José Luís García Oller, an internationally known neurosurgeon, died on Thursday, May 23, 2002 at Memorial Medical Center, Mercy Campus, New Orleans. He was 79.

Dr. García-Oller was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He was the son of José Leocadio García and Laura Oller. He received a Bachelor of Science degree at age 19 from the University of Puerto Rico; Medical degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Master of Medical Science in neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Graduate Medicine; and Ph.D. (ABT) in physiology, Tulane University, and was a fellow in neuropathology at Yale University.

He was chief of neurosurgery at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and served on the staffs of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Flint-Goodridge Hospital, Sara Mayo Hospital, St. Claude General Hospital, and Montelepre Hospital. He was senior medical staff member in neurosurgery at Memorial Medical Center's Mercy Campus. He was chief of staff at Mercy Hospital in 1968 and founder of their intensive care unit, and head of EEG, EMG, ultrasound and neuroradiology. He specialized in the most challenging neurological cases. He was honored in January for more than fifty years of continuous service on the medical staff at MMC.

From 1968 to 1988, he served as founder and CEO of the Council of Medical Staffs, later Private Doctors of America, the second largest medical association in the United States at the time. CMS was a nationwide organization dedicated to preserving the freedom of private medical practice. He testified frequently before Congress, championing patients' and physicians' freedom of choice in medical decision-making. He was also a strong nurses' advocate. He founded the CMS Educational, Scientific and Research Foundation, 1972 to 1988, and Private Doctors of Australia. He assisted in drafting and testifying on behalf of the Louisiana Malpractice Arbitration Law, enacted in 1975.

He was instructor of physiology at Tulane Medical School; long-term board member of the New Orleans Area Health Planning Council; author and international lecturer. He was certified in neurosurgery, neuroradiology, EMG, CT Scanning, and MRI. His patents in the neuroradiology field included the García-Oller Axioencephalographic Chair; García-Oller Head-Support and Cassette Holder; García-Oller Myelography Support; Axial Radiography Chair; and Pivotal X-Ray Apparatus. He was the first in Louisiana to introduce stereotaxic cerebral neurosurgery, stereotaxic percutaneous cordotomy, and EEG.

He served in active duty in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, as Commander Medical Corps USNR,1954 - 56, and was head of neurosurgery/neurology at the United States Naval Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps Base, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He served as Second Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1938 - 45; and as Commander, USNR, New Orleans Medical Reserve Unit, from 1956 - 1962.

He was member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis, American Medical Association, American Research Engineering Society, American Society of Association Executives, American Society of Neuroimaging, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Hispanic American Medical Association of Louisiana, International Congress of Neurosurgery, International Association of Private Practicing Doctors (founding member), Louisiana State Medical Society, New Orleans Neurological Society (founding member), Orleans Parish Medical Society, Southern Electroencephalography Society, Southern Medical Association, Southern Neurosurgery Society, Sigma Xi Honor Scientific Society, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Awards included the Ochsner Medical Foundation Excellence in Medical Writing Award, 1950; Best Scientific Exhibit, Louisiana State Medical Society, 1961; George Washington Honor Medal, Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, 1984; Special Leadership and Service Award, Louisiana State Medical Society, 1988; and Best Staff Educator, Target 100/Physician of Choice, 2001. He was a member of the Club de Puerto Rico de New Orleans and St. Rita Catholic Church.

He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Mary Ann Balsley García.

Dr. Garcia Oller is survived by his children, María García Kron and José Luís García, II of New Orleans, Ana García Burr of Jackson, MC, Teresa García Payne of Hot Springs, AR, Antonio José García of Richmond, VA and Margarita García Sims of Galveston, TX; two sisters, Norma Marin of Hialeah, FL and Irma Garcia Serrano of Rio Piedras, PR; and seven grandchildren.

©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2002

Larry G. Walk Funeral May 1

Funeral services for Larry G. Walk, 59, of Little Cedar, who died Saturday, April 27, 2002, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, were held on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville, with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating.

Larry was born May 26, 1942 in Mason City, the son of George and Dorothy (Luth) Walk, He graduated from Little Cedar High School in 1960.

He married Louise Adams on July 20, 1974 at Stacyville. He farmed, had worked at White Farm in Charles City, Fieldstone Cabinets in Northwood and was a mechanic at Fox River Mills in Osage. Larry loved his family and enjoyed gardening, yard work, building things and many outdoor activities.

Larry is survived by his wife, Louise of Little Cedar; a son, Lynn Joseph Walk of Little Cedar; sister-in-law Carolyn Walk of Rochester, Minnesota; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Duane Walk in September 2001, and many aunts and uncles.

Burial was in Visitation Catholic Cemetery, Stacyville.

©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2002

Memorial Service For Geraldine Piper

Memorial services for Geraldine Piper, 79, of St. Ansgar, who died Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at the Muse Noris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, were held Saturday, May 4 at the United Methodist Church here with the Rev. Jay Amundson officiating.

