John L. Smith

John L. Smith, 57, of Clarion, died on Thursday, March 1, 2001.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 4, at the United Church of Rowan at 2:00 p.m. Interment followed in the Graceland Cemetery, also in Rowan. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements. 

John L. Smith was born on August 22, 1943, in Belmond, the son of Lester “Shorty” Smith and Lillian McAlpine. 

He and Vicky Boyington were united in marriage on November 27, 1961, in Rowan. John was a lively spirit and loved life and it showed. He was an active member of the “Iowa River Riders”, which was his snowmobiling club, a board member of the Dows Golf Course, a former Rowan City Council person, former Lions Club member and member of the Rowan Coffee Club.

He loved outdoor activities - fishing, especially the annual trips to Canada, skiing, camping, snowmobiling, golfing and gardening. He was the ultimate Iowa Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed cooking, shooting pool, playing cards, and watching his nephew, Steve and brother, Jim at the races. He was the home base for his snowmobiling club, the “Iowa River Riders”, a fitting name since John loved living along the Iowa River. He was also a proud member of the last graduating class of the Rowan High School. 

John farmed in the Rowan and Riceville areas, drove school bus for the Rowan School District, and was a longtime salesman for the John Deere Implement Company, but more recently, a crop insurance salesman, owning his own agency, Smith Insurance Agency. But for all his activities and achievements, John most enjoyed his friends and family, who will always remember him as the lively spirit who was generous to all. 

John is survived by his children, Terri Avery and husband, James of Clarion, Tammi Smith and Ryan George of Clarion, Timothy Smith and wife, Vanessa of Clarion; and their mother, Vicky Boyington; brothers, James Smith and wife, Judy of Belmond and Mike Smith and wife, Charlene of Rowan; sister, Jeannine Hiemstra and husband, David of Clarion; four grandchildren; nephews, and special friends, Rhonda Benton and her daughter of Rowan. 

John was preceded in death by his parents.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

David E. Mechem

David E. Mechem, 74, of Green Valley, Arizona, formerly of Clarion, died on Friday, March 2, 2001, in Green Valley, Arizona.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 8, at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. Pastor Charles Kellogg will officiate at the 11:00 a.m. service. 

David E. Mechem, was born on March 7, 1936, in Wright County, the son of Lewis and Vernice (Allen) Mechem. He was raised and educated in Clarion. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. David was employed by the Wright County Rural Electric Co-op for 37 years and retired in the Fall of 1993. 

He and wife, Dee, then moved to Green Valley, Arizona. 

David is survived by his wife, Dee; four children, Cathy Cullinan and husband, Bob of Belmond, Steve Simmons and wife, Terry of Winterset, David Dean Mechem and wife, Stephanie of Corona, California and Sue Ann Chandler and husband, Lane of Burnsville, Minnesota; four brothers, Allen, John, Geody and Paul; three sisters, Meri (Carlson), Marjorie (Stofferan) and Ruth (Bair); and ten grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family requests that memorials be sent to the Odyssey Hospice, 1730 East River Road, Suite 107, Tucson, Arizona 85718.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Robert Belmont Kay

Robert Belmont Kay, 78, of Clarion, died on Saturday, March 17, 2001, in Tucson, Arizona.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 23, at the First United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. 

Robert Belmont Kay was born on May 26, 1922, in Atlantic, the son of Harry and Hattie Kay. He grew up on a farm near Atlantic and was always proud that he attended a one room school house. He graduated from the Atlantic High School in 1939. He attended the University of Alabama and was attending Drake University Law School when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served three years of which 18 months was in the China Burma India theatre in intelligence. After his discharge he returned to law school and graduated in 1947. He received many honors at the university during his senior year. 

He and Alice Lou Wiese were united in marriage on June 1, 1947, and he began his law practice at Clarion, Iowa, at that time. He served as President of the Wright County Bar Association, the Iowa Motel Association and the Clarion Development Commission, the Clarion Lions Club and is a Melvin Jones Fellow, as well as being active in the Methodist Church.

