Ronne Lee Newlon
Ronne Lee Newlon,
56, died April 24, 2002 at his residence in Mesa, Az.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, at
the Evangelical Free Church, 1310 Hwy 18 West, Clear Lake,
with the Rev. Chuck Smith officiating. Graveside services
will be at 3 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth,
Minn. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society
or Pheasants Forever.
Ronne was born July 7, 1945 in Berkley, Calif., the son of
Joie Pat and Adeline H. (Miller) Newlon. Ronne graduated
in 1963 from Blue Earth High School in Blue Earth, Minn.
Ronne married Melicent Madsen, Aug. 16, 1964, at East
Chain Lutheran Church, East Chain, Minn. They lived in
Blue Earth and operated Kreme King Drive Inn until 1967
when they moved to Atlantic, Iowa, where he owned the A&W
Drive Inn. In 1977 they moved to Forest City, Iowa, and
started Midwest Equipment Company until 1980 and then
purchased a restaurant in Estherville, Iowa, known as
Grandma's Touch, continuing to 1987 when he moved to Clear
Lake and operated the Waterfront until 1997. In 1994 he
met his future wife, Dawn Torkelson, and they moved to
Meza, Az. in 1997, where he was a restaurant manager for
Sonic Corporation. Ronne & Dawn were married October 9,
2001 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ronne loved hunting, trapping and playing the ponies. He
was a member of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever,
Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge in Atlantic, Iowa, Atlantic
Chamber of Commerce and Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Ronne is survived by his wife, Dawn, of Mesa, Az.; his
mother, Adeline Arnt, Mesa, Az.; three children, foster
son, Steve and his wife, Gail Harris, Denison, Iowa, son,
Christopher Newlon and his wife, Carey, Highlands Ranch,
Colo., and daughter, Carleen Whetstine and her husband,
Chris, Gilbert, Az. One brother, Gene Newlon and his wife,
Verna, Hebron, Ky.; a sister-in-law, Monica Torkelson,
Garner, Iowa; in-laws, Ken and Kelly Bendickson, Joice,
Iowa, and Roger Torkelson, Forest City; eight
grandchildren, Tyson Harris, Brea Nichols, Chase Harris,
Cody Harris, Halle Whetstine, Noah Whetstine, Collin
Newlon and Chase Newlon.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Gregory A. Benoit
Gregory A. Benoit,
56, of Clear Lake, died Monday, April 22, 2002 at his
home. A memorial graveside service was held Tuesday,
April 30, 11 a.m. at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, 7601
34th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. As to his wishes, the
body has been cremated. Memorials may be made to the
Veterans Administration P.T.S.D. Clinic.
Greg was born Oct. 1, 1945, at Detroit, Mich., the son of
Joseph and Anastasia (DeCormier) Benoit. He attended
Wayne State University and following college entered the
United States Army on Aug. 2, 1966. He served five years
as a combat helicopter pilot with the rank of CW2. He
served in the Republic of Vietnam. While in the service he
earned a National Defense Service Medal, a Good Conduct
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with
sixty devices, Silver Star Medal, Army Aviation Badge, Air
Medal with 1st through 27th Oak Leaf Clusters, Expert
Badge, 45 Caliber Pistols and M16 Rifle. After the
Vietnam tour he was transferred to Germany and promoted to
rank of Captain. Following the service he lived in
California, Nevada, Michigan and moved to Clear Lake the
summer of 2001.
Greg is survived by two brothers, Philip Benoit of
California and Anthony Benoit of Nevada; four sisters,
Mary Nadeau and Cecilia Gram of Michigan, Annette Erwin of
Nevada, and Cynthia Branner of California.
Greg was preceded in death by his parents.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge
of arrangements.
Margaret Mae
(Hutchinson) Kelling
Margaret Mae (Hutchinson) Kelling,
88, died Friday, May 3, 2002 at the Oakwood Care Center
where she was staying after a fall at her home resulted in
a broken hip on Palm Sunday. Funeral services were held
Monday at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev.
Dean Hess officiated. Burial services was held at St.
Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Waverly, Iowa. Ward-Van Slyke
Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret was born in Frederika, Iowa on Sept. 2, 1913, the
daughter of Amos and Flora (Johnson) Hutchinson. The
family spent a number of years farming northwest of
Tripoli, Iowa. When her father became ill they moved back
to Frederika, where he died in February of 1920. She
attended grade school in Frederika until 1927 when she,
her mother, brother Leland and sister Grace moved to
Waverly, Iowa. She graduated from Waverly High School in
1932. After graduation she was a clerk in a Waverly
variety store until 1943.
On Sept. 16, 1940 she was united in marriage to Orlin
Kelling, at St. Paul's Lutheran in Waverly, with the Rev.
R.C. Schlueter officiating. Margaret continued to be very
active in the church ladies circles at St. Paul's Lutheran
in Waverly. She was a secretary at Wartburg College for
some time. In 1964 the family moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa,
joined Nazareth Church and was again active in circles.
Margaret volunteered many hours for more than 15 years
with the Red Cross in the Waterloo area. In 1980 she and
husband Orlin retired to Clear Lake and joined Zion
Lutheran, again joining a circle and being active in
church affairs. Margaret spent her life dedicated to her
family and found time to serve the altar guild, Young at
Heart, and quilting ladies.
Survivors include her husband, Orlin, of Clear Lake; son,
Darrell and his wife, Delores, Rochester, Minn., Larry and
wife, Dianne, Cedar Falls, Iowa; two grandsons, John, and
David and his wife, Donell; one granddaughter, Amy, and
her husband, Brad Knox; and one great-grandson, Alex
Kelling; one sister, Grace Bodecker, Waverly, Iowa.
Her parents and her brother Leland preceded her in death.
Memorials
may be given to Zion Lutheran Church for the Margaret
Kelling Memorial Fund.
Gary G. Vala
Gary G. Vala,
60, of 713 S. 13th St., Clear Lake, died Friday, May 3,
2002 at his residence. Funeral Mass Celebration of Life
was Tuesday, May 7, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church,
Clear Lake, with Msgr. Joseph Slepicka officiating.
Graveside services were at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery,
Roseville, Iowa with Msgr. Walter Brunkan officiating.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge
of arrangements.
Gary was born Aug. 29, 1941 the son of Charles and Pauline
(Nikolas) Vala. He graduated from Immaculate Conception
Catholic School, Charles City, Iowa in 1959. He attended
college in Brookings, S.D.
Gary moved to Sterling, Ill. where he worked in a steel
mill. He served in the United States Air Force from
1963-1966 at Lackland Air Force Base. Following the
service he moved back to Charles City to farm the family
farm and he also worked at the Oliver plant in Charles
City. He later worked at Sarah Lee in New Hampton and in
1974 moved to Clear Lake, Iowa. He worked at E.F. Johnson
as Maintenance foreman, later Sperry-Univac/Unisys, until
their relocation. He was known as the Clear Lake Handyman
and could fix anything.
Gary married Pam Pearce on Dec. 27, 1969 in the Catholic
church in Nashua, Iowa.
Gary is a former member of Clear Lake Knights of Columbus.
Gary is survived by his two children, Sheila Anderson and
her husband, Lundy, Fairfield, Iowa and Kurt Vala,
Concord, N.H.; his mother, Pauline Vala, Chares City,
Iowa; grandson, Spencer Minette, Concord, N.H.; and his
former wife, Pam Vala, Clear Lake. He was preceded in
death by his father, Charles Vala; and brother, Father
Ralph R. Vala.
James Francis Connell
James Francis
Connell, 78,
longtime Clear Lake businessman, died Wednesday, May 1,
2002 at the Muse Norris Inpatient Unit-North Iowa in Mason
City.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11,
at the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake with the
Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Visitation will be from
5-7 p.m. Friday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial
Chapel. Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational
Church, 205 West 10th Avenue North, Clear Lake; Hospice of
North Iowa, 232 2nd Street SE, Mason City or the Iowa
Natural Heritage Foundation, Insurance Exchange Building,
Suite 444, 505 5th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Jim was born Nov. 27, 1923 in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of
Thomas and Agnes (Stockman) Connell. He graduated from
St. Patrick's Parochial School in Iowa City, attended the
University of Iowa and then volunteered for the U.S. Army
in World War II. He served as an enlisted instructor in
the Parachute School in Fort Benning, Ga, was commissioned
as a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, in June 1945 and served in
the European theater. He was recalled to active duty in
1951 and served as a rifle platoon leader with the 3rd
Division in Korea until he was discharged as 1st
Lieutenant in 1952.
