Albert A. "Bud" Williams

December 9, 2004

Albert A. "Bud' Williams, 87, passed away on Friday, at the Baxter County Hospital in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Williams was a former resident of Clarion.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Ernest W. "Bill" Lester

December 9, 2004

Ernest W. (Bill) Lester, 80, of Clarion, passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2004, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 8, at the United Presbyterian Church in Clarion at 10:30 a.m. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Ernest William Lester, was born on February 20, 1924 in Rowan, the son of Herbert James and Harriet Louise (Poolman) Lester. He attended school in Rowan and Clarion and as a young man he worked on a farm.

On May 9, 1948, Bill was united in marriage to Emma S. Williams at the Dows Methodist Church. The couple settled in Clarion and raised their family.

Bill worked for the Wright County Road Department for 39 years, retiring in 1987. He then drove the CAT van for the City of Clarion from 1987 to 2001.

Bill is survived by five children, Ernie and wife, Berniece of Liberty, Missouri, Don of Des Moines, Steve and wife, Carolyn of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Louise Lester and companion, Barry Babcock of Goldfield and Jim of Clarion; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother, George Lester of Clarion; one sister, Betty Olsen of Garretson, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Emma; daughter, Linda; three brothers; and one sister.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Marianne Gaulke

December 16, 2004

Marianne Gaulke, 81, of Clarion, passed away on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at the USA Health Care Center in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, December 10, at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion. Pastor Curt Miner officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service.

Marianne Gilligan, was born on August 1, 1923 in Clarion, the daughter of David B. and Gertrude A. (Johnson) Gilligan. Marianne was educated in Clarion, graduating from the Clarion High School in 1942.

After graduation, Marianne took a train trip to Canada and then moved to California for a short period of time. In California, during World War II, she worked for an airplane manufacturer. After moving back to Clarion in 1945, she worked for Dr. Gorrell doing office work and taking x-rays. While having lunch at the Gaulke Cafe she met one of their employees, Avron Gaulke. A romance started and the couple dated for four years before being married in 1951, at the United Church of Christ Congregational. They were the parents of four children.

Marianne and Avron settled in Clarion, living in the same house for 46 years. In 2001, the couple moved to the Meadows. Through the years they took a few trips, one being to Germany. Marianne worked as a nurse's aid at the Clarion Hospital and at the Clarion Health Care Center. She was also employed by Conlon's Bakery for a short period of time.

She was a member of the United Church of Christ Congregational and the VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed knitting caps, sweaters, and canning.

Marianne is survived by her husband, Avron of Clarion; two sons, David and wife, Kris of Indianola and Bruce and wife, Denise of Clarion; two daughters, Lorna Daniels and husband, Charlie of Hopewell, Virginia and Brenda Lurie and husband, Rick of Arnold, Maryland; three grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and a grand daughter-in-law.

Marianne was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Robert H. Isenberger

December 23, 2004

Robert H. Isenberger, 73, of Downers Grove, Illinois, died on Friday, December 17, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

Robert H. Isenberger, was born on May 24, 1931 in Clarion, the son of George and Minnie Isenberger. He attended the University of Iowa. Robert served in the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. After serving in the service he was employed as a painter.

Robert was past Commander of the American Legion Post #80, past President of the Downers Grove Noon Lions Club, past President of the Professional Guild of Paperhangers, former member of the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church parking lot attendant and the Downer's Grove Square Dancing Club.

Robert is survived by his wife, Juliann nee Focosi of Downers Grove; four daughters, Sharon Fischer and husband, George of Elmhurst, Sandra Murray and husband, Paul of Downers Grove, Lisa Daniels and husband, Jason of Madison, Wisconsin and Rachel of Westmont; three sisters, Mildred Alstadtof and husband, Don, Mabel Palm and Wilma Schultz; two brothers, Maynard and Levi; 16 grandchildren; three step-daughters, Kelly Walters and husband, Jayson, Kimberly LaLonde and husband, Matthew and Kristi McHugh.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Bernice L. Richmond

December 30, 2004

Services for Bernice Lenora Prull Richmond, who died on Thursday, December 23, 2004, at the St. John's Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of 95 will be held on Thursday, December 30, at 10:30 a.m., at the Armstrong Presbyterian Church in Armstrong. Burial will be in the Armstrong Grove Cemetery.