Throughout his life Bob was a “visionary” and was able to see what the community needed. He, and his partner, Clif Evans, built an office and apartment building, Clarion’s first motel and well over 100 dwelling units. They also built 17 nursing homes in Iowa and returned to each to build additional beds to the original.

Bob loved Clarion and served the community well as City Attorney for 17 years and as a member of the Clarion Hospital Board for 12 years and was instrumental in the building of the Meadows. He was also a member of the Brenton Bank Board for many years. Bob loved his family and always took time to be with them at the lake and other family vacations. He loved to travel and did so extensively. 

Bob is survived by his wife, Alice of Clarion; two daughters, Kathy Jewell and husband, Bill of Wheat Ridge, Colorado and Debby Garwood of Ames; one son, Brian and wife, Bonnie of St. Cloud, Minnesota; four grandchildren; and two brothers, Henry Kay and Gerald Kay, both of Atlantic.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Velma I. Peterson

Velma I. Peterson, 88, of Clarion, died on Sunday, March 18, 2001, at the USA Healthcare Center, Clarion. She was a lifelong resident of Clarion and Wright County.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 21, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. 

Velma I. Schroeder was born in 1912, the daughter of Norman and Ruby Schroeder on the family farm in Wall Lake Township. She grew up there with her brothers and sisters. She attended Wall Lake #2 School and later attended the Clarion High School, where she worked during the week as a baby sitter for room and board. 

When she was a junior in high school she met Howard Peterson and they were married in 1932. They lived in Dayton Township on the Peterson farm. One daughter, Patricia, and one son, Frank, were born here.

In 1942, the couple purchased a small three room house and moved it to the farm site. Daughters, Carolyn and Phyllis, were born there and one son, Howard Eugene was lost at childbirth. Howard, died in 1969 and Velma continued to live on the farm site until October 1993. She then purchased a condominium in Clarion and lived there until the time of her death.

In her lifetime Velma was very active in many community groups and social organizations, including the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, White Shrine, Eastern Star, Federated Club, Neighborhood Club, Democratic Party, 4-H, Bridge Club, and Methodist Sewing Group. She was also a gifted genealogist and spent many hours researching and publishing the Chapman family history.

She loved to travel, including a trip to Europe, and multiple U.S. trips. She enjoyed gardening and plants, and loved to cook and entertain for family and friends. Her hobbies included quilting, playing bridge, cross stitch and crafts. She was a very active participant in the lives of her family. She attended hundreds of sporting events, concerts, and plays of her four children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard; daughter, Patricia; son, Howard Eugene; brother, Jack Schroeder; sisters, Doris, Virginia and Mildred; and two infant siblings. 

She is survived by one sister, Shi Reiland; two brothers, Dean and Don Schroeder; one son, Frank and wife, Carole; two daughters, Carolyn Bowman and husband, Dennis and Phyllis Newcomb; and 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Leona Stavnheim

Leona Stavnheim, 92, of Clarion, died on Monday, March 19, 2001, at the Community Memorial Hospital, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 23, from the Hauge Lutheran Church, Goldfield. Rev. Truman Larson officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Holmes Cemetery. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. 

Leona Koltvet was born on August 22, 1908, the daughter of Nels and Bertha (Midland) Koltvet, in Clarion. She graduated from the Clarion High School in 1927, and from Waldorf College in 1930. She taught for the next six years in rural north central Iowa schools. 

On June 2, 1936, she and Lauritz Stavnheim were united in marriage at the home of her parents in Clarion. After leaving teaching, Leona became a homemaker. Leona was interested in and actively involved in mission work. She was a member of the Hauge Foreign Mission Board and was treasurer for five years. She was a member of the Hauge Lutheran Church in Goldfield. She also enjoyed her five trips to Norway were she visited relatives from both the Koltvet and Stavnheim families. 

