Lawrence Espe

September 9, 2004

Lawrence Espe, 84, of Clarion, passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2004, at the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion.

Funeral services were held Monday, September 6, at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion. Rev. Charles Espe and Rev. Curt Miner officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service.

Lawrence was born on December 28, 1919 in rural Kanawha, the son of Austin and Marian (Johnson) Espe. He graduated from the Kanawha High School in 1937.

Lawrence married Lois Lein on January 10, 1940. They had three sons, Roger, Steve and Mitch. He began farming in rural Kanawha in 1940 and retired in 1980. His wife, Lois, died on December 3, 1972.

In 1977, Lawrence married Alice (Mayes) Rodriguez and moved to Clarion. Lawrence was baptized, confirmed, and a lifelong member of the St. John's Lutheran Church, until its closing in 1993. He served on the Kanawha School Board, the Kanawha Bank Board, and was Treasurer of St. John's Church for many yeas. After he retired, he enjoyed driving to the farm every day. He especially enjoyed the spring planting and the fall harvest. Golf, his vegetable garden, and splitting his own wood were his interests, but family always came first.

Lawrence is survived by his wife, Alice of Clarion; sons, Roger Espe and wife, Nancy of Des Moines, Steve Espe and wife, Gail of Des Moines, Mitch Espe and wife, Chris of Newbury Park, California, Jim Rodriguez and wife, Jill of Des Moines and John Rodriguez and wife, Lorene of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Judie Rodriguez and husband, Rob of Tucson, Arizona; 18 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lois; sister, Gladys and husband, Glenn Russell; brother, Roy; and brother, Harlan and wife, Azile.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Roy "Gypsy" Eugene Fibikar

September 9, 2004

Roy "Gypsy" Eugene Fibikar, 54, of Clarion, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2004, of natural causes.

Roy was born on November 29, 1949 in Hampton, the son of Ray and Evelyn (Bardwell) Fibikar. Roy attended school in Goldfield and Eagle Grove. He joined the Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam for 18 months. He was honorably discharged in 1974 and received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Sharpshooter (M-14, M-16), three O/S bars and an Army Commendation Medal.

Roy was a talented artist and loved to create things with his hands. Roy's greatest love was the open road and the freedom he felt when he rode his motorcycle through the open country. He was always most at home when he was away from home with sun in his eyes and the wind at his back. His friends called him Gypsy. Now the road is wide and open before him, now he is truly free.

Roy is survived by four children, Shawna Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska, Shane Fibikar of Eagle Grove, Dawn Dow of Clarion and Marda Rasmussen of Eagle Grove; nine grandchildren; mother, Evelyn of Clarion; father, Ray of Mahomet, Illinois; grandmother, Blanche Bardwell of Clarion; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Ellen Elkin

September 16, 2004

Ellen Claire Elkin, 89, of Eagle Grove, died on Tuesday, September 7, 2004, at the USA Health Care Center in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 10, at the United Church of Christ in Eagle Grove. Rev. Lisa Hadler officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove.

Ellen Claire Paine, was born on October 27, 1914 in Eagle Grove, the daughter of Raymond Sumner and Mabel Kennedy Paine. She was baptized and joined the Goldfield Presbyterian Church. She grew up on the Sunnybrook Farm in the Evergreen Community and attended the Elmwood School. Ellen graduated from the Eagle Grove High School in 1932 and then went on to Eagle Grove Junior College and graduated in 1934. She started teaching in the rural school of Elmwood that fall and later went on to teach in Erie, Illinois.

In May of 1940, Ellen married Grigg Elkin and to that union four children were born, Mary Claire, Ronald Dean, Colleen Ellen and David Grigg. The couple became active members of the United Church of Christ and had all four children baptized there and witnessed their joining of the faith. Ellen resumed her college education in 1969, receiving her degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1971 at the age of 56. She taught most of this time and completed thirty-two years of service in the Goldfield and Clarion communities, before retiring in 1980.

Ellen belonged to many clubs and participated in all of them. She was a member of the former Woman's Club for over 30 years, as well as the Equality Club, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, American Association of University Women, UCC Guild, Oakridge Country Club and many others.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Grigg Elkin of Eagle Grove; two daughters, Mary "Cookie" Thomas of Clarion and Colleen Van Langen and husband, Randy of Grand Island, Nebraska; two sons, Ron Elkin and wife, DewAnn of Tulsa, Oklahoma and David Elkin and wife, Colleen of Ingleside, Illinois; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Pauline Paine, Leone Santee and a half-sister, Marilyn Joenks; and two brothers, Donald and Lynn Paine.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

John Stevenson Whyte

September 16, 2004

John Stevenson Whyte, Jr., 87, died on Friday, September 10, 2004, at the USA Health Care Center in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 13, at the United Presbyterian Church in Goldfield. Rev. Tamara EnTin officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield.