He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1949 and
worked at Lampert Lumber Company in Iowa City. He married
Marcia Jean Ashland Sept. 3, 1949 and they moved to Clear
Lake in 1950, where he worked at Woodford-Wheeler Lumber
Company. He served as general manager there for over 50
years. He was general manager of Lake Development
Company from 1954 until his death. Jim was a member of
the Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company Board of
Directors since 1962, serving several years as treasurer.
He served on the Clear Lake Bank and Trust Board of
Directors from 1969 to 2001.
Throughout the years, he was active in a number of
community organizations and served as president of the
following organizations: Clear Lake Economic Development
Corporation (founding member and a board member for many
years), Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Clear Lake
Rotary Club and Toastmasters. He also served as a
director on the All Veterans Social Center Board and is a
longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of
Foreign Wars and a member of Forty and Eight and the
Masonic Lodge. Jim also was chairman of the Board of
Deacons, First Congregational Church and was a director
for the Northwestern Lumbermen's Association, a national
trade organization.
He was one of four local businessmen who re-opened the
Surf in 1970 after it had been closed to ensure it would
continue as a community asset. That group owned it for 24
years. Jim and his family ensured that one of the last
remaining lakeshore woodland properties on Clear Lake
remain undeveloped and open to the public by donating a
permanent conservation easement for the Woodford-Ashland
Lone Tree Woods Nature Area to the Iowa Natural Heritage
Foundation.
Jim is survived by his wife, Marcia, of Clear Lake;
daughter, Sarah Ohlrogge, her husband, Dr. Dennis
Ohlrogge, of Onalaska, Wis.; daughter, Susan
Connell-Magee, her husband, Kevin G. Magee, of Madison,
Wis.; daughter, Janet Lovell and her husband, Thomas
Lovell, of Clear Lake; two grandsons, Christopher Lovell
of Clear Lake and Erik Ohlrogge of Onalaska; two brothers,
William Connell (Dorothe) of Iowa City and Robert Connell
(Evelyn) of Reno, Nev.; numerous nieces and nephews and
grand nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers,
Joseph Connell and Thomas Connell; and a sister, Marie
Johnson.
Loren Eugene (Al)
Alsvig
Loren Eugene (Al)
Alsvig, 61, of
Clear Lake, Iowa died Saturday, May 4, 2002 at the V.A.
Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. A graveside service will be
held Wednesday, May 8, 1:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake
Cemetery. The Rev. Tom Balm will officiate. Military
honors will be provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.
Loren was born Sept. 17, 1940 in Clarion, Iowa, the son
of Ingvald and Gertrude (Amdahl) Alsvig. He grew up in
Clarion and joined the military services in 1958. He
served his country for 20 years as a staff sergeant in the
Marine Corp's until his retirement. He was in the
following fields, Okinawa, Vietnam and the United States.
Loren married Marilyn Schnell in 1960. Together they had
two children, Kathy and David. He married MaryAnn Johnson
in 1971. Together they had a son, Brett. He has lived in
Clear Lake doing small engine repair and propeller
rebuilding.
Loren is survived by his daughter, Kathy Janssen, and her
special friend, Jim Jackson, Clear Lake; two sons, David
Alsvig, Boerne, Texas, and Brett Alsvig, Lake Forest,
Calif.; one step-son, Todd Johnson, Topeka, Kan.; a
sister, Maridean Baker, Marshalltown, Iowa; his
grandchildren, Troy Janssen, Mason City, Iowa, Michael
Janssen, Clear Lake, Adam Janssen, Clear Lake, and Eric
Alsvig, Boerne, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Aaron
Janssen, Mason City, and Sarah Johnson, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Mary
Ann.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel,Clear Lake, is in charge of
arrangements.
Pastor Arnold F. Boehnke
Pastor Arnold F.
Boehnke, 90, of
Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Garner, Iowa, died
Friday, May 3, 2002 at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs.
His funeral is tentatively set for 11:00 a.m., Thursday,
May 9 at St. John's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Carl
Hedberg officiating. Interment will be in the church
cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the
church on Thursday. Cataldo Funeral Home of Garner is in
charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Joint
Seminary Fund, LCMS Foundation, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St.
Louis, MO 63722, Attention: Janelle Sloerke, or Lutheran
Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 46, Sterling Heights, MI
48311-0046.
