Charles McLean Stilfield, 81, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died of a respiratory ailment Sunday, June 3, 2001. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., June 23 at Faith Baptist Church in Hampton, Iowa.

Charles graduated from high school in Eldon, Iowa. He served during World War II in the US Navy Submarine Service as Motor Machinist Mate Second Class. He was married Nov. 29, 1958 to his wife, Patricia. He moved to Clear Lake in 1958 and was employed by the City of Clear Lake for several years and was later employed by Beck Construction. He moved to Florida in 1978. He enjoyed collecting coins and antiques.

Mr. Stilfield is survived by his wife, Patricia; a son, Richard and his wife, Lien of Des Plaines, Ill.; three daughters, Sharon May and her husband, Dennis of Kensett, Iowa, Chrystina Dahm and her husband, Randy of Oceanside, Calif., and Cherie O¹Donnell and her husband, Paul of Hampton, Iowa; a brother, Edward Eugene Stilfield and his wife, Mildred of Saxe, Va.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.

Alice Marie Manson

Alice Marie Manson, 80, of One Third Street, Ventura, Iowa died Friday, June 8, 2001 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. 

Funeral services were held Tuesday, 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor David Wiersbe and Pastor Randy Vaage officiating. 

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Britt, Iowa.  The  Family suggest memorials to Alice M. Manson Memorial Fund.

Alice was born Dec. 27, 1920 on the family farm rural Britt, Iowa the daughter of Paul and Mary (Munson) Madson.  She graduated from Britt High School in 1938, Britt Junior College, and continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Alice taught rural  school Britt, Iowa and then Britt elementary from 1945-1948.

Alice married Leonard L. Manson June 5, 1948 at the Evangelical Free Church, Britt, Iowa.  They farmed in the LuVerne area for one year and then near Dundee from 1949-1969 and then near Manchester for one year.  In 1970 they moved to Clear Lake, Iowa where they managed the United Methodist Camp from 1970-1984.  In 1984 they moved into their present home in Ventura, Iowa.

Alice enjoyed raising flowers, gardening, being around her family and cooking for them.  She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, Iowa.

Alice is survived by her husband, Leonard L. Manson, Ventura; five children, Lance A. Manson and his wife, Jan, New Hampton, Iowa; Craig L. Manson and his wife, LeAnn, Edgar, Wis.; Neal P. Manson and his wife, LaRee, Marathon, Wis.; Lenice A. Lee and her husband, Daniel, Huxley, Iowa and Sherilyn S. Theel and her husband, Darin, Forest City, Iowa; ten grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild; one brother, Richard P. Madson, Ft. Dodge, Iowa; and one sister, Lola Muhm and her husband, Merle, Britt, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her parents; and infant sister, Wanda Lee Madson; an infant brother, Rodney Madson; and one sister, Thelma Swanson. 

Marion Sorensen

Marion Sorensen, 81 of Clear Lake died Friday night, June 8, 2001, at home. His funeral was held 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake, with Pastor Peter Narum of Galilean Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, officiating.  Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. The Clear Lake VFW will conduct military honors. Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Marion Sorensen Memorial Fund in care of Scot Sorensen.

Marion was born Sept. 2, 1919 on a farm near Corwith, to Emil and Metha

(Madsen) Sorensen.  He grew up in Corwith, but returned to Denmark at age five with his family for a portion of one year.  He graduated from Corwith High School in 1937, he joined the Army Air Corps, serving from 1941 through 1945 during World War II as a flight engineer on a B29 bomber.

After military service he worked as a pesticide sprayer and a meat cutter at Decker¹s in Mason City.  He then worked as a carpenter and homebuilder for Saucke Hardware, and later became a self-employed homebuilder.  After retiring he continued to work on occasion for his son, Scot, and to do small jobs on his own.  He also helped many neighbors and friends with small projects.

He married Helen Shreckengost of Mason City, Iowa on Sept. 14, 1947. 

