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Obituaries on this page:
A. Agnew
Ruby E. Hoyt
L.B. "Mike" Wolfe
Norma Jean "Johnson" Kirchgatter
Allen Myklestad
Phyllis I. Beam
Timothy R. Phalen
Robert Wesley
Harrington
Inh Van Luong
Dean P. Tompkins
Peter Nathan Smith
Opal D. Mathre
Arlin C. Olsen
Velora Jacqueline Tefft
Richard "Richie" Ray McColley
Jr.
A. Agnew
A. Agnew, 91, Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake,
died Sunday, July 31, 2005 at Mercy Medical Center, Mason City, Iowa. A funeral
service will be held Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Galilean Lutheran Church, Hwy 18 W.,
Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jeff Ungs officiating. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m.
at the Coulter Cemetery, Coulter, Iowa. Memorials may be given to Galilean
Lutheran Church in her name.
Della was born July 5, 1914 at Latimer, Iowa, the daughter of Chris B. and
Minnie (Riis) Johansen. She attended Latimer schools graduating from Latimer
High School in 1931. She attended Dana College in Blair, Neb. Della worked at
Latimer State Bank for 10 years. She married John Agnew Jan. 24, 1945 in
Coulter. John and Della farmed in the Coulter area until they retired and moved
to Clear Lake in the spring of 1979.
John and Della loved to dance, especially square dancing. She loved playing the
piano, baking and cooking. She was a member of Galilean Lutheran Church.
Della is survived by her sister, Dorothy Thomsen, Clear Lake; sisters-in-law,
Vera Johansen, Northfield, Minn. and Neva Johansen, Latimer; brother-in-law,
Richard Azeltine, Chatsworth, Calif. and several nieces and nephews.
Della was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John on April 3, 2003
and two brothers, Lewis and Earl Johansen.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
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Ruby E. Hoyt
Ruby E. Hoyt, 92, of rural Garner, Iowa passed
away Monday, Aug. 1, 2005 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. A funeral
service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N.
4th St., Clear Lake, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, with Richard Scott, Lay Assistant, of
Zion Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Cemetery,
Garner. Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service at Ward-Van
Slyke. Memorials may be given to the Ruby E. Hoyt Memorial Fund.
Ruby Eva Hoyt was born July 4, 1913 in rural Goodell, Hancock County, Iowa to
Charles and Amanda (Willer) Halfpop. Ruby graduated from Goodell High School in
1931. She was united in marriage to Emmett D. Hoyt on July 3, 1934 at Britt,
Iowa. They had two children. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church.
Ruby and Emmett farmed together all of their married life, living on the same
farm since 1946. She took an active part in the farming and after retirement in
1978, continued to live on the farm. Even after retirement she would help out
with chores, etc. until she was no longer able. They enjoyed spending summers
in Minnesota on fishing trips.
Ruby was a quilt maker, making quilts for all of her grandchildren. She also
enjoyed knitting and crocheting. One of her quilts won a purple ribbon at the
North Iowa Fair. Ruby enjoyed cooking and read cookbooks instead of novels.
She was always trying out new recipes. You couldn't enter her kitchen without
being fed. She continued to feed the "farmhands" until age 90 when she broke
her hip.
She loved her family and cherished Christmas when they were all together.
She will be missed by her family and friends: son, Robert and his wife, Pat,
Garner; daughter, Dixie Boehnke, Clear Lake; grandchildren, Twyla Coe and her
fiancé, David Schrader, Melody Coe, and Suzanne Copas and husband, Tim;
great-grandchildren, Joshua Coe, Amanda Johnson and her husband, Troy and
children, Alexis, Cade and Coy, Sandra Coe and her children, Brenna and Jackson;
Sarah Myers and her husband, Eric and son, Jacob and Krystal Copas; sister,
Gladys McNutt of Fargo, N.D.; dear friend and roommate, Eloise Prescott; many
nieces and nephews.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Emmett in 1995; sisters,
Edith Hubbard, Margaret Christie; brother, Paul Halfpop and sister-in-law, Elsie
Frandson.
