Kurt Allen Foster

Kurt Allen Foster, 60, of Clarion, died on Thursday, December 5, 2002.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 10, at the St. John's Catholic Church, Clarion. Fr. David Beckman officiated at the wake services. The scattering of ashes will be held at a later date in the Black Hawk Cemetery, Granger, Missouri. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Kurt Allen Foster, was born on June 28, 1942 in Keokuk, the son of Billy Grant Foster and Ruth Farnsworth Foster. He was raised and educated in the Keokuk area.

He served in the United States Army from 1963-1966. He and Julie Palker were married on February 6, 1982 in Houston, Texas. They were later divorced.

Kurt is survived by two sons, Paul Allen and Craig Stephen Foster and one daughter, Stephanie Rae Foster, all of Clarion; mother, Ruth Foster of Ames; two brothers, Jon Foster and David Foster; one sister, Deborah Switzer and husband, Denny; and several nephews and nieces.
© Wright County Monitor 2002

Esther Lucille Meyer

December 19, 2002

Esther Lucille Meyer, 81, of Clarion, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2002, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Monday, December 16, at the St. John’s Catholic Church, Clarion. Fr. David Beckman officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Interment was in the St. John’s Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Esther Lucille Mittelstadt, was born on January 24, 1921 in Aredale, Iowa, the daughter of Abel and Gertie Geiken Mittelstadt. She was the youngest girl of 12 children. She was raised and educated in the Iowa Falls area, graduating from the Iowa Falls High School in 1940.

On March 16, 1941, Esther and Clifford William Meyer Sr. were united in marriage. The couple farmed Clifford’s home farm near Clarion. They were the parents of one son, Clifford Jr. Her husband, Clifford Sr. died at the age of 54.

Esther was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion.

Esther is survived by one son, Clifford William Meyer, Jr. of Harlingen, Texas; one brother, Don Mittelstadt of Wichita, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifford Sr.; 10 brothers and sisters.
© Wright County Monitor 2002

Wallace O. Hagen

December 26, 2002

Wallace O. Hagen, 76, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, December 17, 2002, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, December 19, at the St. John’s Catholic Church, Clarion. Father David Beckman and Sister Mary K. Doughan were the clergy officiating at the 10:30 a.m. service. Interment was in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Clarion. A flag presentation was held by the Clarion American Legion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Wallace O. Hagen was born on October 14, 1926, the son of Oscar & Iva Houck Hagen in Dows. At the age of six he moved with his family to Clarion where he attended and graduated from the Clarion High School in 1945. Wallace entered the U.S. Army in July 1945 and served until November 1946.

Wallace was united in marriage to Mary Lois Rohrer on November 3, 1948 at the St. John’s Catholic Church, Clarion. In 1963, the family moved to Britt, where Wallace managed the We-3 Market for 17 years. Upon returning to Clarion in 1980, the couple purchased Tomke’s Gift Store, which they renamed Hagen’s Gift Store and together they ran this business for 12 years. Wallace was then employed at the Clarion Super Valu for many years. He continued working for as long as his health allowed. He moved into the USA Health Care Center in May of 2002.

Wally loved sports, especially high school wrestling. As a high school participant he was a two-time state champion at 95 pounds. As a spectator he watched both of his sons follow in his footsteps, as they were both three-time state champions. He also enjoyed supporting the Clarion and Britt High School wrestling teams.

Wallace was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church, Clarion, American Legion in Clarion and Britt, and the Britt Rotary Club.

Wallace is survived by his wife of 54 years,  Mary Lois of Clarion; two sons, John and wife, Joni of Clear Lake, Wisconsin and Brent and wife, Carol of Denison; four grandchildren; and one sister, Inez Mechem of Clarion.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Hazel Hagen and Dorothy Whitty.
© Wright County Monitor 2002  

Ella E. Askelsen

December 26, 2002

Ella E. Askelsen, 87, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, December 17, 2002, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, December 20, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Ella Martin, was born on November 16, 1915 in Bridgewater, the daughter of Ira and Ethel Garner Martin. She attended country school near Bridgewater. The family moved to Clarion where Ella attended the Clarion High School. She received her normal training certificate in 1934 and taught country school near Dows.

She was united in marriage with Howard Askelsen on June 1, 1938, at the home of her parents near Rowan. The couple farmed and resided south of Clarion for all of their married life. After Howard’s death, Ella moved to Eagle Grove for a short time before taking up residency in Clarion.

She was a member of the Federated Club and a neighborhood club.

Ella is survived by one daughter, Elaine Nichols and husband, Nick of Clarion; one son, Harlan Askelsen and wife, Margaret of Clarion; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Ilene Hill and husband, Art of Iowa Falls, Esther Gardalen and husband, Leo of Clear Lake, Iris Johnson of Mason City and Evelyn Vulgamott of Ames; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Howard who died on April 1, 1972.
© Wright County Monitor 2002