Malinda Bartz
Published February 1, 2003

Funeral services for Malinda Augusta Bartz, 87, who died at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center on January 22, 2003, were held on Saturday, January 25 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating.

Malinda was born on December 1, 1915 in Grafton to John and Emma (Glauwitz) Bork. She was baptized in 1916 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and was also confirmed there on March 29, 1931. Malinda married Harvey Bartz on June 27, 1932 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton.

Malinda is survived by one son, Richard and wife Joan of Eau Galle, Wisconsin; four daughters, Bonnie Deal and husband Virl of Grafton; Betty Jordan and husband Edwin of Grafton; Sharon Anderson and husband Alien of Northwood; Judy Hickman and husband Russell of Glendale, Arizona; 15 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; 15 step great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; 11 step great great grandchildren, three sisters, Irene Hartwig of Grafton; Elsie Kline of Grafton; Genevieve Furness of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harvey on September 5, 1991; daughter Karen in 1944; step granddaughter Marie in 2002; six brothers, Edwin, John, Clarence, Arthur, Walter and Roy; six sisters, Laura Krueger, Myrtle Rappath, Esther Anderson, Verna Schlotterback, Wilma Graffin and Ruth Dalluge.

Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery.

Loretta Hackbart
Published February 8, 2003

Funeral services for Loretta Melinda Hackbart, 76, of Grafton, who died Thursday, January 30, 2003 at her home in Grafton, were held on Monday, February 3 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating.

Loretta Melinda Hackbart was born on April 15, 1926 at Plymouth, Iowa, the daughter of Lawrence and Melinda (Dobel) Glassel. She was baptized at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton on May 9,1926. Her sponsors were her grandparents Emil Glassel and Mrs. Herman (Marie) Dobel, and reaffirmed her faith in the Lutheran faith on June 1, 1941 by the Rev. H.L. Lechner.

Loretta graduated from Plymouth High School in 1944 and attended summer sessions at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. After completing her schooling, Loretta taught rural schools in Union Township in Worth Co. and Lime Creek Township in Cerro Gordo Co., and worked at the Standard Oil business office in Mason City.

She was united in marriage to Robert William Hackbart on October 31, 1948 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. He died on January 28, 1999. After their marriage the couple lived on the century Hackbart farm south of Grafton all 50 years of their married life. Loretta was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, and was active in the Women's Missionary Federation, served as vice president and then president for six years of the American Lutheran Church Women. She taught Sunday School, was a Bethel Bible teacher, a member of the church council and of the Altar Guild. She was active in the Grafton Community Action organization, serving as treasurer for four years and co-editor of the monthly newsletter, The Scoop. She received the Governor's Volunteer Award in 1995, served for 15 years as a member of the Worth Co. unit of the American Cancer Society and on the Lutheran Brotherhood Worth Co. Branch Board for nine years.

Loretta is survived by two sons, Lee Hackbart of Grafton; Neil Hackbart and wife Donna of Grafton; grandchildren, Jason Hackbart and wife Jody and their daughter, Brooklyn Lanae Hackbart of rural Kensett; Amy Powers and husband Derrick of Grafton; a brother, Rufus Glassel and wife Doris of Plymouth; brothers and sisters in law, Truman and Lorraine Julseth of rural Northwood and Roger and Lucille Hackbart of Golden Valley, Minnesota; a nephew and five nieces and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Melinda Dobel Glassel, and her husband Robert in 1999.

Burial was in the Grafton  Cemetery.

Merlyn Leroy Vote
Published February 8, 2003

Funeral services for Merlyn Leroy Vote, 72, of Riceville, who died Monday, February 3, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, will be held on Thursday, February 6 at the Riceville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael Carey officiating.

Merlyn was born November 27, 1930 in Pocahontas County to Clarence Guy Vote and Evelyn Edith Erickson Vote. He attended school in Pocahontas, Burnside, and graduated from Riceville High School.

Merlyn was united in marriage to Arlys Moses on December 8, 1951 at the Riceville United Methodist Church. He served in the US Army from 1952 - 1953, after returning home, Merlyn worked for the Farmers Telephone Co., was a partner with Kenneth Hammerstrom, operating H&V Electric in Riceville. He and Arlys moved to their present home in August of 1962 and Merlyn began farming. He was a substitute mail carrier and a full time mail carrier while he was farming. Merlyn retired from the US Postal Service in 1986. He operated the Riceville Bowling Alley from 1968 to 1978.

