Gertrude "Trudy" Hartnell

November 14, 2001

Gertrude "Trudy" Hartnell, of Stacyville, died on Tuesday, November 6, 2001, at the Stacyville Community Nursing Home.

Funeral services were held on Friday, November 9, at the Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville. Rev. Joseph Schneider officiated. Burial was in the Visitation Cemetery.

Trudy was born on January 2, 1915, the daughter of Fred and Christina (Smith) Pitzen. She graduated from the Visitation High School. For ten years, she worked for the U.S. Government in Des Moines, Cleveland, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois.

On December 27, 1944, she married Burton Hartnell. Trudy was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Christian Mother’s Society. For 27 years she and Bud raced harness horses for a hobby.

Preceding her in death was an infant daughter, Mary; her parents, Fred and Christinia Pitzen; sisters, Amelia Pitzen, Martha Pitzen and Angela May; and brothers, Paul, Bill and Lawrence Pitzen.

Those that survive her include her husband, Burton Hartnell; her brothers, Alfred Pitzen and Robert Pitzen, all of Stacyville; and many nieces and nephews, relatives and other friends.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press

Merland Borchardt

November 14, 2001

Merland Borchardt, age 78, of Osage, died on Wednesday, November 7, 2001, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 10, at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Osage. Rev. Dennis Hanson and Rev. Roy Ott officiated. Interment was in the Osage Cemetery.

Merland was born on May 15, 1923 on a farm near Carpenter, in Newburg Township, Mitchell County, to George W. and Matie (Bartz) Borchardt. The family moved to a farm near Mitchell and he attended the Mitchell Schools.

Merland was baptized at the St. Johns Lutheran Church, Rock Township, by Rev. Gemaelich and confirmed at the Osage Lutheran Church by Rev. T. P. Solem. He was united in marriage to Rosemary Hills on March 20, 1943, at the Osage Lutheran Church, by Rev. T. P. Solem. He farmed in the Osage area his entire life. He retired in 1989 and they moved to Osage.

Merland was a member of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, in Osage, where he held several offices. He was on the Osage Co-op Elevator Board, Faith Lutheran Home Board and was a member of various farm organizations.

Preceding him in death were his parents; one sister, Gertie Boerjan; one brother-in-law, Ben Boerjan; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Those that survive him include his wife, Rosemary of Osage; two daughters, Jane Weaver and her husband, Francis of Mason City and Bette Jo Nelson and her husband, Tom of Osage; five grandchildren, Tony Lack of Baytown, Texas, Tanya Hamilton and her husband, Shawn of Kansas City, Missouri, Jennifer Weaver of Mason City, Brent Weaver and his wife, Julia of Crosby, Texas and Mark Nelson of San Diego, California; great-grandchildren, Manuel, La Quetta and Ciara; one brother, George Borchardt and his wife, Joanne of Holland, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press

Helena Mannetter

Dec. 4, 2001

Helena Mannetter, age 92, of Elma, died on Thursday, November 22, 2001, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 24, at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City. Rev. Mark Anderson officiated. Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery, Charles City.

Helena Evelyn Schmidtke Mannetter, was born on March 16, 1909 in rural Orchard, the daughter of Alexander Ferdinand and Helena Christina (Gruderian) Schmidtke. She was baptized in April of 1909 at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City by Rev. Casselman. As a young girl, she moved with her family to rural Osakis, Minnesota, where she attended the local country District 23 School. In 1926, she graduated from the Osakis High School and continued her education there taking additional secretarial courses the next year. Later she moved back to rural Orchard with her parents. She worked as a housekeeper for the Bill and Clara Wandro family.

On September 6, 1942, she was married to Siegfried Fred Mannetter at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, by Rev. Walter M. Fritschel. The couple lived and farmed in the Deerfield area. In March of 1943, they moved to rural Elma where they farmed and in March of 1953 they moved to to another farm where she was residing at the time of her death.

She was a member of the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City, where she was active in a church circle. Thru the years she was a Mitchell County Extension Council Member, a member of Farm Bureau and the Farm Bureau Women’s Organization. She enjoyed trips with the Osage Senior Center. Most of all, she loved her three grandchildren and her great-granddaughter, Mija.

Preceding her in death was her parents; her husband, Zeke on October 21, 1993; an infant daughter, Diannne Lynne; two sisters, Frances and Ruth; and two brothers, Vernon and Donald.

She is survived by a daughter, Kay (Algie A.) Slindee of Elma; grandchildren, Sonja and husband, Michael Cotton of Charles City, Brent of Elma and Nadia of Cedar Rapids; great-granddaughter, Mija Selenc Cotton; a brother, Harold and wife, Wanda Schmidtke of Oscoda, Michigan; two sisters-in-law, Laura and husband, Wilbur Henry of Charles City and Regina Wise of California; a brother-in-law, Agon and Barbara Mannetter of Charles City; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press

Ann Kluender

December 4, 2001

Ann Kluender, age 90, of Fresno, California and formerly of Osage, died on Friday, November 23, 2001, at her home in Fresno, California.