Leona is survived by two daughters, Karen Stevnheim of Minnetonka, Minnesota and Lana Ringgenberg and husband, Don of Manning; one son, Arlan Stavnheim and wife, Sharon of Lafayette, Indiana; two sisters, Naomi Austin of Rochester, Minnesota and Maxine Koltvet of Clarion; one brother, Stanley Koltvet and wife, Fay of Maryville, Tennessee; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. 

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband; four sisters, Eveline, Anna, Bernice and Blanche; two brothers, Theodore and Bernard; and one great-granddaughter.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

LaDonna Seaba

LaDonna Seaba, 50, of Goldfield, died on Friday, March 23, 2001, at her home in Goldfield.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 27, at the United Methodist Church, Goldfield. Pastor Karen Dearchs officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Bethel Cemetery, Sigourney, on Wednesday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. The Willim Funeral Home of Eagle Grove was in charge of the arrangements. 

LaDonna V. Wilkins was born on June 23, 1950, at Sigourney, the daughter of Leland and Hazle Arlene (Wingarden) Wilkins. She attended the Tri County Community School at Thornburg, graduating with the class of 1968. Following graduation, she attended the Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. She worked as a secretary at the University of Iowa Hospital for the nursing staff before working as a legal secretary. She later owned and operated the Seaba & Associates Insurance Agency in Goldfield. 

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Goldfield, the Iowa Legal Secretary’s Association, and the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa. She loved to be with and hold her new granddaughter, Sarah. She enjoyed her Labrador, Annie; camping and boating. 

She was preceded in death by her mother. 

LaDonna is survived by her husband, Darrell of Goldfield; father, Leland Wilkins of Keswick; one son, Troy G. Seaba and wife, Lynn Collins Seaba of Goldfield; one daughter, Tamara D. Seaba and Jeff Slaikeu of Goldfield; one granddaughter; two sisters, Lynne Dennis and husband, Jerry of Keswick and Vicki Eaton and husband, Shawn of Bloomfield; one brother, Pastor Brian Wilkins and wife, Joyce of Waverly; five nieces; eight nephews; three great-nieces; three great-nephews; and other relatives and friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Alre Robert Watts

Alre Robert Watts, 87, of Clarion, died on Saturday, March 24, 2001, at the Belmond Care Center. In accordance with the wishes of Mr. Watts, the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. 

Alre Robert Watts was born on August 31, 1913, the son of Earl and May (Mechem) Watts in Oelwein. He graduated from the Clarion High School in 1930 and then attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines and Gregg College in Chicago. Following college he made his career as a court reporter. 

Alre and Mary Goodman were united in marriage in February 1945. Alre and Mary were the parents of one son, Robert. They were lifetime residents of Lake Cornelia, as well as long time members of the Clarion Church of Christ where he was an officer and teacher. 

Alre is survived by his wife, Mary of Clarion; son, Robert of Belmond; and one sister, Betty Kitchen of Tumwater, Washington. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Dorothy Warner.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Leslie Skeez Hartsock

Leslie F. “Skeez” Hartsock, 88, of Clarion, died on Monday, March 26, 2001. 

Leslie F. Hartsock was born on June 10, 1922. He was born on the inaugural day of “Gasoline Alley”. Hence the family nickname of Skeez which stuck for a lifetime. He was born and reared in Clarion, but was educated by the world of science, art and literature.

He was a master of many disciplines and with almost all of these he could give you a spontaneous one hour lecture at a drop of a hat. He served his country doing photographic intelligence work during World War II in Europe. To his friends and family he was beloved for doing things his own way and in his own time. He was a counselor, educator, innovator, inventor and confidant to many. Never could it be said that he wasn’t ready to lend a hand, a shoulder or a financial boost to those who asked his help. He will be missed. The family is deeply grateful to those physicians, nursing and hospice personnel who cared for him in his last few days of life.

He was cremated and will be interred with his sister and nephew in the Birdsall-Hartsock family plot in May. A memorial service will be held at that time to which all his many friends will be invited. Those wishing to give a memorial are asked to donate to the local Hospice group in his name. 

