobson, Coronado, Calif., Jill (Jacobson) Morelli, Bexley, Ohio, Gary Craycroft, Fresno, Calif.; several step-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts will be left to the discretion of the family.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

Lola Mae Castle

Lola Mae Castle, 92, 208 5th Ave. South, Clear Lake, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004 at Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 at the Christian Church, 302 Highway 18 West, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dennis Ganz officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Lola Mae, the daughter of Carl and Myrtle (Waitman) Heiland, was born August 13, 1911 in Cono Township in Buchanan County, Iowa. She attended country school, the same school as her father, until the eighth grade. She then attended Rowley High School, graduating in 1929. She then received her teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teachers College. While in college she met her future husband, Paul Castle. After college she taught high school Home Economics in Ridgeway and Ventura, Iowa. She married Paul on June 13, 1934 in Crown Point, Ind. The couple moved to Plymouth and Reinbeck, Iowa before moving to Clear Lake in 1949, where they owned and operated P.T. Castle Cap & Gown Company until Paul's death.
Lola Mae was a member of Christian Church of Clear Lake, where she served as a deaconess and was an active member of the C.W.F.; the Church Bible Club; the Mothers Study Club; the Clear Lake Women's Club, where she was a past president and the WA TAN YE Club. She was also a member of the Phi Chi Delta Sorority and the Ellen H. Richards Club of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Lola Mae is survived by her children, Thomas Castle, Mason City and Janet M. Castle Lowman and her husband, Gary, Las Vegas, Nev.; four grandchildren, Jonathan (Gina) Castle, Tammy (Anthony) Walsh, Christopher (Maria) Bremseth and Carrie Bremseth, and four great-grandchildren, Paul and Rachel Castle and Hannah and Leah Walsh.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; brother, Grant Heiland; brother and sister-in-law, Willard and Dorothy Heiland and sister and brother-in-law, Marguerite and Claude Jacobson.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

 Iris Theresa (Roath) DeWall

Iris Theresa (Roath) DeWall, 75, of 302 2nd St. NE, Mason City, passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Iris was born Sept. 21, 1928, in Joice, Iowa to Ira Roath and Theresa (Tweed) Roath. Iris attended schools in Fertile and Joice, and after graduation from high school she furthered her education as a graduate of Hamilton College in Mason City.
Iris married Harris DeWall on Oct. 22, 1949 at Bethel Lutheran Church near Joice. They were married for 49 years. They had no children but she dearly loved her nieces and nephews. She and Harris farmed near Clear Lake for 33 years. She was a member of the Busy Bee Club for many years. She was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. They moved to Mason City in 1993. While living in Mason City she attended the First Covenant Church. After the death of her husband she moved to the Willows in Mason City in 1999. She and Harris spent 17 winters in Apache Junction, Az.
She is survived by two brothers, Boyd Roath and his wife, Grace and Gary Roath and his wife, Alice, all of Mason City and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harris DeWall; her parents, brother, Dewane Roath and his wife, Myreen.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Walter H. Schlichting 