Merlyn is survived by his wife, Arlys of Riceville; a son, David L. Vote of St. Ansgar; a daughter Lisa and husband Darryl Hurt and their children, Tanner and Ashley Hunt of Ackley; a sister Ann Padget and husband John of Waterloo; two brothers, Bernard and wife Mary Ann of Riceville; and Roger and wife, Mary Lou of Riceville; two sisters-in-law, Louise vote of Omaha, Nebraska and Margaret Vote of Riceville; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Clarence Jr. and Bruce Vote.

Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Riceville.

Therese Halbach
Published February 8, 2003

Funeral services for Therese Halbach, 42, of Stacyville, who died Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at her home, were held on Saturday, February 1 at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville with Rev. Mark Reasoner officiating.

Therese was born on July 16, 1960 in Osage to Lester and Ann (Runde) Durben. She graduated from St. Ansgar High School and completed the Floriculture Program at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. She worked at a flower shop in Grinnell for three years.

Therese married Ed Halbach on September 11, 1982 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer. They started Ed's Floral, a retail and wholesale plant business in 1981. In 1986 they opened another full service retail Flower Shop in LeRoy, Minnesota.

Therese was a long time board member of the St. Ansgar Dollar for Scholars. She was respected in the community for countless volunteer hours at the nursing home, fundraisers, and civic events. She was active in the Visitation Church Christian Mothers and kept the church beautiful with flowers. Her floral design talents touched many people's lives as did her smile, kindness and compassion. Therese enjoyed gardening, reading, entertaining and visiting with family and friends.

Therese is survived by her husband, Ed of Stacyville; her parents, Ann and Lester Durben of Meyer; three sisters, Sheila Durben of Meyer; Brenda Jensen and husband Del and their two children, Ami and Alex of Plymouth, Minnesota; Marlene Weis and husband Rob and their three children, Brittany, Willie and Ben of Meyer; her mother-in-law, Monica Halbach of Stacyville; three sisters-in-law, Jeanne Traaseth and husband Pete and daughter Leah of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Angie Kruger and daughter Stacey of St. Ansgar; Paula Halbach of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two brothers-in-law, Joe Halbach and wife Deb and their two daughters, Danielle and Jackie of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Mark Halbach and wife Teresa of Glenville, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Arthur and Louise Durben; maternal grandparents, Theodore and Pauline Runde, father-ion-law Jerome Halbach.

Burial was in the Visitation Cemetery in Stacyville.

Mary Ann Nelson
Published February 15, 2003

Funeral services for Mary Ann Nelson, 75, of Austin, Minnesota, who died Sunday, February 9, 2003 at the Adams Health Care Center, were held Wednesday, February 12 at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lydia Mittag officiating.

Mary Ann was born February 5, 1928 in Nevada Township, Minnesota, to Ole and Ella (Asklakson) Dahle. After graduating from Rose Creek High School she completed one year of normal training in Austin, Minnesota. Later she earned her bachelors degree from Winona State. She began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse north of Austin and later in a one-room school north of Lyle.

On August 6, 1950 she married Merle Nelson at Little Cedar Lutheran Church in Adams, Minnesota. After taking a few years off from teaching to raise her own children, she returned to teach at the Dexter school. Then she taught remedial reading in the Adams school and finished as a third grade teacher at Southland Elementary in Rose Creek. She retired in 1984.

Mary Ann was an active member of Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church where she was choir director for years, Sunday School superintendent and active with the Ladies Aide.

Mary Ann is survived by husband, Merle Nelson of Austin, Minnesota; sons, Mark and wife Michelle Nelson of Kent; W. A. Neil and wife Leslie Nelson of Richfield, Minnesota; Bryce and wife Kelli Nelson of Rose Creek, Minnesota; daughter Lori and husband Dale Siegfreid of Austin, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Burial was in the Six Mile Grove Cemetery, Lyle, Minnesota.

Esther Grossman
Published February 15, 2003

Funeral services for Esther Katherine Grossman, 89, of Meyer, who died on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer with Rev. Mark Reasoner officiating.

Esther was born August 12, 1913, in Mayer to George and Theresa (Winter) Grossman. She attended grade school in Meyer and went on to graduate from high school and college. After college, she worked in Chicago, then moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked for a General and traveled overseas, including Korea and Italy. She worked in Dayton, Ohio for 15 years before retiring in 1984. She returned to Mayer and lived on the family farm until a year ago when she entered the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center.

Esther is survived by a host of friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Alfred, Leo, Victor, Joseph and George Jr.; a sister Rosie.

Burial was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meyer.