Geraldine Jonette Wright Piper was born in Dubuque on May 20, 1922, daughter of John and Geraldine Samuels Wright. Her parents moved from Farley to Orchard in 1924 where she attended Orchard Consolidated Schools. Gerry attended Upper Iowa at Fayette one year preceding entrance to Kahler Hospital School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota. She graduated as an RN in September of 1944. She was employed at Oakridge Hospital, Oakridge, IN. until the end of World War II.

She married Donald Piper on November 18, 1945 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She served as registered nurse at St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center from 1965 to 1968; as school nurse for St. Ansgar Schools for nine years and in 1977 returned to Good Samaritan Center, retiring in 1992. Her husband died in September of 1993. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her grandchildren, outdoor life, family and friends. She enjoyed spending time canoeing and bird watching at their cabin on the Cedar River that Don built.

Gerry is survived by three daughters: Carol Dockum and husband Gary, their children, Aaron, Jessica and Joshua; and great grandson Isaac of Rock Falls; Christine Piper and husband Jon Barry, their children Natalie and Sydney of Rochester, Minnesota; Susan May and husband Harry, their children, Cassie and husband Troy Hanna, Hillary, Gabriel and Skyler of Stacyville; sisters Dorothy Neeley of State Center, and Brenda Currier and husband Owen of Mason City; brother Jack Wright of Pittsburgh, California; nephews, Terry and Lynn Neeley, and Tom and Jon Currier; niece, Ann Elizabeth Newell; cousins, Elizabeth Samuels-Behrens of Bedford, Virginia; Patricia Lawson of Pearl City, Illinois; sisters-in-law Dorothy Knutson, Orpha and Wilburt Rogotzke,  Marion and Myron Schmidt.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Don.

Inurnment was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2002

Updated by Chuck Prickett 06/07/2002

Myrtella Langrock funeral May 22
Published May 25, 2002

Evelyn "Myrtella" Langrock, 100, of Toeterville, died Friday May 17, 2002, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar. Funeral services were held Wednesday May 22, 2002, at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Toeterville, with the Dr. Elaine Siemsen officiating. Interment was at the St. Peter Cemetery in Toeterville.

Evelyn Myrtella (Sampson) Langrock was born on Feb. 16, 1902, on a farm in Nevada Township next to the Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church, east of Lyle, MN. The youngest of five children, born to Christopher and Anna (Torgeson) Sampson, she was baptized on March 20, 1902, by Pastor Eggen. On April 20, 1916, she was confirmed by Rev. Elmer Moe at the Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church.

Her public school education was at the Pinehurst School and at Lyle. At an early age Myrtella began playing the piano and this talent became an enjoyment for herself and others, her entire life. When she was 12 years old she played "The Wedding March" at her sister Bellena's marriage to Newell Nelson, at the Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church.

As a young adult she joined the Robertson Family Orchestra, as a piano player. The band played in all the town dance halls in the area, including Toeterville, Lyle, and Rose Creek.

On October 20, 1926, she was united in marriage to Fred Daniel Langrock of Toeterville. They made their home in the Toeterville Community the rest of their lives.  When her children were in high school, playing in the St. Ansgar Band, Myrtella, with the help of her children, organized the Toeterville Church Band. The band played marches by Sousa and others, and performed at mission festivals and other church functions. Myrtella always filled in the missing band parts on the piano.

Besides the piano, other interests were being a homemaker and working with wood.  Her woodworking consisted of designing and creating various wood objects, ranging from wall hangings and table decorations to small furniture. When the new St. Peter Lutheran Church was built in Toeterville in 1967, she served with her husband as a member of the building committee. When her new home was built in Toeterville, in 1971, she was the chief designer.

After her husband Fred Daniel passed away in 1972, she continued to live in Toeterville, until July 1, 2000, when she entered the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar. On Feb. 16th, of this year Myrtella celebrated her 100th Birthday. According to many of those who attended the event, the highlight was Myrtella playing some of her old songs on the piano.

Myrtella died May 17, 2002, at the age of 100 years 3 months and 1 day.

Living family members include: her four children, Avis Hanson and husband Leo of St. Ansgar; Audrey Carroll of Austin, MN; Fred C. Langrock of Toeterville; and David Langrock and wife Linda of Davenport. Eight Grandchildren and eight Great-Grandchildren, who include: Dennis Hanson and wife Mary and son Nicholas; Lisa Hansen and husband Jeff and children Clark Jorgensen and Leslie Jorgensen Gavrila and husband Dan; Lynn Carroll and wife Sue and children Tessa and Samuel; Lori Johnson and husband Todd and children Heather and Erica; Todd Carroll and wife Heather and son Jacob; and Amy, Dawn and Lacey Langrock.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and one brother; one son-in-law Donovan Carroll.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to St. Peter Lutheran Church or the Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church.

©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2002

©St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal 2002