Walter H. Schlichting, 84, 1414 N. 24th St., Clear Lake, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004 at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 16, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Interment was held at the Clear Lake Cemetery with Military Honors by the Garner V.F.W Post #5515. Memorials may be given to the Walter Schlichting Memorial Fund.
Walter was born March 15, 1919 in Goodell, Iowa, the son of Adolf and Martha (Watermiller) Schlichting. He graduated from Klemme High School in 1938. He farmed with his father and then entered the armed service in May, 1941. He served in the Army Medical Corps with the 34th division. He served with a collecting company and gave first aid at the hospital. His battalion received a citation for caring for more wounded than any other unit. He went to Ireland, Scotland, England, Africa and Italy, participating in five major battles including Cassino, Salerno, and Naples. He was awarded the good conduct medal. He received an honorable discharge in July of 1945 under the point system at Sheridan, Ill., having 120 points.
Walter married Marcele Hoeft, July 25, 1945 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Garner, Iowa. They farmed in rural Garner for five years, then moved southeast of Clear Lake in 1950 where he farmed. In 1975 they moved into the town of Clear Lake, but he continued to farm with his sons until the age of 80.
Walter enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada with Marcele, being "snowbirds" in the winter, going to both Texas and Arizona and fixing up his 1930 John Deere GP tractor.
He served on the Clear Lake Farmers Coop board many years and was a 4-H leader. Walter was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Garner V.F.W.
Walter is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marcele Schlichting, Clear Lake; four children, Ronald Schlichting and his wife, Sandi, Clear Lake, Duane Schlichting and his wife, Roberta, Clear Lake, Jan Eichers and her husband, Bob, San Diego, Calif. and Linda Mishak, Clear Lake; five grandchildren, Tara Schlichting, Clear Lake, Shannon and her husband, Michael Quigley-Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., Teresa Baumann and her husband, Matt, North Liberty, Iowa, Casey Schlichting and his wife, Teresa, Mason City, and Sawyer Mishak, Clear Lake; one great-grandchild, Anne Baumann; five step-grandchildren and seven step great-grandchildren.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, George and Glen Schlichting.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Fae Marie Gabrielson 

Fae Marie Gabrielson, 95, of Clear Lake, formerly of the Des Moines, Iowa area, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
According to her wishes and to further the advancement of medical science to eradicate diseases, her body was donated to the University of Iowa Anatomy Department in Iowa City. A memorial service will be held at a later date with inurnment in the Lincoln Cemetery in Polk City, Iowa.
The family of Fae Marie Gabrielson has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Oakwood Care Center in her memory.
Fae Gabrielson was born on Nov. 30, 1908, in rural Grimes, Iowa, the daughter of Stephen and Essie (Harvey) Cunningham. She attended and received her education in the Johnston, Iowa school system, where she graduated. Fae furthered her education by attending and receiving her teacher certificate. After completing her education she taught school in the rural Northern Lights School, and also taught in Clive, Iowa. The family also lived in Des Moines and Ames, Iowa and after her husband's death, Fae moved to Mound, Minn. before living her last remaining years in Clear Lake.
She was united in marriage to John "Jack" Gabrielson. He preceded her in death.
She enjoyed traveling, fishing and dancing with her husband, Jack, but her great love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, John "Bob" Gabrielson, Clear Lake, Don Gabrielson and his wife, Dee, Richardson, Texas and Jim Gabrielson and his wife, Jo, Hanover, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Dirk Gabrielson and his wife, Laura, Shawn, Barry, and Amy Gabrielson, Christy Saville, Kathy Ricker and her husband, Jeff, Karen Gabrielson, Eric Gabrielson and his wife, Donna, Linda Vaage and her husband, Randy, Lance Gabrielson and his wife, Tami, and Lonnie Gabrielson; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, June McKinley of Ankeny, Iowa and Mavis Kingsbury of Ames, Iowa as well as other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John "Jack" Gabrielson; a brother, Verr Cunningham and a great-granddaughter, Lindsay Ricker.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Clarence A. Boehnke 

Clarence A. Boehnke, 73, of 8126 Monte, Mesa, Az.; died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 at Hospice of the Valley, Eckstein Center Scottsdale, Az.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 20, at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Garner, Iowa with the Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Interment was in St. John's Cemetery.
Clarence was born June 20, 1930 to Charles and Elsie (Berghoefer) Boehnke on the family farm north of Ventura, Iowa. He attended St John's Parochial School and graduated from Ventura High School in 1948.
He is survived by his children, Gary Boehnke (Katherine Hawker), and Cindy Wood (John); his grandchildren, Josh, Chad, Sarah, Winona, and Micah; brothers, Armand (Marjule), Eldon (Alphia) and Walter (Betty); sisters-in-law, Doris and Louise.
Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis (Warriner); his parents; and two brothers, Harold and Roland.
In lieu of flowers the family has suggested memorials to Faith Lutheran Church, Overguaard Az., Lutheran Hour Ministry or Hospice of the Valley.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Marvin "Bud" H. Hedges 