Funeral services were held on Friday, November 30, at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, south of Osage. Rev. Christian F. Gugel officiated and burial was in the Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Iowa.

She was born on October 8, 1911 in Ackley, Iowa, the first daughter of Harm and Alberdine (Daniels) Eggena. She attended schools in Rockford and Germany. Ann was united in marriage to Vernon Kluender on November 5, 1940. They lived in Waterloo for a year and in 1941 they returned to farming in the German town Aurelia, Rockford and Thornton areas and later farmed near Osage for 12 years, where she also worked at Scotts 5 & 10 in Osage. In 1964 Ann and Vern moved to California.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Vernon; three brothers; three step-brothers; and one step-sister.

Those that survive her include two sons, Daryl Kluender of Orchard and Gary Kluender Sr. and his wife, Mary Ann of Osage; three grandchildren, Gary Kluender, Jr. of Osage, Vernon Kluender of Mason City and Kathleen Kluender of Sheffield; two great-grandchildren, Brett Kluender and Arianna Kluender of Osage; two sister-in-laws, Irene Eggena of Mason City and Gertrude Eggena of Charles City; one step-brother, Bill Litchen of Mason City; two half-sisters, Helen Siefkin of Osage and Mae Thompson of Denver, Colorado; and one half-brother, Harm Eggena, Jr. of Rockford.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press

Hazel L. Ball

December 4, 2001

Hazel L. Ball, age 90, of Osage, died on Wednesday, November 28, 2001, at her home.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 1, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage. Rev. Jerry Newland and the Rev. Karen Nichols Dungan officiated. Interment was in the Osage Cemetery.

Hazel Heller Ball, was born on August 11, 1911 in Greene County, near Jefferson, Iowa. She was the daughter of John Francis “Frank” and Ida (Osborn) Heller. She was a baptized member of the First Baptist Church in Osage and was a faithful member until the time of her passing. Hazel attended the Grant School, rural Mitchell County, for eight years, then the Orchard High School for two years. She was employed by the Mitchell County Hospital for 27 1/2 years.

On July 20, 1935, she was united in marriage to Arno L. Ball. To this union three children were born, Donita Johnson (deceased), Merlyn Ball and Lodema Cockrum. Arno passed away in January 1966.

Hazel enjoyed sewing, many crafts, fishing, eating out with friends and most of all her family.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Arno; three older brothers, Ralph, Verl and Donald; a sister, Vava who died in infancy; her daughter, Donita and son-in-law, Clyde Johnson.

Left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory are her son, Merlyn Ball and wife, Betty of Mesa, Arizona; daughter, Lodema Cockrum and her husband, Jim of Nora Springs; five grandchildren, Diane (Ball) Wegner and her husband, Lyle of Redfield, South Dakota and their children, Taylor, Cole and Carter; Duane Ball and his son, Sturgis of Brookings, South Dakota; Kevin Cockrum and his wife, Lynn of Schertz, Texas and their daughters, Amber and Rebekah; Karla (Cockrum) Lane and her sons, C.J. and Andrew of Mason City; Keith Cockrum and his wife, Lisa of Osage and their sons, Ross and Joe; and many nieces and nephew and good and trusted neighbors and friends.

She was a true steward of her many talents and will be sorely missed by many. Hazel touched many hearts in her life and although they were broken at this time, with God’s healing hands those also will be healed.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press

Grace Margrette (Nelson) Anderson

December 4, 2001

Grace Margrette (Nelson) Anderson, age 87, formerly of Mona and Lyle, died on Thursday, November 29, 2001, at the White Bear Lake Care Center, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held on Monday, December 3, at the Mona Lutheran Church. Rev. Lydia Mittag officiated.  Burial was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona.

Grace was born the daughter of Fred and Carrie (Johnson) Nelson on February 8, 1914 in Mitchell County. She was baptized and confirmed at the Mona Lutheran Church. She was a member of Mona Lutheran and presently a member of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, North St. Paul, Minnesota.

Grace attended the Mona Grade School and graduated from the Lyle High School as Valedictorian in 1931. She graduated from the Calhoun Business School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1933.

Grace married Harlis Anderson on November 29, 1933, at Harlis parents' home by the Rev. O.M. Langhough. They lived in Mona, Lyle, and Austin, before moving to North St. Paul, Minnesota. She worked many years for the Anchor Casualty Insurance Company, St. Paul.

Grace was quite musical and both she and Harlis played on the radio in Austin and Albert Lea. They also entertained in nursing homes and were active in the Sons of Norway. The couple took two trips to Norway to do research on their ancestry and found some living relatives.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harlis in 1994; her parents; and four brothers, Ernest, Morris, Harlan and Clayton.

Those that survive her include one brother, Vernon and wife, Pearl Nelson of Conger, Minnesota; one sister-in-law, Bernett Nelson of Austin, Minnesota; many nieces and nephews and God children; four cousins; and very special friends Carol and Jack Duedeck and family.
© 2001 Mitchell County Press