Helen died of cancer in 1969.  He later married and divorced Muriel Christian.

  He greatly enjoyed fishing, playing cribbage, and playing pool with his grandchildren and his friends.

  Besides his wife, Helen, Marion was preceded in death by his parents. 

He is survived by a daughter, Sue Ellen Earl of Bend, Oregon; two sons, Steven Sorensen and wife, Jennifer, of Rochester, Minn., and Scot Sorensen and wife, Dana, of Clear Lake; eight grandchildren; three stepchildren, Clark Christian and wife, Mary Nan of Omaha, Mark Christian and wife, Maria, of West Des Moines, and Diane Behm and husband, John Behm of Des Moines; and eight stepgrandchildren.  He is also survived by a sister, Ethel Hartin, of Clear Lake, and a brother, Charles (Chuck) Sorensen, of Corwith.

Alpha Grace Ritter

Alpha Grace Ritter, 91, of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, June 5, 2001 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

  A Funeral Service was held Sunday, June 10, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jana Swenson officiating.  A graveside service was held on Monday, June 11, at Brush Pointe Cemetery, Fertile, Iowa with the Rev. Kermit Roisen of Zion Lutheran Church officiating.  Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church, Fertile Lutheran Church, or Hospice of North Iowa.

Alpha was born Nov. 23, 1909 in Fertile, the daughter of Peter John and Trena (Daley) Ouverson.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Fertile Lutheran Church in Fertile.  She graduated from Fertile High School in 1927 and from the school of nursing in Graceville, Minn. in 1929.  Alpha was united in marriage to Lawrence W. ³Larry² Ritter on April 29, 1929 in Chokio, Minn., where they farmed for a few years before moving to a farm near Fertile in 1934.  In 1954,  the couple began operating of a nursing home for the elderly, the Lake Rest Home, in Clear Lake.  In 1965, Alpha and Larry, along with their son Roger and his wife, Marilyn, constructed a new nursing care center, Ritter¹s Oakwood Manor, in Clear Lake, which was sold in 1973 to the present owners.  Following their retirement in 1969,  Alpha and Larry spent their winters in Fort Myers Beach, Fla.  Larry passed away in 1979 and Alpha married James Markell in May of 1982.  She was a member of the Lioness, TTT Society, Zion Lutheran Church and Zion Liberty Circle, all in Clear Lake.  Alpha entered the I.O.O. F. Care Center on Jan. 30, 1998 where she was a resident until entering Hospice of North Iowa on June 5, 2001.

Alpha will be greatly missed by her son and his wife, Roger and Marilyn Ritter of Clear Lake; her daughter and her husband, Janice  and Larry Kitchen, of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; six grandchildren, Debra  Winchester and her husband, Paul, of Bedford, N.H., Jeffrey Kitchen and his wife, Kristi, of Fountain Hills, Az.,  John  Ritter and his wife, Sherri, of Rochester, Minn., Sue Secory and her husband, Jon, and Matthew  Ritter and his wife, Renee, all of Clear Lake, Jennifer Mellman and her husband, Monty, of Chicago, Ill.; eight great-grandchildren, Adam Secory, Allison Secory, Andrew Secory, Sara Ritter, Rebecca Ritter,  Jarod Mellman, Matthew Winchester and Anna Winchester; and one sister, Mildred Meldow of Hamptonville, N.C.

Alpha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry, her son Larry Dean, five sisters, and one brother.

Jack Lee Harthan

Jack Lee Harthan, 68,  103 W. Ventura St, Ventura, Iowa, died Monday, June 4, 2001 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa.  A Memorial service was held Friday, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with  the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating.  Inurnment was held Friday at Pleasantview Cemetery, Thornton, Iowa.  Memorials may be given to the Jack Harthan Memorial Fund.