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L.B. "Mike" Wolfe
L.B. "Mike" Wolfe, 94, of rural Fertile, Iowa
died Friday, Aug.. 5, 2005 at the USA Heathcare, Mason City, Iowa. A funeral
service was held Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, Forest
City, with Pastors Robert Snitzer and Lindsay Jordan officiating. Burial was at
the Brush Point Cemetery, rural Fertile.
L.B. "Mike" Wolfe was born April 17, 1911 in Blairstown, Iowa the son of Arthur
and Alma (Dolge) Wolf. He attended school in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and
Forest City.
Mike married Ruth Myhre on Aug. 26, 1936 in Fertile. They farmed in the
Fertile-Forest City area. He enjoyed working together with his neighbors.
Mike also did custom work, such as combining and baling.
He loved his family and liked to "romp" with his grandchildren and tell
stories. They will always remember grandpa with his striped overalls. Mike
enjoyed watching boxing and was once a boxer in his younger days. He was an avid
Iowa Hawkeye Football Fan. He also enjoyed fishing in northern Minnesota and
Ontario, Canada, and woodworking.
Mike was a member of the Fertile Lutheran Church and later Pilot Knob Lutheran
Church, Fertile Consolidated School Board of Education, board of the Fertile
Creamery, and the Fertile Lion's Club. He also was the Cerro Gordo Weed
Commissioner for several years.
Mike is survived by his four children: Deanna Jordan and her husband, Raymond,
Fertile; Harold Wolfe, Clear Lake; Robert Wolfe and his wife, Sandra, Clear
Lake; and Linda Nuehring and her husband, Lowell, Clear Lake; 14 grandchildren;
19 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth; son, Bernard; brothers,
Marvin and Kenneth, and sisters, Greta Hansler, Maxine Otis, and Marian Waller.
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Norma
Jean "Johnson" Kirchgatter
Norma Jean "Johnson" Kirchgatter, 45, of Mason
City, Iowa died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit,
Mason City. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, with the Rev. Thomas Healey
officiating. Family suggests memorials to Norma Jean Kirchgatter.
Norma was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Norman L. and Sandra
J.(Rasmuson) Johnson. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.
She attended school in Clear Lake. She enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and
abroad. Norma married Tom Kirchgatter on May 27, 1994 in Mason City. Norma had
been battling cancer for 10 years and was a fighter right up until the end.
Norma was always smiling and had a positive attitude. Norma enjoyed cooking,
flowers, her cats and spending time with her family - especially her son, Lucas.
Norma is survived by her husband, Tom Kirchgatter, Mason City; a daughter,
Mindy, (Jason) Floyd, Mary Esther, Fla. and a son, Lucas Kirchgatter, Mason
City; a brother, Allen Norman Johnson and a sister, Sheral (Dennis) Abbott, a
nephew, Zachary Abbott and a niece, Alicia Abbott, all of Clear Lake; along with
aunts and uncles.
Norma was proceeded in death by her parents and a son, Luther.
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.
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Allen Myklestad
Allen Myklestad, 85, Mason City, Iowa died
Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at the Good Shepherd Care Center in Mason City.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 11, at the
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126-3rd Street NE, Mason City, with the Rev.
Sam Hamilton-Poore of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation will be
held from 4 until 7 p.m.. on Wednesday and one hour prior to service time on
Thursday at the chapel.
The family of Allen Myklestad has requested that memorial contributions be made
to Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City Fire Department Honor Guard, or to KCMR
Radio in his memory.
Allen Myklestad was born on May 14, 1920, on a farm near Emmons, Minn., the son
of Lars Meyer and Velma (McDowell) Myklestad. He attended rural grade school in
the area and graduated from Forest City High School in 1937. Allen was inducted
into the Army-Air Corps on Feb. 6, 1943, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and served in
the Burma Theater area with the 51st Flight Control Squadron until his honorable
discharge on Dec. 14, 1946, at Ft. Leavenworth as a Staff Sergent.