Bernice Lenora Prull, daughter of Charles Henry and Tillie Martin Prull, was born on February 27, 1909 near Renwick. Early in her childhood, her family moved to a farm near Ceylon, Minnesota where she was educated and grew to adulthood.

Bernice married Wayne Richmond, a farmer in the Armstrong area, on October 27, 1928, and they farmed there for more than forty years. After leaving the farm in 1960, they purchased a cafe in Manly where her cooking skills were greatly appreciated. They then retired to Ringsted, but she continued using her skills as a cook at the Armstrong Care Center.

In 1974, they moved to Clarion to be close to their family. When Bernice's health began to fail, she moved to Boone to live with her daughter, Barbara. When that family retired to Lebanon, Missouri, she went with them. After a heart attack in April, 2000, she made her home at the Christian Healthcare South.

Bernice is survived by her son, Donald Wayne Richmond and his wife, Joyce of Fairfield, Pennsylvania; two daughters, Barbara Ann Tolsdorf and her husband, Norman of Lebanon, Missouri and Dolores Pearl Schnittjer and her husband, Richard of Nashville, Tennessee; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne on February 20, 1980; two brothers, Charles and Melvin Prull; three sisters, Maybelle Erickson, Cora Maday and Marie Christianson; and a grandson, Terry Scott Richmond.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Albert John Claude

December 30, 2004

Albert John Claude, 83, of Clarion, passed away on Friday, December 24, 2004, at the Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Funeral services for Albert Claude were held on Tuesday, December 28, 2004, at the Clarion Church of Christ, with Pastor Tim Platt officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Albert John Claude, was born on April 17, 1921 at Rowan, the son of Fred & Hazel (Johnson) Claude. He was educated at Goldfield until 1937 when he was injured in a house moving accident. He had a year of hospitalization and had to learn to walk again.

In 1942, Albert was united in marriage to Erma Lucille Mason. He worked in a shipyard in California during the war. Albert worked at the Goldfield Elevator, Clarion Produce, and the Holmes Co-op.

Surviving Albert are two daughters, Alberta Jean Bennett and husband, Tom of Ottosen and Lois Whipple and husband, Bob of Belmond; one son, Ronald and wife, Eileen of Maxwell; two sisters, Viola Schnell of Clarion and Maxine Clark of Ohio; one brother, Glen and wife, LaVonne of Vincent; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Albert was preceded in death by his wife, Erma; parents; two brothers, Clayton and Richard; and one sister, Evelyn Rhiner.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Chester Allen Hunt, Jr.

January 6, 2005

Chester Allen Hunt, Jr., 79, of Clarion died on December 30, 2004, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 4, 2005, at the Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Rev. Mark K. Green officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove.

Chester Allen Hunt, Jr., was born on November 4, 1925 in Eagle Grove, the son of Chester A. and Gladys J. (Johnson) Hunt, Sr. He was raised and educated in the area of his birth. Those who knew him well called him "Junior" or "Popeye".

On October 12, 1956, Chester was united in marriage to June Lizzie Wolff of Eagle Grove at Clarion. The couple made their home in Eagle Grove. Chester was employed at the Boone Valley Co-op from May 16, 1955 until retiring in 1994. Chester was a Seventh Day Adventist.

He is survived by his wife, June L. Hunt of Clarion; a daughter, Pamela Jean (Hunt) Manning and husband, Ron of Culloden, West Virginia; a son, Chester A. Hunt III of Humboldt; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Maxine Matacio and husband, Paul of Berrien Springs, Michigan, Roselie Miller of Grand Rapids, Minnesota and Bonnie Thompson and husband, Dick of California; one brother, Roger Hunt and wife, Valerie of Texas.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Mary Lou Hunt who died March 3, 2001; and one brother, Jerry Hunt.
© Wright County Monitor 2004