Jack was born Dec. 7, 1932, in Ventura, the son of Leland and Evelyn

(Miller) Harthan.  He attended Ventura schools and graduated from Thornton High School in 1951.  After graduation, Jack helped his parents farm until he enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1953.  He served in the E Co 12th Infantry Regiment, and was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal

(Germany) and National Defense Service Medal.  Jack married Lorene Nicolet June 27, 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Thornton, Iowa.  After leaving the service, Jack and Lorene farmed several years north of Swaledale. In February 1964 they moved to Clear Lake where he worked for the Farmers Co-op in Mason City.  Jack worked for Land O Lakes as a truck driver from 1969 - 1992, when he retired.

Jack was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, where he was very active in his early years; loved to travel and go to Texas, loved to read and use the computer, enjoyed all the time he could spend with his family, and he enjoyed spending time with his D.O.M. Buddies at McDonalds.

Jack is survived by four sons, Tim Harthan and his wife, Cindy, Emmetsburg, Iowa, Mark Harthan and his wife, Karen, Clear Lake, Matt Harthan and his wife, Deb, Ventura, and Paul Harthan and his wife, Jeanette, Garner, Iowa; seven grandsons, Aaron and Jesse Harthan, Emmetsburg, Ben and Jacob Harthan, Clear Lake, Brandon Harthan, Ventura, and John and Luke Harthan, Garner; two sisters, Joan Collins and her husband, Duane, Clear Lake, and Janice Harthan-Kerdus and her husband, Bob, Clear Lake; one brother, Jerry Harthan and his wife, Carmella, Clear Lake; a special friend, Joan Strong, Goodrich, Texas, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lorene and one infant son David.

Carrie Anne Heitland

Carrie Anne Heitland, 99, of Clear Lake, died Saturday, June 9, 2001, of natural causes at the I.O.O.F. in Mason City.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, 2001, at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake, with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Carrie Heitland Memorial Fund in her memory.

Carrie Buss was born on May 17, 1902, in Aplinton, Iowa, the daughter of Evert and Emma (Busch) Buss. She attended rural country school through the eight grade. She was united in marriage to Ed Aldrich Heitland on September 6, 1921, in Chapin, Iowa. He preceded her in death on February 11, 1970. After their marriage together they farmed southeast of Clear Lake for over 60 years.

Carrie belonged to many patriotic organizations including the AMVETS, the VFW, and the Rebekahs. She built floats for the Clear Lake 4th of July parade, put flags on the veteran¹s graves and donated flags for many schools and buildings in the area. For Memorial Day she helped organize the formal programs to give tribute to the veterans, oversaw the placement of crosses in the ³Field of Crosses² and chaired the decoration of the Clear Lake cemetery with the ³avenue of the flags². Carrie speared-headed the construction of the Clear Lake Memorial Association building on the grounds of the Clear Lake Cemetery. She was known as ³Old Glory² while a member of the Muddy Pond CB Club.

Carrie loved collecting horse statuary, reading Western novels, hosting family dinners or family reunions in addition to sewing, playing piano, quilting and crocheting. Carrie had been a resident of the IOOF Home in Mason City since October 1995.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Roger ³Bud² Heitland and his wife, Madonna of Clear Lake, Lester Heitland of Mason City, a son-in-law, Ed Callanan and his wife, Pauline of Mason City. Also left to cherish her memory are eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Luther Buss and his wife, Dorothy, of Mason City, and Ralph Buss and his wife, Harriette, of Eugene, Oregon; and her IOOF roommate and friend, Maureen Berding.

Besides her husband Ed Aldrich Heitland, she was also preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Ardis Callanan; her son Virgil, who died in infancy; her granddaughter, Connie Heitland; brothers, John (Jack), Lawrence, Ernest and Everett Buss; her sisters, Lois Lowe and Ethel St. Amand; and her daughter-in-law, Alberta Heitland.

Myrtle E. Lowe

Myrtle E. Lowe, 91, 2104 2nd Ave. South, Clear Lake, died Wednesday, June 13, 2001 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City, Iowa.  Funeral services were held Saturday, 10:30 a.m., June 16, at the United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave. N., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating.  Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the I.O.O.F. Home or the Mason City Community Kitchen. 