He was united in marriage to Frances A. Quam Eckert on Feb. 6, 1947, in the
Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
Throughout his life Allen was employed as a carpenter and cement finisher in the
Mason City and North Iowa area. He loved his work and helped build hundreds of
homes until his retirement in the spring of 1980.
Allen loved to be outdoors, but his great love and enjoyment was his wife,
children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and spending time with them.
Allen was baptized and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation
at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City. He had been a lifelong member of
the church.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Frances Myklestad of Mason City; his
children, Roger Myklestad and his wife, Elizabeth, of Ottertail, Minn., Karen
Brockett and her husband, John, of Plano, Texas, Jim Myklestad and his wife,
Mary, of Mason City, and Linda Myklestad of Ft. Collins, Colo.; eight
grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Melvin Myklestad of Garner,
Iowa; a sister, Gladys Baker of Clear Lake, as well as other relatives and many
friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Beulah Rothamel.
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Phyllis I. Beam
Phyllis I. Beam, 92, Hampton Health Care Center,
Hampton, Iowa, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 at the Franklin County General
Hospital, Hampton. A memorial service was held Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Faith
Baptist Church in Hampton. Memorials may be given to the Phyllis Beam Memorial
Fund.
Phyllis was born Feb. 8, 1913, in Deep River, Iowa, the daughter of Samuel W.
and Ella Mae (Ringle) Jacobs. She attended and graduated from Barnes City High
School in 1929. She married Jesse Niewald in 1929. They lived in Barnes City.
In 1935, Phyllis married Ronald Beam in Montezuma, Iowa, where they owned and
operated the Beam Bakery. During World War II, Ronald and Phyllis both worked
at a munition plant in Iowa; Phyllis was a forklift operator. After the war,
they moved to the Chicago area where Ronald worked for John Deere until his
death in 1963. Phyllis worked for Darling & Co. as a secretary until her
retirement. She then moved to Florida. When her health began to fail, she
moved to Nebraska, and later to Hampton.
Phyllis enjoyed doing many kinds of crafts. She
was very involved in the Methodist Church and was a former member of the Moose
Lodge. While she lived in Hampton, she attended Faith Baptist Church with her
family.
Phyllis is survived by her daughter, Patricia Stilfield, Hampton; her son,
Thomas Beam and his wife, Linda, Coleridge, Neb.; 13 grandchildren; 29
great-grandchildren and 32 great-great-grandchildren.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her second husband, Ronald Beam;
two brothers, Clair and Samuel; one sister, Gertrude; and one son, Donald Beam.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
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Timothy R. Phalen
Timothy R. Phalen, 76, of 821 2nd Street SE,
Mason City, Iowa, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005, at the Muse Norris Hospice
Inpatient Unit, Mason City, after a long battle of Parkinson's and heart disease
and complications due to chronic renal failure.
A funeral Mass was held Monday, Aug. 22, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mason
City, with Father Harry H. Koelker officiating. Internment was at the Elmwood-
St. Joseph Cemetery with full military honors conducted by members of Mason City
Veteran's Memorial Association.
Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa, which will be used to maintain
and fill bird feeders at the Inpatient Unit, and to the MacNider Art Museum.
Timothy Richard Phalen was born on April 23, 1929 in Mason City. He is the son
of Timothy and Nina (Cowan) Phalen. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School
through eighth grade, and graduated from Mason City High School. He then
attended Mason City Junior College. He was inducted in the United States Air
Force in the 727th A.C.&W. Squadron. He was a Tactical Radar Technician, serving
in Texas, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, and
Mississippi. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. While in the Air
Force he learned to fly a small aircraft, soloing in 1954 in Coonemesett, Mass.
He always had a passion for airplanes and as a youth was involved with flying
model airplanes, attending the nationals in Kansas and Minnesota. Upon leaving
the Air Force, Tim joined the family business at Phalen Cleaners, until his
retirement 36 years later in 1991.