John Stevenson Whyte, Jr., was born on January 28, 1917 in Goldfield, the son of John S. and Ruth (McEachron) Whyte, Sr. He graduated from the Goldfield High School in 1934 and began working for Whyte & Sons in 1930.

John served in the United States Army, Red Bull Division of the 337th Infantry. He served from January of 1944 to October of 1945, relieved from active duty as a First Lieutenant and having received a Bronze Service Arrowhead Letter, EAME Ribbon with five Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge, as well as field promotions.

On September 15, 1944, John was united in marriage to Marjorie Hilderbrand. They made their home in Goldfield.

John was a member of the Presbyterian Church, where he served as a trustee and elder. He also served on the Goldfield City Council, President of Goldfield State Bank and the Board of Directors, Goldfield Improvement Corporation, as director and secretary of the Goldfield Telephone Company and also served many years on the Wright County Board of Review. He was past Commander of the Goldfield Community and its improvements.

He is survived by one son, Steve Whyte and wife, Nancy of Goldfield; one grandson; sisters-in-law, Pauline Henry and husband, Bill, Rosemary Byrd and Rodean Frakes; and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marjorie on August 14, 1997; sisters, Harriett Bennett and Betty Pojman; and one brother, Robert Whyte.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Richard Gene Harms

September 16, 2004

Richard Gene Harms, 68, of Clarion, died on Saturday, September 11, 2004, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Richard Gene Harms, was born on January 15, 1936 in Iowa City, the son of John and Luella (Meinders) Harms. He was baptized in the Methodist Church in Belmond and raised in the area. He attended the Kanawha schools.

Richard started farming at an early age, helping his father and also taking care of him. He worked as a farm hand and in later years as a painter at Erickson Manufacturing.

Richard is survived by two brothers, Derald Harms of Clarion and Stenus Harms of Humboldt; long time companion, Tena Finn of Clarion; adopted children, Myrna Koenen and husband, Larry of Bentonville, Arkansas, Marlyn Pannof and wife, Laraine of Council Bluffs, Donna Hoffmann and husband, Dave of Renwick, Gary Finn and wife, Kim of Des Moines and Mike Finn and wife, Cindy of Des Moines; 12 adopted grandchildren; and five adopted great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant sister.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Phyllis Jeannette Wobbeking

September 30, 2004

Phyllis J. Wobbeking, 85, of Clive, formerly of Dows, passed away on Monday, September 20, 2004, at the Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 24, at the First Lutheran Church in Dows.

Phyllis Jeannette Nelson, was born on November 28, 1918 in Conrad, the daughter of Harry and Fern Bowers Nelson. She graduated from the Eagle Grove High School and attended one year of junior college.

On December 24, 1939, she was united in marriage to Ronald W. Wobbeking at her parents' home in Eagle Grove. The couple were married for 55 years and farmed in the Dows area prior to Ronald's death in 1995.

Phyllis belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star for 42 years, until the chapter closed in 1986. She served in patron and matron roles culminating as Worthy Matron in 1956. Phyllis was an active member of the Social and Friday Card Clubs. She belonged to several church groups and circles, was on the Vernon Township election board for several years, and belonged to the Dows Bowling League for many years.

Phyllis is survived by seven children, Bill Wobbeking of Clive, Ron Wobbeking of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dayla Wobbeking-Brown of Sioux City, Jolene (Joel) Tornabeni of McLean, Virginia, Sherri (Terry) Lutz of Fort Dodge, Pam Wobbeking of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Al (Andrea) Wobbeking of Dows; 11 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Harry (Rita) Nelson of Parma, Ohio, Bill (Vi) Nelson of Ankeny and Don (Mary Beth) Nelson of Mason City; and two sisters, Nada Mattie of Cleveland, Ohio and Mary Ann (Phil) Elrod of Ames.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and one brother, Dale Nelson.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Pio Ramos

September 30, 2004

Pio Ramos, died on Friday, September 24, 2004.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 27, at the St. Francis-Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. Father James Miller conducted the Mass of Christian Burial. Full military honors were presented. Entombment was in the Lakewood Cemetery Mausoleum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pio Ramos, was born on December 31, 1921 at Aguas Buenea, Puerto Rico, the son of Benilde and Julia (Rodriguez) Ramos. He served two tenures in the United States Army, being stationed in Panama during World War II and later spent time in the combat zone during the Korean War. He received numerous awards and medals for his active duty in the military service. He continued with a career in the military, serving as an administrative transportation specialist.

Pio married Sally Esquival on September 28, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas. The couple made their home and raised their family in various places, including Texas, Alaska, and Minneapolis as they followed Pio's military career duties. On April 1, 1965, he retired as a staff sergeant from the military after nearly 21 years. He then began a career with the postal service and was employed in Minneapolis, Minnesota working nights for 17 years before retiring.

Pio and his wife moved to Belmond from the Twin Cities several years ago to be near their daughter, Julia.