Marvin "Bud" H. Hedges, 79, Mason City, Iowa, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 1 p.m., at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. The Rev. Rory Synoground will officiate. Visitation with the family will be Friday, Jan. 30, from 5 -7 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held at Windom Memorial Garden, Windom, Minn.
Ella Martha Morrison, 97, of 625 14th Ave N., Clear Lake, passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at the Oakwood Care Center Clear Lake. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St, Clear Lake. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at Ward-Van Slyke one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Care Center.
Ella was born Sept. 21, 1906 in Fessenden, N.D. the daughter of Peter and Katrina (Kemmer) Klindworth.
Ella married Dow A. Morrison on Feb. 27, 1928 at St. Paul, Minn. Ella designed hats for a millenary shop in St. Paul and then worked as a seamstress for Dayton's Department Store until retiring. Ella moved to Clear Lake in March of 2000. She enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening.
Ella is survived by her children, James Morrison and his wife, Ophelia, "Babe" of Clear Lake, Lorena K. Johnson and her husband, Robert, of San Diego, Calif. and Joseph Morrision and his wife, Michelle, "Mike" of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 21 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren.

Clifford N.Vestal

One hundred-year-old Clifford N.Vestal of Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, passed away Jan. 16, 2004. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Clear Lake Methodist Church. The Rev. Jan Burnett was assisted by Clifford's nephew, the Rev. Duane Churchman. Interment was at Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Ventura School Foundation in memory of Clifford Vestal.
Clifford was born July 21, 1903 the son of Woodie Marion and Nancy (Rose) Rosetta (McFarland) Vestal in Strahan, Mills County, Iowa. Clifford married Elva Calkins on Aug. 14, 1929 at Clearfield, Iowa. Clifford received his bachellor of arts degree from Simpson College, master of arts degree from University of Iowa, with further education at Morningside and Colorado Springs. He was a school administrator, teacher, and athletic coach for 52 years in many Iowa public schools including Liberty Center, Wales Lincoln in Montgomery County, Magnolia, Climbing Hill, Ventura and NIACC. He served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII.
Clifford was a member of the following organizations: The Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge, Consistory, York Rites, Shrine, Order of Eastern Star, and Rainbow Grand Cross of Color. He also belonged to Lions Club, was a life member of NEA and ISEA, was president of school Administrators, a Boy Scout leader, and member of Clear Lake Sanitation Board. His hobbies were reading, traveling and gardening.
Clifford is survived by his children, Leroy N. (Erla Mae) Vestal of Kailua, HI, Margaret Elva (John) Buell, Port Orchard, Wash. and Nancy Marie (James) VandenBoom, Manitowoc, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and a sister, Dorothy Churchman, Afton, Iowa.
Clifford was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Donald and Franklin C Vestal.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Lael Mae Vestweber 

Lael Mae Vestweber died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004 at the Westview Nursing Home, Britt, Iowa. She was 70 years old. Funeral services for Lael were held Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, Thornton, Iowa with the Rev. Robert Hetrick presiding. Interment was at Pleasant View Cemetery, Thornton.
Lael M. Vestweber was born Oct. 6, 1933 at Belmond, Iowa, a daughter of Henry and Pearl (LaRue) Vestweber. She lived her life with her parents on farms in the north Iowa area until 1942 when they bought and moved to the family farm six miles north of Thornton. She attended Union Township Country School. In 1967 Lael moved into Thornton with her parents and sister, Mary. In 2002 she moved to Clear Lake and has spent the last year in the Westview Nursing Home in Britt, Iowa.
Lael enjoyed playing cards, little kittens, puppies and birds, especially cardinals. She also enjoyed her nieces, nephews, great-niece and great-nephews. She enjoyed baking cookies and doing crafts with her special friends at the care center.
Surviving her are a brother, David Sr. (Sharon) Vestweber, Clear Lake, a sister, Mary (Dean) Lauen, Clear Lake; six nephews and nieces, David Jr. (Patti) Vestweber, Dianna (Chris) Nelson, Scott Vestweber, Shari Vestweber, Todd Lauen and Anne Marie Lauen; five great-nephews and a great-niece, Joshua and James Vestweber, Andrew, Nicholas, Madelynn and Benjamin Nelson and a special friend, Margaret Best.
Lael was preceded in death by her parents and twin sister, Gail, in childhood.