Tim married Mary Lou Ehlers on Aug. 13, 1954, and they had three children,
David, Judy, and Cynthia. Later he was united in marriage to Jacque Simon on
Dec. 12, 2002.
Tim was an active lifetime member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Many will remember him as a local artist who brought his love of the
out-of-doors to the canvas. He was very active in the North Iowa Artist League.
He attended many art festivals and had numerous one-man shows. His interest in
art led him to be a docent at the MacNider Art Museum for seven to eight years
and where he also conducted several art classes. He also enjoyed designing and
painting sets for the Stebens Children's Theatre and the Mason City Community
Theatre.
Tim was an avid bird watcher. For years he would make weekly treks around the
area with fellow birders, seeking out their feathered friends. He was a member
of the North Iowa Nature Club and Lime Creek Nature Center, where he did various
volunteer projects.
Those who knew Tim remember him as an extremely active person. He was in a
bowling league, square dance club, and almost always was reading a book or
working on a crossword puzzle. The outdoors man in him enjoyed camping with his
family all over the U.S.; downhill and cross-country skiing in Colorado,
Minnesota, and Iowa; biking the area trails, and participating in three
RAGBRAI's; playing tennis and golf; and traveling forty states, Canada, France,
Holland, and Belgium. He also enjoyed the water on sailboats, canoes, kayaks,
and iceboats. He and his family also crewed on a three-masted schooner in Maine.
Music was an important part of Tim's life. He loved jazz and easy listening. He
also spent many evenings at the Surf, dancing to the tunes of the big bands.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Jacque Simon, Mason City; Mary Lou Phalen,
Mason City, and their three children, David Phalen and his wife, Jane, Clear
Lake; Judy Delperdang and husband, Dave, Clear Lake; and Cynthia Rasmusson and
her husband, Mark, Clear Lake; seven grandchildren, Christopher, Anna, Emily,
Geoffrey, Tim, Michelle, and Kyle; and a sister, Jean Paulson and her husband,
Bob, Mason City.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Nina and Tim; a brother, Dan, and a
sister, Colleen.
Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.
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Robert
Wesley Harrington
Robert Wesley Harrington, 82, Clear Lake, died
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City,
Iowa. A funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Clear Lake United
Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jan R. Burnett officiating. Full military rites
were conducted, following the service at the church, by the Clear Lake V.F.W.
Interment will be at a later date in the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Robert was born June 27, 1923, on the family farm in Murdo, S.D., the son of
Raymond W. and Twila L. (Clark) Harrington. They moved to a farm in Vermillion,
S.D. and he attended and graduated from Vermillion Schools in 1941. At the age
of 17, Bob became interested in boxing. He was self trained, built his own
boxing ring and trained more than 200 young boys. Bob was one of the best
boxers in South Dakota. After high school Bob continued to work on his father's
farm until being drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944. He worked as a radio
operator on a ship all over the Pacific until the end of the war. He then
returned back to the family farm.
Bob met Ethel Millage at a social dance and the rest is history. They married
Dec. 14, 1947 and bought a farm outside Vermillion. A while later they moved
into town and Bob started carpentry work. They later moved to Yankton, S.D.
where Bob was the first worker at the Gavins Point Dam. He became the Chief
Steward of the Union. In 1956, he took a job with Henkle Construction in Mason
City. Soon after he went into the insurance industry and moved to Clear Lake on
the north shore. Robert became one of the top 10 insurance salesmen in the USA
for Lincoln Liberty Life. He had the honor of being in the Appa Week Club for
15 1/2 years for selling at least one policy a week. Robert continued in the
insurance business until 1995 when he retired.
He was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, the Clear Lake V.F.W.,
the Masonic Lodge (Worshipful Master), the Eastern Star, and White Shrine.