Mary Kay Freese
Published February 15, 2003

Funeral services for Mary Kay (Horsfall) Freese, 47, of Austin, Minnesota, who died on Monday, February 3, 2003, were held on Friday, February 7 at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, with President Robert Flatt officiating.

Mary was born July 31, 1955 to Harvey and Emma Lots (Trantenalla) Horsfall. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. She was employed at Hy-Vee Foods in Austin, Minnesota. Mary enjoyed visits and conversations with friends and people she met in her daily life. She loved garage sales and antiquing, visiting her daughter Christy and husband Michael and playing with her grandson Nathan. Mary's children, Betsy, Jeff and Joe live with their father in Arizona.

Mary is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Freese and Joseph Freese of Mesa, Arizona; daughters Christine and husband Michael May of Manhattan, Kansas, and Betsy Freese of Mesa, Arizona; a grandson, Nathan May; her parents, Harvey and Emma Lois Horsfall, Carpenter; three brothers, Stanley Horsfall of Mason City; Frank Horsfall of Carpenter; and Harvey E. Horsfall of Mason City; a sister, Linda Kruse of Meyer; and special friend Jim Horgen of St. Ansgar.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and a brother, Edward.

Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Wilma Frank
Published February 15, 2003

Funeral services for Wilma A. Frank, 86, of St. Ansgar, who died on Friday, February 7, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, were held on Wednesday, February 12 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Township, with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating.

Wilma Alma Frank was born on June 7, 1916 at St. Ansgar, the daughter of Otto C. and Anna (Duenow) Seefeld. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church. Wilma graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1934 and Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls. After her schooling Wilma taught at Newburg #5 country school and at Grafton Public School.

She was united in marriage to Alvin (Sam) Alexander Frank on December 27, 1940 at St. John's Lutheran Church. Alvin died December 2, 1990. Wilma continued to live on the farm southwest of St. Ansgar until entering the nursing home on January 28, 2003. She was active in her church, Garden Club and IC Club. She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, flowers and playing bridge.

Wilma is survived by her sons, Roger and wife Sharon of St. Ansgar and their children, Matthew Frank and wife Diane and daughter Jayden, Mason City; and Lisa Frank of Iowa City; son Norman and wife Susan of Hudson, Illinois and their children, Jessica and Amanda Frank of Phoenix, Arizona; a sister, Irene Seecrest of Waterloo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Alvin, infant son Kevin, and two sisters, Ardela and Leona.

Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Harley Ernst Walk
Published February 15, 2003

Harley Ernst Walk, age 83, of Grafton died Tuesday February 11, 2003, at his home. Harley was born July 11, 1919, on the family farm near Grafton, the son of Christian and Lora (Bruesewitz) Walk. Harley's grandfather built the house in which he was born and he lived there his entire life. He attended Grafton High School and was Salutatorian of his class. While in high school, Harley participated in basketball. He served in WWII as a field clerk in San Antonio, TX. Harley was a life long member of the Grafton American Legion Post 616. Harley was united in marriage to Viola M. Frisch of Grafton. To this union two children were born, Anne and Mark. Viola passed away in 1973. In 1974, Harley was united in marriage to Alphia Rachut. He was an early adopter of turkey farming in Grafton, where he and his brother Lowell Walk, managed Walk Bros. Turkeys until his retirement from farming in 1981. Harley loved the Grafton life. He was a member of the St. Ansgar School Board during the time his children were in high school. For many years, he supervised the grilling of turkeys for Grafton Turkey Days. When he was not able to continue this task due to the success of the event and his age, he participated by helping. He loved fishing and was a skilled fisherman. He fished in Minnesota, Canada, and was fortunate to have fished at Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming and the Atlantic Ocean near Boston, Mass. Harley was an avid "500" player and would play anytime given the opportunity.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2003, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Interment will be in the Grafton Cemetery in Grafton. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Champion - Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage. Visitation will continue one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home (641) 732-3706.

SURVIVED BY: his wife: Alphia Walk of the Worth Living Center in St. Ansgar 1 daughter: Anne Hammond and her husband Harry of Boulder, CO. and their children David and Christopher 1 son: Mark Walk and his wife Tracy of Osage and their children Allison and Stephany 3 Step-daughters: Mary Greenman and her husband Al of Austin, MN and Verle of Northbridge, MA and their families Betty Brumm and her husband Stan of Eden Prairie, MN and their families 1 brother: Lowell Walk and his wife Virginia of Grafton a special niece: Nancy Walk Severson of Grafton

PRECEDED BY: his parents; first wife, Viola; a stepdaughter, Shirley Fossey.