Lela Esther Court

May 7, 2003

Lela Esther Court, 101, of Clarion, died on Thursday, May 1, 2003, at the USA Healthcare Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 5, at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Lela E. Woodin, was born on June 11, 1901, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Peters) Woodin. She was a century long resident of Wright County. She graduated from the Clarion High School and taught school in Grant Township.

In 1925 she married Elmer Breckenridge. They made their home in Clarion until his death in 1958. She married Dewey Court in 1963 and he passed away in 1976.

Lela was a member of the United Methodist Church and was active in several local clubs and organizations.

Lela is survived by her daughter, Sandra Breckenridge Larick and husband, Jim of Clarion; three great-grandchildren; two step-daughters, Ruth Court Ryan of Cedar Falls and Betty Court Johnson and husband, Harold of Pt. Charlotte, Florida; and five step-grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Olaf Marvin Moss

May 14, 2003

Olaf Marvin Moss, 88, of Clarion, died on May 4, 2003, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 8, at the First Lutheran Church, Clarion. Rev. Gary Boen officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Olaf Marvin Moss, was born on February 20, 1915 in Story County, the son of Lars P. and Marie Howland Moss. At the age of three, he and his family moved to a farm near Kanawha. Olaf attended country schools near Kanawha, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Clarion at the time of his death.

Olaf started farming in 1936 near Eagle Grove and in 1944 moved to a farm southeast of Clarion, where he raised his family and lived for 40 years.

On January 20, 1944, Olaf was united in marriage to Alice Marie Nelson at the Clarion Congregational Church. To this union three sons were born, Marvin, Gary and Kevin. Olaf loved farming and retired in 1984. After retiring, he continued to be actively involved in farming until 2000.

Olaf is survived by his wife, Alice of Clarion; three sons, Marvin and wife, Judy of Galt, Gary and wife, Pam of Kansas City, Missouri and Kevin and wife, Sue of Clarion; one granddaughter; six grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; one sister, Esther Skadburg of Goldfield; and one brother, Harold Moss of Webster City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Palmer, Martin and Orville; and one sister, Mildred Edwards.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Estella Faye Streitz

May 21, 2003

Estella Faye Streitz, 86, of Clarion, died on Sunday, May 11, 2003, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m., in the Mountain View Valley Chapel, Tacoma, Washington.

Estella Faye Nichols, was born on November 13, 1916 in Clarion, the daughter of Irvin P. Nichols and Sophia Christiana Sinn. Estella was married to Henry F. Streitz in Tacoma, Washington. They were the parents of one son, Henry (Smokey) F. Streitz II.

Estella worked for the telephone company for 42 years, with five of those years in Clarion. She retired in 1981 and continued to live in Tacoma, Washington near her sister, Dorothy and a granddaughter. In 2000, Estella came back to Clarion to live at the USA Health Care Center to be near her brother, Eldo Nichols and his wife, Josephine.

Survivors include one granddaughter; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Eldo Nichols of Clarion; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Estella was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one son; one brother, Albert Sinn; and two sisters, Dorothy Snyder and Elnora Wolford.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Sylvia Ilene Ketchum

May 28, 2003

Sylvia Ilene Ketchum, 80, most recently a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center, died on Thursday, May 15, 2003, at the Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 19, at the Belmond United Methodist Church. Rev. Mike Druhl officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Rowan. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the donor’s choice.

Sylvia Ilene Ketchum, was born on March 8, 1932 at Alexander, the daughter of Hero (Hix) G. and Anna G. (Schulte) Frohling. She graduated from the Alexander High School in 1941.

On July 5, 1941, Sylvia was united in marriage to Amos Kendall (Kay) Ketchum at Omaha, Nebraska.

Sylvia lived and raised her family in Belmond from 1946-71. They then lived on the family farm near Rowan before making their home in Waverly, where the girls completed school and Sylvia resided until 1996. Following that time she resided for one year in Mason City; one year in Belmond; one year in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; and 1 1/2 years in Spencer. She most recently was living in Coon Rapids, Minnesota before moving to the Belmond Care Center.

She is survived by two sons, Michael (Mick) and wife, Beth Snow-Ketchum of Spencer and Dan Ketchum of Des Moines; two daughters, Robin Ketchum of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Renee Ketchum of Golden Valley, Minnesota; two grandsons; one sister, Edna Green of Belmond; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ketchum of Rowan and Ethel Ketchum of Belmond.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Amos; and one sister, Magdalene Hunst of Rose Creek, Minnesota.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Marlene Marye Mosher

May 21, 2003

Marlene Marye Mosher, 49, of Indianola, died on Sunday, May 18, 2003.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 20, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa and Stan Watne conducted the 1:00 p.m. service. Interment was in the French Cemetery at Woolstock. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Marlene Marye Lowry Nickles, was born on July 31, 1954 in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Marshall Lowry and Blaine and Melvene (Tysdal) Nickles. She was baptized in Diamondale, Michigan and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Clarion, where she was also a member.