Some of his fondest memories are of watching his children grow up and then
watching his five grandchildren grow. Family has always been everything to
Robert and his desire to be close to them and help them achieve their goals has
been clearly seen in all he has done.
He has also enjoyed his trips to Acapulco, Mexico, and the Black Hills in South
Dakota. He loved to go camping, fishing, and most of all hunting for rabbits
and pheasant. Robert gives this advice: "Be a fighter! Go to the top of
wherever you are at! Never give up! Love your family and stick to teamwork!"
Ethel says that her husband has never been a quitter. He has also always put
every effort into loving people and truly showing he cares. She says that he
has always been a quiet man and has never had much to say, but you can see his
faith shining through in everything. He knows that the Lord has been taking
care of him, especially through the hard times.
Growing up on the farm in South Dakota, Bob's father took great pride in
celebrating Christmas to the fullest. The tree went up early and the entire
house was decorated. Bob continued this tradition for his children and
grandchildren.
As expressed by his granddaughter, Sheri Riley, in 1997, "What I admire the most
in my Grandpa Robert is what I have seen in the last two years through all his
physical difficulties. He has shown me true perseverance when all the odds have
been against him. Instead of giving up when doctors said there was not much of
a chance, grandpa kept fighting! With God's strength he has overcome many
obstacles. His life is a true miracle!" Eight years later, her words became
only too true.
Robert is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ethel Harrington, Clear Lake; two
sons, David Harrington and his wife, Janelle, Clear Lake; and Steven Harrington
and his wife, Phyllis, Sioux City, Iowa; one daughter, Pam Riley and her
husband, Scott, Burnsville, Minn.; five grandchildren, John Harrington and his
wife, Kristie, Oklahoma City, Okla., Sheri Prescott and her husband, Tony,
Sierra Vista, Az., Willem Riley, Burnsville, Adam and Amber Harrington, Sioux
City; four great-grandchildren, Bethany, Brandon, and Bailey Harrington, and
Savannah Prescott; and several nieces and nephews.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Elaine Phinney; brother,
Gordon Harrington and an infant sister.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
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Inh Van Luong
Inh Van Luong, 78, of Clear Lake, died Friday,
Aug. 19, 2005, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake. Funeral services were
held Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with
the Rev. Dean Hess and Koung, Hoang Van officiating. Inurnment took place
Monday in the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Inh Van Luong was born on March 27, 1927, in Sonla, Vietnam, the son of Theung,
Luong Van and Gea Luong Thi. He was united in marriage to Ouane Thi Quang in
1947, in Vietnam. She preceded him in death on Dec. 2, 2003. After their
marriage Inh served in the French Army in Vietnam until his discharge in the
early 1950's. After his discharge from the French Army he moved to Laos and
worked for the French Government for 20 years. He came to America in 1978 and
Inh and his family were sponsored by the Zion Lutheran Church. Inh worked for a
plastic molding company in Clear Lake for a few years until he retired.
He loved fishing, hunting, and gardening.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.
He is survived by his children, Luong Van Phuc and family of Tacoma, Wash.,
Luong Van Xuong and family of Clear Lake, Luong Van Hoa and family of Denison,
Iowa, Rattanasone Vieng and family of Boston, Mass., Boun Reimer and family of
Clear Lake, Senephannarath and family of Denver, Colo., Luong Van Hac of Denver,
and Luong Vikan and family of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; three
great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Dam Quang of Clear Lake.
Besides his wife, Ouane Thi Quang, he was also preceded in death by his parents.
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Dean P. Tompkins
Dean P. Tompkins, 75, of Garner, Iowa died
Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City,
Iowa
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Garner.
Music was provided by organist Mary Kopacek who accompanied soloist, Doug Hayes,
and a congregational hymn. Ushers were Maynard and Marvin Schoneman. Casket
bearers were Claire Tompkins, Gabe Stearns, Allen Tompkins, Larry Tompkins,
Zachary Tompkins, Michael Beaver, Mark Hiscocks and Jerry Zwald. Burial was in
Concord Township Cemetery. Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.