Myrtle was born May 11, 1910 on the family farm south of Clear Lake, the daughter of Royal and Ida (Whiteman) Miller.    She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1929.  She took Normal Education training.  Myrtle taught country school in Cerro Gordo County.  Myrtle married Charles Lowe Dec. 21, 1936 at the Miller Farm south of Clear Lake. She was a teacher¹s aid for 18 years in the Waterloo School System. 

Myrtle enjoyed crocheting, broom stick crocheting and made afghans for all her grandchildren.  They moved to Clear Lake in August 1994.  Myrtle was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Waterloo for 60 years, and 

is a member of the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake; she was also a member of the Waterloo VFW Aux Post #1623.

Myrtle is survived by her husband Charles ³Buster² Lowe, Clear Lake; two children, Charlotte Snook and her husband, Robert, Edina, Minn., and Wayne Lowe and his wife, Imogene, Waterloo, Iowa; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren;  and two sisters, Eva Kimble and Elsie Bussa, both at the I.O.O. F. in Mason City.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Kay Marie Lowe; four brothers, Burrel, Earl, Lloyd and LeRoy Miller; and one sister, Addie Hanley.

Helen Mae Finn

Helen Mae Finn, 85, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, June 13, 2001 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

A funeral mass was held on Saturday, June 16, at 10:30 am at St. Patrick¹s Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with the Msgr. Robert Hogan officiating.  A graveside service was held the same day at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Belmond, Iowa with the Rev. David Beckman officiating.   

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.

Helen was born April 6, 1916 in Swaledale, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Ida (Hanna) Crabb.  She graduated from Swaledale High School and from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.  She then taught country school for several years. Helen was united in marriage to Donald Finn on May 10, 1947 at St. Mary¹s Catholic Church in Red Oak, Iowa.  The couple moved from Red Oak to Clear Lake in 1953 and Helen went to work at the local dime store.  She then began working as an assistant for Dr. Peterson and later Dr. Hendricks in Clear Lake.  Helen later worked for 14 years as a dispatcher for the Clear Lake Police Department, until her retirement.  She was a member of St. Patrick¹s Catholic Church, the church circle and rosary society, and the Clear Lake Odd Fellows Lodge.  Helen¹s greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her husband, Don, of Clear Lake; three children, Marilyn Wenrich of Tomball, Texas, Raymond Wenrich of Mason City, and Julie Cummings of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two grandchildren, Sue Beach and her husband, Sean, of Waterloo, Iowa and Sean Cummings of Cedar Rapids; one great-granddaughter, Shyann Beach, and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Ralph L. Kimball

A private memorial service to honor the life of Ralph L. Kimball, a lifetime resident of Clear Lake, was held June 19, 2001 at Clear Lake Cemetery. Ralph was born Oct.16, 1907 and died Dec. 14, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; a step-daughter, Linda Davenport; a step-son, Randy Ennen; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

Ralph was loved and respected by those that touched his life.

Samuel Erhart Klein

Samuel Erhart Klein, infant son of Patrick and Jodi Minard Klein of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died Monday, June 18, 2001 at birth at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

He is survived by his parents; maternal grandparents, Joseph Minard of Waterloo and Wanda Busch of Clear Lake; paternal grandparents, Max and Margaret Klein Jr. of Cedar Falls; maternal great-grandfathers, Erhart Petersen and Everett Minard, both of Waterloo; paternal great-grandparents, Millie and Russell Peterson of Waterloo, Iowa; and paternal great-grandmother, Irene Klein of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandmothers, Lorna Petersen and Beverly Minard and paternal great-grandfathers, Ernest Lenz and Max Klein Sr.

Services were held Friday, June 22 at St. Stephen the Witness on the University of Northern Iowan campus, Cedar Falls. A private family burial was held in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waterloo. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Home of Waterloo was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Ardell E. Meints

Ardell E. Meints, 72, 306 Orchard Lane, Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. 