Pastor Arnold F. Boehnke, the son of Carol August and
Matilda (Dorow) Boehnke, was born Oct. 3, 1911 at Garner.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran
Church. Pastor Boehnke attended St. John's Parochial
School before entering his ministerial training at
Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota. He spent two years
as vicar at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Knoke, Iowa,
teaching eight grades in a one-room Lutheran school and
tending to pastoral duties for the congregation. He
graduated from the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., in
1937. On Sept. 5, 1937 he married Alice Helena Roenfanz at
St. John's Lutheran Church, Garner. During his years in
the ministry, Pastor Boehnke served parishes in Knoke, Ft.
Dodge, and Lake City, Iowa; Great Falls, Montana;
Jefferson, Iowa; as Missionary-at-large for Leadville,
Colo., and the surrounding areas; Ogden, Utah; and
returned to serve Leadville Colorado; and served First
Lutheran Church, Salida, Colo., until he retired from the
active ministry in 1976. While in Lake City, Iowa, he
served as circuit counsel for and as pastoral counselor
for the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. In the
District, he was a member of the Youth Board and Board of
Christian Education. He served as chairman of the Family
Life Committee and the Board of Appeals for the Iowa
District West and the Colorado Districts. While in
Leadville, Pastor Boehnke served as chairman of the county
CROP program and Lake County Board of Health; was a member
of the Mental Health Clinic and the Family Planning
Committee. He served as marriage counselor and counselor
at alcoholics and as a board member of the State Hospital.
Upon retiring, Pastor Boehnke served as vacancy pastor in
Colorado for the congregations of Golden, Kit Carson,
Cheyenne Wells, Sugar City, Rocky Ford, and Bennett, as
well as Shepherd of the Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rev. Boehnke is survived by his wife, Alice, of Colorado
Springs; two sons, the Rev. Richard Boehnke and his wife,
Gayle of Ortonville, Minn., and the Rev. David Boehnke and
his wife, Lynn, of Wheaton, Minn.; a daughter, Lavonne
Lehmpuhl and her husband, William, of Colorado Springs;
also, fourteen grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren; one brother, Arthur Boehnke of
Garner; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers,
Albert, Charles, William and Herman Boehnke; and one
sister, Tillie Hinrichs.
Leo Henry Klein
Leo Henry Klein,
84, of 116 7th Ave. N., Clear Lake, Iowa died Thursday,
May 9, 2002 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason
City, Iowa. Funeral Services were Tuesday, May 14, at St.
Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Robert
Hogan officiating. Interment was in the Clear Lake
Cemetery, with Military honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, was in charge of
arrangements.
Leo was born Nov. 6, 1917 at New Hampton, Iowa the son of
Henry and Anna (Gardner) Klein. He attended and graduated
from Thompson High School in 1937.
Leo took up the occupation of a meat cutter and worked for
National Food Stores. He was inducted in the U.S. Army
Sept 2, 1942. He attended the Automatic Electric
Telephone School, Chicago, Ill. to become a teletype
operator. He served overseas in the campaigns at
Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central
Europe. He received the EAMETO and Good Conduct medals.
He was discharged on Nov. 4, 1945, rank TEC 4.
Following the service he returned to Clear Lake and
continued employment with National Food Stores. He
married Doris Smiley on Oct. 30, 1948 in Clear Lake,
Iowa. They moved to Ames, Iowa for two years where he
managed the meat market, moved back to manage a market in
Mason City and returned to Clear Lake to work for Jensen's
West Side, retiring in 1979.
Leo was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear
Lake, Iowa.
Leo is survived by his wife, Doris, Clear Lake; four
sisters, Rosa Fleming, Marie McClintock, Margaret Wellen
all of Mason City, Iowa and Elizabeth Casey, Terre Haute,
Ind.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents, and older brother, Joseph Klein.
Stanley B. Risvold
Stanley B. Risvold,
71, of 17396 Kingbird Ave., Mason City, Iowa died
Wednesday, May 8, 2002 of a massive heart attack at Willow
Pointe Assisted Living, Mason City. The funeral service
was Monday, May 13, 2002 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial
Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen
officiating. Following the service Stanley was cremated.
Memorials may be made to the Stanley B. Risvold Memorial
Fund.