Dean P. Tompkins, the son of Purd and Viola (Burnham) Tompkins, was born Nov.
15, 1929 in Concord Township, Hancock County. He graduated from Garner High
School in 1947. On Aug. 20, 1949 he married Betty Johnson at the United
Methodist Church in Garner. They lived on a farm south of Garner where Dean
farmed with his father and brother, Claire. He retired from farming in 1987 and
continued to live on the home place. In his retirement Dean and Betty enjoyed
spending time at their cabin in the Lake of the Woods. His passion was hunting,
fishing and trapping.
He was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church in Garner.
Dean is survived by his wife, Betty, of Garner; three children, Allen (Marian)
Tompkins and their two children, Sarah and Zachary of Clear Lake, Larry (Sandi)
Tompkins of Urbandale, Iowa and Beth (Michael) Beaver and son, Gabe Stearns, of
Garner; a brother, Claire (Bettylou) Tompkins of Garner; a niece, Julie
(Richard) Bahlmann of Urbandale; and a nephew, Jay Tompkins of Dallas, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara, March 19, 2000; his parents;
and a sister, Ruth Tompkins, in 1935.
Berniece V. Lenning, died Sept. 26, 2004. A graveside Inurnment will be held
Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, 1 p.m. at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Marion J. Lenning
Grau, daughter of Berniece and Clarence Lenning, will also be inurned at that
time. Marion died Sept. 20, 1994 at her home in Le Sueur, Minn.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.
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Peter Nathan
Smith
Peter Nathan Smith, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) U.S.
Air Force, 63, beloved husband of 29 years to Retta Jan Miller Smith, died on
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005, at Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, S.C.
Peter was born in Mason City, Iowa, the son of the late Ralph Maxwell Smith and
Ruth Hannah Miller Smith. He grew up in Clear Lake and graduated from Clear Lake
High School. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant after more than 26 years in
the U.S. Air Force; previously he had served in the Marine Corps for three
years. He was a combat controller and a member of the Commando Association. He
later retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was an avid photographer, loved
carpentry and was a wonderful devoted husband and father. He was a member of the
Bethesda Church of God.
Surviving in addition to his wife are five sons, Zachary Smith, Joshua Smith and
Duane Smith of Washington, D.C., Corey Smith, currently serving with the U.S.
Army in Iraq and Seth Smith of Sumter, currently a student at the University of
Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.; two sisters, Judy Smith of Seattle, Wash., and
Jane Smith Arevalo of Leavenwarth, Kan. He is survived by three cousins, Ruth
Lease, John Miller, Tom Miller, Nancy Mullan and Fred Banks, all of Clear Lake.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Eugene Miller.
Funeral services with full military honors will be held Wednesday, Aug. 24, 11
a.m., in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Al Sims officiating.
Burial will be held in the Family Gardens Cemetery in Madison, W. Va.
Memorials may be made to The Unmet Needs Program, VFW Foundation, 406 West 34th
St., Suite 514, Kansas City, Mo. 64111.
Online messages may be sent to the family at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.
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Opal D. Mathre
Opal D. Mathre, 82, 1000 N. Eisenhower, Mason
City, Iowa, formerly of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 in Mason City
at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Due to her wishes she will be cremated and
there will be no services. Family suggests memorials to Hospice Of North Iowa.
Opal was born Feb. 7, 1923, in Klemme, Iowa, the daughter of Chris and May E. (McDorman)
Back. She graduated from Ventura High School in 1940. She was a beautician for
many years, having graduated from LaJames Beauty College in 1941. Opal married
T.H. Mathre in 1942 and they had three children, Tom, Julie and Tammy. In 1969
she went back to school and became a licensed practical nurse and worked in that
capacity at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Knoxville, Iowa until her
retirement in 1980.