The Funeral services were held Friday, June 29, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Iowa with the Rev. Jonathan Swenson officiating.  Interment was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. The Clear Lake VFW will provide military honors.   Memorials may be given to the Ardell E. Meints Memorial Fund. 

Ardell was born March 2, 1929 in Grimes Township, Rural Thornton, Iowa, the son of Alfred O. and Pauline Ida (Gruis) Meints.  Ardell attended school in Meservey.  He worked at the Severson Construction Co.  Ardell married Ruth Sessions April 27, 1952 at the First United Methodist Church, Mason City.  He entered the United States Army serving during the Korean conflict as a corporal.  Following the service he moved back to Clear Lake.  Ardell drove for the Dahlen Transport  Co. for 28 years.  He enjoyed working with wood and made spinners; watching the birds and traveling in the continental north America.  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and a lifetime member of the Clear Lake VFW.

Ardell is survived by his wife Ruth Meints, Clear Lake; three children, Leonard Meints and his wife Angel, Bremerton, Wash., Donna Jean Meints and her special friend, Jody, Kanawha, Iowa, and  Nancy Jeanette Watkins and her husband, Tom, Waterloo, Iowa; six grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three sisters, Phyllis Kennedy, Clear Lake,  LaVonne Meints, Clear Lake, and Shirley Dieger and her husband, Bill, Belmond, Iowa; two brothers, Jerry Meints and his wife, Luster, Laurel, Md., and Gene Meints, Chicago, Ill.; and one sister-in-law Minnie Meints, Meservey, Iowa.

Ardell is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Don Meints; an infant brother and an infant sister.

Lubbe Albers

Lubbe Albers, 92, of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.  Funeral services were held Friday, June 29, at St. John¹s Lutheran Church, Garner, with the Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating.  Interment was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. 

Memorials may be given to St. John¹s Lutheran Church, Garner.

Lubbe Albers, the son of George N., Sr. and Evawina (Wientjes) Albers, was born Dec. 28, 1908, at the Albers home near Klemme.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Klemme Immanuel Reform United Church of Christ and attended Klemme High School.  On February 19, 1939, he was married to Edna Hollatz at St. John¹s Lutheran Church in Garner. 

Lubbe enjoyed farming, taking great pride in feeding cattle.  They farmed south of Ventura until 1974 when they retired and moved to Clear Lake.  He enjoyed spending time with family and was an Iowa Hawkeye fan. 

His hobbies were fishing, hunting and bowling.  He spent many hours on the lakes of Iowa and Minnesota and in 1978, was inducted into the Clear Lake Bowler¹s Hall of Fame. 

Survivors included his wife, Edna; their daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Jim Engelkes, Papillion, Neb.; two granddaughters, Linda Engelkes of Burnsville, Minn. and Lesli Clark and her husband, Bill, of Urbandale, Iowa; two great-granddaughters, Manda and Sydney Clark of Urbandale; and one sister, Winnie Buss of Belmond, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, John Albers, Ted Albers, George Albers, and Menno Albers; four sisters, Jennie Rueben, Carrie Pringnitz, Elsina Lauster, and Helen Cornelius.

Donald ³Ding² Bell

Word has been received of the death of Donald ³Ding² Bell, 93, who died in Sun City, Az. on June 21, 2001. He was a former resident of Clear Lake and Mason City. Services will be held at a later date in Mason City.

Donald Bell was born on April 1, 1908 in Clear Lake, the son of Harry and Bertha (Pride) Bell. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1925 and attended Mason City Junior College and Hamilton Business College. He worked as a salesman for northern States Portland Cement Co., before and after serving in World War II. He was elected commander of Stafford Post 222, American Legion in Clear Lake.

In 1961 he was united in marriage to Marian Krunbholz Douglass. They retired to Arizona in 1971.