Marvin "Bud" H. Hedges

Marvin "Bud" H. Hedges, 79, 1033 19th St. SW, Apt 14, Mason City, Iowa, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 1 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. The Rev. Rory Synoground will officiate. Visitation with the family will be Friday from 5 - 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held at Windom Memorial Garden, Windom, Minn.
Bud was born Dec. 6, 1924, in Moville, Iowa, the son of Henry and Lurie (Moser) Hedges. He graduated from Bronson High School, Bronson, Iowa in 1941. He served in civil service as a mechanic at Kaneohe Bay Marine Base in Honolulu, Hawaii. He returned to Windom. He married Betty Jean Wood on April 6, 1947, in Jackson, Minn. He worked at various GM dealerships in the Windom area as an auto technician and service manager. Upon his retirement in 1987 they moved to Clear Lake, to be closer to their son, Brian, and his daughter, Michelle.
Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. He loved going to coffee with the boys. He was an avid reader of westerns and history.
Bud is survived by his wife, Betty Hedges, Clear Lake; two daughters, Linda Nielsen and her husband, Robert, St. Peter, Minn., and Mary Jo Nath and her husband, Dennis, Mitchell, S.D.; six grandchildren, Michelle Hedges, and fiancé, Michael Lollar, Clear Lake, Jessica Doehling and her husband, Matt, Shakopee, Minn., Matthew Nielsen, St. Peter, Minn., Denny Nath, Jr., Rochester, Minn., Jonathan Nath, Mitchell, S.D., and Jeffrey Nath, Minneapolis, Minn.; one great-grandchild, Nathan Lollar, Clear Lake; three brothers, Leighton Hedges, Sioux City, Iowa, Lewis Hedges, Walla Walla, Wash., Norman Hedges, Sioux City, Iowa; six sisters, Fern Wolf, Milwaukee, Wis., Lainys Stevens, Walla Walla, Wash., Betty Fletcher, Mesa, Az., Bonnie Peter, Albuquerque, N.M., Beverly Cason, Kingsley, Iowa, Nancy Hedges, Savage, Minn., and many nieces and nephews.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian; two grandsons, Billy and Christopher; two sisters, Donna and Gail and one brother, Willard.

Phil Dvorak 

Phil Dvorak, 42, of 4 E. Lake St., Ventura, Iowa died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004. Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura, with the Rev. Daird Korth officiating. Interment was in Ventura Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to the Phil Dvorak memorial fund.
Phil was born Nov. 14, 1961 in David City, Neb. the son of Eugene L. and Lucille (Vanous) Dvorak. He graduated from Odebolt-Arthur High School, Odebolt, Iowa in 1980. He worked for 3M in Forest City, Iowa since 1981.
Phil married Cindy Meyer on July 26, 1989 in Forest City, Iowa. They lived in Crystal Lake, Iowa and moved to Ventura in 1993.
Phil was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed hunting, camping, canoeing, kayaking, biking, mushroom hunting, radio control airplanes, woodworking, remodeling and especially spending time with his family.
He has been a member of Ventura Fire Dept since 1994.
Phil will be sadly missed by his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Laura and Jenny, Ventura; his father, Eugene, and his wife, Pauline Dvorak, Brainard, Neb.; his mother, Lucille Dvorak, Vero Beach, Fla.; his brother, Robert Dvorak, and his wife, Veniece, Papillion, Neb., his four sisters, Lynn Dvorak, Vero Beach, Fla., Pam Hawley and her husband, Bob, Vero Beach, Fla., Roxanne LaRussa and her husband, Nick, McKinney, Texas and Susie Wilson and her husband, Mike, Marysville, Kan.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alvin and Frances Meyer, Ventura; his brothers-in-law, Jeff Meyer, Garner, Iowa and Rick Meyer and his wife, Michelle, Iowa Falls, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Gary Peterson.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.