Opal is survived by her daughter, Julie Montgomery, Mason City, and son Tom,
Oskaloosa, Iowa; two grandchildren, Darcy Madden, Mason City, and Mike Raab and
his wife, Kelly, Littleton, Colo. and three great-grandchildren, Derek, Josie
and Calvin.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tilford on April 28,
1989; daughter, Tammy Irene Mathre and two brothers, Leo and Gerald "Pete"
Back.
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Arlin C. Olsen
Arlin C. Olsen, age 89, a longtime resident of
Klemme, Iowa and a native of Clear Lake, died, Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 at the
Belmond Medical Center in Belmond.
Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m. at Klemme United
Methodist Church. The Rev. Paddy Druhl officiated. Burial was in the Ell
Township Cemetery, Klemme. The family suggests memorials to the donor's wishes.
Arlin, the son of Knute and Aleta (Rear) Olson was born June 9, 1916 on his
parent's farm in rural Clear Lake. He attended Eden Country School and Union #
2.
Arlin or "Ole" as many people knew him began his lifelong love and devotion to
trucking in his youth. By age 11 he had built his first truck using a Model T
car frame and used the gas tank he installed on the frame as his seat. He later
graduated to a 1938 Ford Truck which he used to haul hogs for area farmers to
Mason City. As the years went by he hauled countless trips all over the regions
of Iowa and to St. Paul, Minn.
Arlin was united in marriage to Christina Schwartz on July 6, 1946 at the Little
Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. Their partnership of nearly 60 years was blessed
with four sons, Merlyn, Harland, Randy, and Roger, and one daughter, Corrine
(Susie) Olsen. Roger preceded Arlin in death.
Following their marriage they resided south of Clear Lake for a time and later
moved to Klemme.
Over the years much of Arlin's trucking was done at night so that he could do
farm work during the days. He did custom combining from 1944-49 in addition to
his trucking and when he was too busy to drive truck Christina would fill that
role. In 1949 he purchased a semi-tractor and entered the trucking business
full-time. In 1972 he and his wife quit their trucking business. At that time
Christina began driving school bus and Arlin switched to driving a U.S. Mail
truck, hauling First Class Mail out of the Postal Service Bulk Mail Center in
Minneapolis, Minn. His route ran seven days per week for the next 13 years,
covering 800 miles roundtrip from the Twin Cities to Omaha, Neb. and back.
Arlin's dedication to the trucking profession carried him on journeys of more
than 100,000 average miles per year between 1942 and 1985. Arlin retired in
1985. He continued to remain very active working on cars, trucks, and lawn
mowers at the couple's home in Klemme. Even in the last few weeks of his life he
could still be found tinkering and fixing lawn mowers.
Arlin will be remembered by his family and friends for his warm and uncanny
sense of humor. Always ready to share a joke with his family and friends. His
grandkids will remember their annual Christmas allowances from Grandpa Ole, the
joy he received from teasing them and being teased in return, and for his
unending supply of peppermint candies. His wife and children will remember him
as a wonderful, warm, and hardworking spouse and dad. Many farmer's who he
hauled livestock for over the years will remember Arlin's special and very
efficient technique of allowing the livestock to load their own way on to the
truck while he and the farmers visited over a cup of coffee.
In recent years Arlin looked forward to the daily visits to the Klemme School
for senior dining and fellowship with friends.
Those left to cherish the memory of his life include his wife, Christina Olsen,
a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center; his sons, Merlyn Olson and wife,
Audrey, Santa Maria, Calif., Harland Olsen and wife, Janet, Mason City, Iowa,
and Randy Olsen and wife, Monica, Garner, Iowa; his daughter, Corrine (Susie)
Olsen, Klemme; and daughter-in-law, Linda Olson, Ventura, ; nine grandchildren:
Doni and husband, Bill Schaefer; Denette Olson; Deanne and husband, Mike Luis;
Greg and wife, Kim Olson; Ryan and wife, Tina Olsen; Shannon and husband, Gary
Graves; Jim Olsen; Jenn Olsen; Dan Olson and wife, Eenja; 16
great-grandchildren; Will, Sarah, and Evan Schaefer; Lane, Levi, and Aubrey
Luis; Jacob, Daniel, and Nicole Olson; Zachary and Caitlin Olson; Riley and
Wyatt Olsen; Alex and Bailey Graves; and a brother, Clare Olson, Clear Lake.
