Jane D. Herbst

November 13, 2008

Jane D. Herbst, 73, of Clarion, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2008, at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, November 13, at the Clarion United Methodist Church. Rev. Don Morrison officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Jane Doris Herbst, was born on April 21, 1935 in Kamrar, the daughter of John and Lilian Greenfield. She attended Waldorf and Ellsworth Colleges. Jane taught kindergarten at Owasa and Clarion for a total of about seven years. Jane was united in marriage to Robert Herbst on June 18, 1960, at the Presbyterian Church in Kamrar. This union was blessed with two daughters.

Jane was a member of the United Methodist Church in Clarion. She enjoyed scrapbooking, traveling and going out to eat with Robert.

She is survived by her husband, Robert of Clarion; two daughters, Susan Lee Herbst of Webster City and Patricia Linn Swanson and husband, Jerry of Williams; one grandson; one sister, Evelyn Klaver of Ellsworth; three brothers, John Greenfield of rural Jewell and Stewart and Gene Greenfield of Kamrar.

She was preceded in death by her parents.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Glen Brand

November 20, 2008

Olympic champion wrestler Glen Brand, 85, of Omaha, Nebraska, died on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 19 in Omaha. Burial was in Omaha's Evergreen Memorial Park.

Glen Brand was born in Clarion on November 3, 1923. the son of Glen and Bessie McGrath Brand. He graduated from the Clarion High School in 1942. He wrestled in high school, qualifying for the State tournament only once and he did not place. His wrestling career took off at Iowa State University where he placed third in the NCAA as a heavyweight in 1946; second at 175 pounds in 1947 and first at 174 pounds in 1948. He participated in the 1948 Olympic games in London, wrestling at 174 pounds where he earned the golf medal.

In 1978, he was named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1997, the Clarion-Goldfield Invitational Wrestling Tournament was renamed the Glen Brand Invitational in his honor, just months before the 50th anniversary of his Olympic win.

Brand founded Brand Hydraulics in Omaha in 1956 and was still working at age 85.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Brand and is survived by his wife, Ruth Brand; one son, Greg Brand; step-children, Debra Huebscher, Pamela Graskowiak, David Rader, Duane Rader and Bryan Rader; three grandchildren; sister-in-law, Judy Davidson; and many friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

L.T. "Roy" Menke

November 20, 2008

Roy Menke, 87, of Clarion, passed away on Monday, November 17, 2008, at the Wright Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, November 20, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion, with Rev. Nils Hernandez officiating. Burial will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. According to his wishes, there will be no visitation prior to the memorial service.

LeRoy Thomas Menke, was born in Gaza, Iowa on June 5, 1921. He was the third child of Will and Marie Menke. He grew up on a farm and graduated from the Primghar High School in 1936 at the age of 16. He enjoyed sports and played on the high school basketball team. Roy went on to attend the University of Iowa and joined the Army during World War II. He continued his love of basketball as the starting center on his Army team.

On May 22, 1943, he married Jean Marie Miller at the Army base chapel while stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They moved to Clarion in 1950 where Roy was the owner of the local Firestone Store. In 1962, Roy started a new career as a special agent with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. He studied hard and earned his Chartered Life Underwriter designation on September 28, 1970. He loved his profession and served for a time as legislative chairman of the Fort Dodge Life Underwriters Association.

Roy was also very active in his community and believed in civic service. Just a few of his activities included serving on the Board of Directors of the Clarion Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the St. John's Parochial School, President of the Clarion School Board, President of the Clarion Lions Club and Iowa District Governor of the Lions Club. He was a member of the American Legion and was committed to serving many other organizations.

Roy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean; son, Mark and his wife, Karen of Eagan, Minnesota; son-in-law, Jim Prather of Spencer; younger brothers, Delmar Menke and his wife, Lou and Bob Menke and his wife, Rose; and younger sister, Bonnie Crosser and her husband, Sam.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Marilyn (Menke) Prather; his sister, Mildred Slinger; and an infant sister.