Stanley was born Jan. 26, 1931 in Spencer, Iowa, the son
of Oscar and Effie J. (Knudtson) Risvold. He graduated
from High View High School. He was enrolled at Iowa State
University but due to the Korean War he enlisted in the
United States Army. He married Norma M. Pedersen Sept.
16, 1951 in Linn Grove, Iowa. After serving in the
military in Fairbanks, Ak. he moved back to the Linn Grove
family farm, which he farmed for thirty years. Stanley
also worked at Wilson Foods as a meat cutter for twenty
years.
After retiring from farming Stanley moved to Minneapolis,
Minn. where his son Robert lived. He worked as a security
guard for Calhoun Towers for ten years. He retired and
moved to Scottsdale, Az. where he enjoyed the sun and
relaxation. In June of 2000 he moved to Mason City to be
closer to his daughters and grandchildren.
Stanley handled his illness with great courage and
dignity. He was a man of few words and expressed his love
through his actions. He was an avid Twins and
Diamondbacks fan. Stanley also enjoyed fishing, playing
catch with his grandchildren, listening to music,
traveling and he was known for his sense of humor.
Stanley is survived by his four children, Denise Vikturek
and her husband, Dave, Mason City, Iowa, Rhonda Hasen and
her husband, Adam, DelMar, Calif., Robert Risvold,
Scottsdale, Az., and Lorna DiMarco and her husband, Nick,
Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Aubrie Vikturek, Lauren
Vikturek, Nicholas DiMarco and Antonio DiMarco; and one
brother, Gordon Risvold and his wife, Delores, Sioux
Rapids, Iowa. His parents preceded him in death.
Joan E. Whitehurst
Joan E. Whitehurst,
63, of Ventura, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at the
North Iowa Mercy Medical Center East Campus, Mason City,
Iowa. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 11, at
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. The Rev. Mark
Doeble officiated. As per her wishes, the body has been
cremated. Memorials may be made to the Joan E. Whitehurst
Memorial Fund.
Joan was born Feb. 23, 1939, in Mason City, Iowa, the
daughter of Tommy and Melva (Tanner) Thompson. She
graduated from Mason City High School in 1957. Following
graduation, Joan worked at several different jobs in Mason
City. Joan married James Whitehurst on Feb. 3, 1962 in
Clear Lake, and farmed north of Clear Lake until 1971.
From 1971 until 1993 she worked for Winnebago Industries
as a secretary. She and Jim started a lawn care business,
retiring in 2000. Joan enjoyed watching activities on the
lake, boating, snowmobiling, bird watching and her
flowers. Her greatest delight was spending time with her
grandchildren, family and friends.
Joan is survived by her husband, Jim Whitehurst,
Ventura; three children, Patty Bethke, Cottonwood, Az.,
Joel Whitehurst and his wife, Milissa, Hastings, Minn. and
Julie Whitehurst-Smith and her husband, Bob, Ft. Dodge,
Iowa; six grandchildren, Chrystal Antosch, Rick Antosch,
Hillary Whitehurst, Hailey Whitehurst, Brett Whitehurst
and Marissa Smith; one great-grandchild, Gabriel Antosch;
a sister, June Norfrey, Merrimack, N.H.; a brother, Mike
Thompson, Mason City, Iowa; and several nieces and
nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, and several
aunts and uncles.
Dennis (Denny) Moen
A
memorial service for Dennis (Denny)
Moen, 50, of
Montgomery, Texas was held Saturday, May 4, 2002 at
Metcalf Funeral Home and Chapel with Mr. Bob Southland and
Pastor Mike Rinehart officiating.
Dennis was born July 24, 1951 in Forest City, Iowa and
passed away April 30, 2002 in Houston, Texas as the result
of a horse riding accident. He was a licensed auctioneer
in Iowa who enjoyed doing local benefit auctions. He was
an avid golfer and horseman.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Arlo and
Maxine Moen. He is survived by his loving wife of 20
years, Marie Moen of Montgomery, Texas; daughters Jody
Moen and her special friend, Dave Kaduce, of Clear Lake
and Betsy Moen of Montgomery, Texas; one sister, Joan
Steenblock and her husband, Leo, of Forest City;
mother-in-law, Ruth Redalen of Montgomery, Texas; nieces
Amber Moen of Forest City and Mickie Steenblock of Forest
City; mentor, Tommy Lynn and numerous other special
friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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