Arlin was anxiously anticipating the arrival of "Baby Graves."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Knute and Aleta; sisters, Gladys Bier
and Mildred Van Laere; his son, Roger, on March 4, 1997 and an infant brother
and sister.
Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
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Velora
Jacqueline Tefft
Velora Jacqueline Tefft, 77, died Sunday Aug. 28,
2005, at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
Her funeral service was held Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Ward Van Slyke Colonial
Chapel, Clear Lake, with Steve Quintus officiating. Private family inurnment
will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa and Kingdom Hall, Garner,
Iowa.
Velora Jacqueline Swain was born May 28, 1928, in Ogden, Iowa, the daughter of
Roy Alvin and Velora Imogene (Morgan) Swain.
Velora graduated from Clear Lake High School and Hamilton's Business College,
Mason City. She was united in marriage to Ronald William Tefft on Oct. 21,
1950. To this union five children were born. Velora worked for Mercy Medical
Center North Iowa, retiring after 19 years of service. She was a faithful
member of the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in Garner. She enjoyed practicing
her faith, cross word puzzles, traveling, and spending time with her family and
friends.
Velora is survived by her children, Ronald (Cheri) Tefft, of Council Bluffs,
Iowa; Debra Drake, of Washington, Utah; Michael Tefft, of Clear Lake; Carleton
(Diane) Tefft, of Mason City, Iowa; Laura (Randy) Kunkel, of Wesley, Iowa; nine
grandchildren; two great grandchildren; a brother, Clarence (Pearl) Swain, of
Keister, Minn.; sisters, Georgia (Clarence) Norem, of Clear Lake, and Karen
(Larry) Moats, of Middleton, Idaho; along with aunts, nieces, nephews, and
friends.
Velora was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers, Maurice and
Eugene Swain.
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Richard "Richie" Ray McColley Jr.
Richard "Richie" Ray McColley Jr., 38, 516 7th Ave N., Clear Lake, IA, died
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa.
A visitation with his family will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30, 4 - 7:30 p.m. at
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake.
Richie was born April 8, 1967 at Savanna, Ill., the son of Richard Ray and Ruth
Elaine (Chadwick) McColley Sr. He graduated from Savanna High School and then
attended trade school in carpentry. He worked at ElKay Manufacturing as
material handler in Lanark, Ill. Later he worked at Dura Manufacturing at
Stockton, Ill. Richie moved to Clinton, Iowa and on to Clear Lake. Richie
married Crystal Griffith on Dec. 30, 2004 in Mason City. He worked at A.C.T. in
Northwood, Iowa as a forklift operator. He owned Country Style Crafts and he
sold woodworking products through the internet. Richie enjoyed woodworking and
developing websites, but most of all he enjoyed being with his friends and
family.
Richie is survived by his wife, Crystal McColley, Clear Lake; his parents,
Richard Ray and Ruth Elaine McColley Sr., Sabula, Iowa; his son, Brandon
McColley and his daughter, Haley McColley, both of Lanark, Ill; two
step-children Michael Griffith and Jordan VanHorn, both of Clear Lake; two
brothers, Shawn McColley, Council Bluffs, Iowa and Russell (Shannon) McColley,
Hanover, Ill.; four sisters, Christine Drury and Bobbie Jo Hammond, both of
Camanche, Iowa, Tracy Marie (Wesley) Hook, Clinton, Iowa and Sally (Jesse) Tague,
Clinton; and maternal grandmother, Mary Chadwick, Savanna, Ill.
Richie was preceded in death by his brother, Seth; paternal grandparents, Ronald
and Mona McColley and maternal grandfather, Earl Chadwick.
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