Memorials to the Wright Medical Center are gratefully accepted.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Madison Blue Dorris

December 4, 2008

Graveside services for Madison Blue Dorris, the infant daughter of Jeff and Jennifer (Blue) Dorris, were held on Wednesday, November 26, at the Warren Cemetery in Norman, Oklahoma. Madison, 26 weeks, was received by the warm and loving arms of Jesus on Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Although Madison's time was all too brief, she brought much joy and excitement to the lives of her parents, family and friends. The depth of love, care and nurturing Madison received was immeasurable.

Madison is survived by her parents, Jeff and Jennifer Dorris; maternal grandparents, Drs. Barney and Mary Blue of Norman, Oklahoma; paternal grandfather and step-grandmother, Ron and Pat Dorris; paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Joan and John Tapper of Kamrar; and several aunts and uncles and cousins.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Herbert Milton DeLano

December 4, 2008

Herbert Milton DeLano, of Whiteriver, Arizona, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, in Payson, Arizona.

Herbert was born in Wright County, Iowa, on April 13, 1929, to Alfred and June (Kahler) DeLano. He graduated from the Clarion High School where he played on the varsity football team. In 1948, he married Betty K. Selgelid. They raised five children in Iowa before moving to Arizona.

Herb loved his family, fishing and football. He continued to support the Iowa Hawkeyes throughout his life.

He is survived by four children, Carlotta (Allen) Litten, Kathleen (Michael) Metcalf, JoAnn (Edward) Young and Perley DeLano; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Milton (Rowena) DeLano and Larry (Raynee) DeLano.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; youngest son, Herbert Milton DeLano, Jr.; one sister, Shirley Lerdal; and a brother, Gerald DeLano.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Retta M. Anderson

December 4, 2008

Retta Marie Anderson, age 90, of Clarion, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2008, at the Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 2, at the Dugger Funeral Home, Dows. Pastor Jeremy Mills officiated and burial was in the Fairview Cemetery, Dows.

Retta Marie, was born on September 4, 1918 in Lucas, the daughter of Jonathon and Mary Sears Logston. She grew up in the Lucas and Clarion areas. She worked for area farmers and local manufacturers.

Retta was united in marriage to William Casebeer in 1937. She later married Lyle Anderson. Lyle and Retta made their home in Clarion. She entered Careage in Clarion in August, 2008.

Retta enjoyed reading, embroidery and playing cards. She also liked helping Lyle garden.

She is survived by her children, Frances Luke of Eagle Grove; Larry Casebeer of Clarion; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Lyle.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Rebecca Pierce

December 4, 2008

Rebecca "Becky" (Hull) Pierce, 51, of Clarion, died on Friday, November 28, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, December 2, in Manley. Pastor Tim Platt and Pastor Warren Curry officiated. Inurnment was in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Manly.

Becky was born on July 16, 1957 in Mason City, the daughter of Orville and Mary (Doebel) Hagen. She attended the North Central Schools in Manley. She married Larry Hull and to this union four children were born. In June, 2008, she married Lloyd Pierce in Clarion. She worked at Careage Management in Clarion where she was a CNA.

Becky loved her job, her children and her "adopted" children. She collected Teddy bears and loved to listen to music, especially Janis Joplin. Caring for others was her passion.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Pierce of Clarion; her children, Amanda Hull of Albert Lea, Minnesota and Larry Wayne Hull of Clarion; three grandchildren; her mother, Mary Hagen of Manley; her ex-husband, Larry Hull of Clarion; her mothers-in-law, Betty Abrams of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Arlene Hull of Arkansas; her siblings, Tom (Dorothy) Hagen of Northwood, Knute Hagen of Portland, Oregon and Sarah Hall and Harold Thompson of Annandale, Minnesota; several aunts and numerous nieces and nephews; and her honorary sons and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Hagen; her son, Marcus Hull; her daughter, Janis Hull; one brother, Marcus Hagen; four sisters, Sharon Hrubetz, Elizabeth Nitcher, Mary Rork and Monica Nitcher; her mother-in-law, Faye Jones; and her father-in-law, Wayne Hull.
© Wright County Monitor 2008