On June 5, 1976, Marlene was united in marriage to Guy Mosher at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. To this union one son, Gaige, was born.

Marlene attended and graduated from the Clarion High School. She attended the University of Northern Iowa and received her B.A. in Elementary Education. She earned her Master’s Degree at Northwest Missouri State in 1978, graduating with high honors.

After college she taught special education for two years at Stanberry, Mississippi. For the past 22 years she has taught at Irving Elementary in Indianola, most recently in the second grade. Marlene tutored in reading and math during the summers, calling her classes Mosher University.

She was a member of the National Education Association and was Chairperson of numerous committees for the Betterment of Education.

Marlene is survived by her husband, Guy of Indianola; one son, Gaige; mother, Melvene Nickles and step-father, Blaine of Clarion; father, Dr. Marshall Lowry of Lowry, Virginia; one brother, Mark Lowry and wife, Deb of Castro Valley, California; one sister, Michaell Edwards and husband, Steve of Knoxville; one step-brother, Mitchell Nickles of Dows; one step-sister, Renee VonHagen of Ankeny; two half sisters, Shayhna Cortright and Tara Lowry; and one half-brother, Marshall Lowry III.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Nellie Rodriguez Francke

May 28, 2003

Nellie Rodriguez Francke, 83, of Clarion, died on Monday, May 19, 2003, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 22, at the Willim Funeral Home in Clarion. Rev. Gary Boen officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Wisconsin Memorial Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Nellie Rodriguez, was born on December 1, 1919 in Rock Rapids, the daughter of Ysidro and Luisa Priteo Rodriguez. She attended school in Clarion.

On February 23, 1943, she and Kenneth Francke were married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She worked for the Master Lock Company in Milwaukee as a lockmaker and retired in 1978.

After Kenneth died in 1997, she moved back to Clarion and lived in the Southtown Apartments. When Nellie became ill she moved to the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Nellie was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Clarion.

Survivors include five brothers, Al Rodriguez, Sr. of Clarion, Jesse Rodriguez and wife, Delores of Sylmar, California, Tony Rodriguez and wife, Connie of Kansas City, Missouri, Frank Rodriguez and wife, Cheryl of Clarion and Manuel Rodriguez of Kansas City, Missouri; three sisters, Esther Pohlman of Clarion, Adela Rocha of Kansas City, Missouri and Celia Pond and husband, Alan of Swisher; many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one brother, Pete; and one sister, Frances.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Frederick Christopher John Meeder, Sr.

May 28, 2003

Frederick Christopher John Meeder, Sr., 84, of Clarion, died on Monday, May 26, 2003, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Clarion Church of Christ. Rev. Tim Platt will officiate at the 11:00 a.m. service. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. There will be no viewing as Fred Sr. was cremated.

Surviving is his wife, Evelyn of Clarion; one son, Fred Meeder Jr. and wife, Pamela of Clarion; one granddaughter; one step-granddaughter; and one step-grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Regina Le Roy Meeder; and two sisters, Margaret Gould and Jo Ann Nortier.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Memorial Service for Wilbert Busse set for June 4th

May 28, 2003
For obituary please see October, 2002

Memorial services for Wilbert Busse will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at the First Lutheran Church, Clarion. Rev. Gary Boen will officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Surviving Wilbert is his wife, Arletta; and two daughters, Paula Barnett and Charlotte Busse.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Theodore Smith Sr.

June 4, 2003

Theodore Smith Sr., 90, of Shellrock, died on Friday, May 30, 2003, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Private graveside services were held on Monday, June 2, at the Coster Cemetery, rural Allison.

Theodore Smith, was born on June 7, 1912 in Aplington, the son of George and Minnie Debuhr Smith. He attended the Bear Grove Country School through the eighth grade. He started farming at a young age and farmed his entire life.

Theodore is survived by his children, Theodore Smith Jr. of Clarion, Marilyn Vrba of Woolstock, Darlene Pommer of Altoona, Richard Smith of Bonnerdale, Arkansas, Myron Royal Smith of Clarion and Steven Smith of Clarion; and several grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Roger M. Smith.
© Wright County Monitor 2003