Pio is survived by his wife, Sally of Belmond; son, Manuel Ramos and wife, Nely of Bloomington, Minnesota; daughters, Julia Duke and husband, Juan of Clarion and Alicia Ocampo and husband, Julian of Coon Rapids; son, Tony Ramos of Minneapolis, Minnesota; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Ione Eva Allen

September 30, 2004

Ione Eva Allen, 88, of Mountain View, Arkansas, formerly of Red Oak, died on Saturday, September 25, 2004, at the Baxter County Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

A Funeral Mass was held at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Red Oak on Wednesday, September 29. Father Ken Gross officiated at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak.

lone Eva Allen, was born on December 1, 1915 in Defiance, Iowa, the daughter of John and Frances (Rosman) Kirschbaum. Ione was raised in Defiance and graduated from high school.

She was united in marriage to William F. Bernes on February 5, 1937, at Harlan, Iowa. Ione had lived in Atlantic, Iowa for nine years and then moved back to Clarion. She lived in Clarion for 18 years, raising her sons, Larry and Dick, and was a second mother to Tom and Melvin Shupe.

She was later united in marriage to Hiram "Earl" Hall on March 5, 1962 in Des Moines. He died on March 16, 1984. They lived in Des Moines for eight years, two years in Mississippi, and moved to Red Oak in 1971. Ione was married to Sherman Allen in 1984 and moved back to Des Moines. She and Sherman moved to Mountain View, Arkansas in 2002. Sherman died in January 2003.

Ione was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic church while in Red Oak and the St. Pius Catholic Church in Des Moines. She was a past member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries.

Ione is survived by two sons, Larry Berens and wife, Fran of Oskaloosa and Richard "Dick" Berens and wife, Shirley of Mountain View, Arkansas; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Maryann Schwinderman and Leona Gilmore both of Omaha, Nebraska; four brothers, Don Kirschbaum of Omaha, Nebraska, Jack Kirschbaum of Defiance, Iowa, Robert Kirschbaum of Spirit Lake and Charles Kirschbaum of Sauk Center, Minnesota; nieces, nephews and other relatives and a host of friends.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, William Berens, Earl Hall and Sherman Allen; and one sister, Marjorie.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Irma Tomke

September 30, 2004

Irma Evans Tomke, 84, of Clarion, died on Sunday, September 26, 2004, at her home in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, September 29, at the Clarion Church of Christ. Rev. Tim Plat officiated at the service. Burial was in the St. John's Cemetery, Clarion.

Irma Evans, was born on April 8, 1920 on a farm in Franklin County, the daughter of William J. and Margaret (DeReus) Evans. The family moved to Clarion in 1928. Irma graduated from the Clarion High School in 1937. She worked as a secretary for attorneys Nagle and Hill after graduation. She then attended the 48th General Assembly of the Legislature in Des Moines with Senator Hill, staying in Des Moines and working at the State Capitol until joining the Navy in 1943. Irma served 3 1/2 years in New York and Washington, D.C.

Irma returned to Clarion and married Joseph R. Tomke on February 5, 1948. To this union, a daughter, Cheryl, was born in 1949. Joe and Irma owned and operated a Drug & Gift Store until Joe retired in 1982. Joe passed away in 1984.

Irma was a member of the Church of Christ, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Clarion Arts Council. She was a member of the Clarmond Country Club for over 50 years and the Belmond Country Club for the past few years. Her passion was playing bridge.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheri of Clarion; two sisters, Mary Arvizu and Wilma Rude, both of Des Moines; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Joe; one brother, Clif Evans; and one sister, Ione Kee.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Don L. McGrath

October 7, 2004

Don L. McGrath, 78, of Eagle Grove, died on Tuesday, September 28, 2004, at the St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 2, 2004, at 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Eagle Grove. Pastor Paul Stone officiated at the service. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove.

Don L. McGrath, was born on July 1, 1926 at Eagle Grove, the son of Evert and Mary (Donly) McGrath. He was raised and educated in the area, graduating from the Eagle Grove High School, Class of 1944. He attended and graduated with a Law Degree from Drake University in 1951.

On May 2, 1945, Don was united in marriage with Bonnie Olson at the Humboldt Lutheran Church. They made their home in Eagle Grove.

Don joined his father in the McGrath Law Firm in 1951 and has practiced law in Eagle Grove since that time, now known as McGrath & Long Law Offices.

He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. the American Legion, and a 50-year member of the American Bar Association. He was also active in Rotary and the building of the Rotary Home. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and collecting duck decoys.

Survivors include his wife, Bonnie of Eagle Grove; one daughter, Susan Martin and husband, Mike of Monticello; one son, John McGrath and wife, Sandra of Eagle Grove; eight grandchildren; one sister, Frances Mellgren of Stevensville, Montana; and father-in-law, Leonard Olson of Eagle Grove.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John and Dave McGrath; brother-in-law, Don Mellgren; and mother-in-law, Genevieve Olson.
© Wright County Monitor 2004