He is survived by one sister, Hallie Mack, Clear Lake; two step-daughters, Vicki Douglass, Sun City, and Patricia Douglass, Chicago, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his parents; two sisters, Merna Deputy and Carol Josten; and a nephew, Richard Mack.

Curtis R. Pitkin

Services for Curtis R. Pitkin, 71, of Andrews, Texas were Thursday, June 14 at Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews with the Rev. Bob Zap officiating.

Burial was in the Andrews Old Cemetery. The McNett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Curtis died Monday, June 11, 2001 at Midland Memorial Hospital. He was born June 3, 1930 in Clear Lake, Iowa.

He married LuElla Rosendahl on Sept. 16, 1959 in Garner, Iowa. They moved to Andrews in 1957 from Iowa and he worked as a master mechanic for Northern Natural Gas, which is now Enron Gas.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Norvell, Virgil and Franklin; and one sister, Goldie Bitker.

Survivors include his wife, LuElla; three sons, Mike Pitkin and Greg Pitkin, both of Andrews, and Alan Pitkin of Midland, Texas; two daughters, Nancy Hotchkin of Odessa, Texas, and Joan Thompson of Andrews; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.

Charles Kimble

Charles Kimble, 87, passed away Friday, June 29, 2001 at his residence. Services were held Monday, July 2 at the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Mr. Kimble was born March 8, 1914 in Bloomfield, Iowa to Glen A. Kimble and Elizabeth Simmons Kimble. He moved to Texas from Pauline, Iowa. He was a gas plant operator for Northern Natural Gas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera; his parents; and a daughter, Joyce Kimble.

Survivors include three sons, Dallas Kimble of Ft. Stockton, Texas, Steven Kimble of Bullard, Texas, and Monte Kimble of Pflugerville, Texas; two daughters, Carolyn Williams of Memphis, Tenn., and Mary Jo Webb of Oxford, Ala.; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Berta E. Underkofler

Berta E. Underkofler 88, formerly of Clear Lake, died July 1, 2001, at Milwaukee, Wis.  Funeral Services were held Saturday, July 7, 2001, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Iowa, with the Rev. Jana Swenson officiating. Interment was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. 

Family suggests memorials to National Parkinson¹s Foundation, 1501 Northwest 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33136 or American Heart Association.

Berta was born Nov. 15, 1912 in Crailsheim, Germany, the daughter of Johann and Louise Schaffer.  There were nine children in the family, six boys and three girls.  Her brother, Bill Burkhardt, moved to the United States for greater opportunities, eventually settling in Clear Lake.  He owned and operated the Clear Lake Bakery until his death in 1980.

When Berta was 17 she journeyed to the U.S. on a visit to her brother Bill in Clear Lake as an adventure for one year.  While working in the bakery retail store and learning English, she met Galen Underkofler. Loved bloomed, and not so many weeks later they were married in Grandma Underkofler¹s living room on Jan. 31, 1931.

They resided in Clear Lake until after WW II, and in 1948 they moved to Cleveland, Ohio and then to Milwaukee, Wis. in 1965.  They left behind their house in Cleveland, and adapted to a new lifestyle living in a beautiful high-rise condo on the shores of Lake Michigan, never tiring of the beautiful changing vistas they had of Lake Michigan and the city.  Lifelong interests centered on her family, her home and her church. 

Berta is survived by two children, Victoria L. O¹Brien, Milwaukee, Wis., and Rudy J. Underkofler and his wife, Carole, Glendale, Wis.; seven grandchildren, Erin E., Heather A.S., Galen W., Gale Lynn, Gretchen L., Colleen and Tina; five great-grandchildren and one sister, Emmi Thurnhuber of Germany; and in-laws Guida and Julius Gradisher and Willys Underkofler. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Galen Y.; son, Galen M.; six brothers; one sister; in-laws Leona and Frank Underkofler; and three brothers-in-law, Claire, Gordon and Herman Underkofler.