He is survived by a nephew, Thomas H. Joyce, III, M.D.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Wilber "Burt" Leroy Watts

Wilber “Burt” Leroy Watts, 93, of Clarion, died on Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 31, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. 

Wilber Leroy Watts was born on November 29, 1907, the son of Wilber James Watts and Anna Celene (Swearingen) Watts in Parker, South Dakota. 

On April 13, 1935, Wilber and Blanche Laura Poolman were united in marriage. They began their married life on a farm southwest of Clarion. Wilber’s father lived in a second house on the farm. Wilber and Blanche continued to live on the farm until moving to Clarion in 1990. He enjoyed showing Poland China pigs and milking Shorthorn cows at the fairs where he received many ribbons. He also enjoyed his tulips and had a large potato patch. 

Wilber was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche, who died on December 28, 2000; parents; two sons, infant Charles and Leonard; two brothers, Ralph and Eldon; two sisters, Mable Watts and Bernenice Miller; and one infant great-granddaughter. 

Wilber is survived by six children, Leroy and wife, Juanita, Leland and wife, Carol, all of Clarion, Lura Nelson and husband, Dwayne of Greentop, Missouri, Dennis and wife, Marlo of Dows, Gary and wife, Jeanne of Riceville and Mary Follett and husband, Doug of Jefferson; one sister, Fern McKinley of Rowan; one brother, Lory and wife, Wilma of Placienta, California; two sisters-in-law, Harriett Tysdal and LaVonne Poolman, both of Clarion; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Almira Geneva Strait

Almira Geneva Strait, 85, of Belmond, died on Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 31, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond. Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove. 

Almira Geneva Larson was born on April 11, 1915, in Eagle Grove, the daughter of Hans Christian and Mable Gunderson Larson. She grew up in the Eagle Grove and Clarion areas and graduated from the Clarion High School in 1934. 

On September 1, 1935, Almira was united in marriage with Erma Harrison Strait at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple made their first home in Eagle Grove. They then moved to a farm near Belmond in 1945 and into Belmond in 1952. She moved into the Belmond Apartments in 1990.

Almira was employed as a nurse’s aid at the Belmond Community Hospital in 1953 and at the Clarion Hospital in 1962. She then worked at the Rotary Ann Home in Eagle Grove for 20 years where she was a licensed dietician. In later years, she assisted with congregate meals. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, the Esther Circle and Dorcas Circle. Almira was also a member of RSVP, Sr. Citizens, Over 60’s, Grandmothers Club and Wright County Elderbridge. 

She is survived by two daughters, Sharen June TerHark of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Myrna Rae Baker and husband, Terrell of Belmond; one son, Charles James Strait and wife, Judy of Flomaton, Alabama; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Maxine Phipps of Lakeside, Ohio and Beulah Jean Hopfinger of Coronado, California; two brothers, James Larson of Palm Desert, California and Robert Larson of Huntington Beach, California; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Peggy Ann; husband, Erma (E. H.); five brothers, Marion, Harold, Gordon, Bernard and Lester; one sister, Irene Benoit; two brothers-in-law, Gus Hopfinger and Jack Benoit; and one sister-in-law, Sally Larson.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

D. Virginia Volker

Virginia Volker, 84, of Clarion, died on Friday, March 30, 2001, at the Community Memorial Hospital, Clarion.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 7, at the United Church of Christ Congregational, Clarion. Rev. Curt Miner will officiate at the 11:00 a.m. service. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. 

D. Virginia Volker was born on April 22, 1916, in West Union, the daughter of Jacob Willison and Philla Crabb. Virginia was a graduate of the West Union High School, after which she attended college at Upper Iowa in Fayette. 

On October 14, 1937, she was wed to Loyd Volker in West Union. After moving to Clarion in 1941, she worked for the Clarion Hospital where she worked until her retirement in 1975. She was a very active member of the Congregational Church in Clarion. 

Virginia is survived by two sons, James and wife, Sara of West Des Moines and John of Cedar Rapids; two grandchildren; and one sister, Marion Price of Plano, Texas. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Loyd.
© Wright County Monitor 2001