09/02/04

Reid Chesnut, age 81, of Clarksville, Iowa, was born the son of Samuel and Lela Burroughs Chesnut on June 4, 1923, in Butler County south west of Clarksville. He received his education in the Jackson Township country schoolhouse #9 and later graduated from Clarksville High School in 1940. Reid was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Ingersoll. Reid began farming on a farm south west of Clarksville. He left farming for a while and worked as a mechanic for various implement dealers. Reid later returned to farming. The couple had three sons, Dennis, Jim and Jeff. Reid and Mary Ellen later divorced. Reid was united in marriage with Maxine Kielman on February 14, 1975, in Colorado. Reid was a member of Unity Presbyterian Church in rural Clarksville, and in the past took part Mariners Club at the church. He delivered the Waverly Newspaper for many years along with Meals on Wheels in which he received an award from the governor for his many years of service. Reid was an avid sports fan and loved cheering for the Hawkeyes. He had a deep appreciation of nature, enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid pool player. Reid died Saturday, August 28, 2004, at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa, from natural causes. He was preceded in death by his parents. Reid is survived his wife, Maxine Chesnut, Clarksville, IA; three sons, Dennis (Nancy) Chesnut, Charles City, IA, Jim (Vickie) Chesnut, Clarksville, IA, and Jeff (Vickie) Chesnut, Clarksville, IA; ten grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one brother, Rex (Phyllis) Chesnut, Longmont, CO; one half sister, Lela Peters, Waverly, IA; five step-daughters, Bonnie (John) Snow, Waverly, IA, Carol Heath, Janesville, IA, Lola Volker, Waverly, IA, Joyce (Roger) Hinders, Clarksville, IA, and Cindy (Bruce) Hoodjer, Clarksville, IA; three step-sons, Keith Kielman, New Hampton, IA, Kendall (Karen) Kielman, Clarksville, IA, and Jeff Kielman, Clarksville, IA, 24 step-grandchildren; and 24 step-great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 31, 2004, at Unity Presbyterian Church, rural Clarksville, Iowa with Rev. Reuben Topp officiating. Organist was Yvonne Rambo. Congregational Hymns were “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” and “Amazing Grace.” Honorary Casketbearers were Kenneth Forry, Edward Johnson, Marvin Bohlen and Roland(Bud) Harms. Casketbearers were Jennifer (Chesnut)Walker, Elizabeth Chesnut Timothy Chesnut, Gregory Chesnut, Douglas Chesnut, Julie(Chesnut) Sherburne, Joshua Chesnut, Matthew Chesnut, Rebecca Chesnut and Samantha Chesnut. Interment was in Lynwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family. Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home, Clarksville, was in charge of arrangements.

09/02/04

Funeral services for Donald F. Steere, 75, of St. Ansgar, formerly of Greene, were held Saturday, August 28, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene with Pastor Gary Hatcher officiating. Military honors were conducted by Tack Barnett Post 268 American Legion of Greene. Inurnment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, at a later date. Donald Forest Steere was born in Greene on February 26, 1929, a son of Emil and Grace (Johnson)Steere. and died Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in St. Ansgar. He received his education in rural schools and attended the Greene High School. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1951 serving some time in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1953. He received two awards from the American Legion in the spring of 2004, to honor his 50 years as a veteran. Don farmed for many years around Greene while doing carpentry and concrete work. He retired from farming and continued doing carpentry work until retiring in 1999. He built many houses and other buildings around Greene and surrounding communities. He was a very skilled craftsman. He moved to St. Ansgar in 2001 where he resided until his death. Don took his kids on snowmobile trips to Granger, Minnesota when they were young. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family especially his grandkids. Survivors include two daughters: Cindy (Kenneth) Boerjan, St. Ansgar, Renee (Michael) Betts, Mason City; two sons: Forest (Tracy) Steere, Greene, and Randy (Lisa) Steere, Mason City. Five grandchildren: Adam and Laci Betts, Mason City, Grace and Katelyn Steere, Greene and Evan Steere, Mason City; and his special friend, Arlene Ringleb of Allison. He is also survived by his two sisters Darlene (Gil) Dovey, Cardiff, CA, and Shirley McIntyre of Ontario, CA; two brothers: Dallas Steere, Palo Alto, CA, Robert (Ardith) Steere Big Bear, CA. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother-in-law, Russell Jewell and a sister-in-law, Karen Steere. Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Donald Forest Steere Memorial Fund in care of the family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 North First Street, Greene, 641-823-4457.

                   Posted on 09/04/2004 by Gene Manning

09/12/04

Erna Rodenbeck Lawyer, 91, of Clear Lake, Iowa passed away September 1, 2004 at the Allison Care Center in Allison, Iowa. She was born on August 11, 1913 in rural Bristow, Iowa to Henry and Mary (Wiegman) Schrage. Erna attended rural Butler County Schools. She was married to Art Rodenbeck on April 23, 1933 at St. James Lutheran Church in Allison. She later married Graham Lawyer in Clear Lake, Iowa. Erna was a seamstress for P.T. Castle Company in Clear Lake. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake where she was a member of the Joy Circle. Erna enjoyed sewing, baking pies and she especially liked to spend time with the family during the holidays. She is survived by her daughter Arleen and husband Cecil Radcliffe of Bristow, grandson Rick and wife Angie Radcliffe of Brooklyn, grandson Rod and Julie Radcliffe of Hampton; sister Laura Oltmann of Allison, sister Louise Wubbena of Bristow, sister-in-law Edna Schrage of Allison, sister-in-law Irene Rodenbeck of Charles City; great grandchildren: Monica, Adam, Tyler, and Koby Radcliffe and step great grandchildren: Erin Henkle, Steve and Morgan Hawkins and one step great-great grandson L.J. Henkle. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and two brothers. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 4, 2004 at St. James Lutheran Church in Allison with Lay Assistant Richard Scott officiating. Special music was provided by Adam Radcliffe and Angie Radcliffe. Pallbearers were Rick Radcliffe, Rod Radcliffe, Adam Radcliffe, Tyler Radcliffe, Koby Radcliffe, Monica Radcliffe and Gene Chinander. Final resting place was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa. Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

                    Posted on 09/13/2004 by Gene Manning

09/19/04

Funeral services for Lucille Marcella Weichers, 92, of Greene, who died September 10, 2004 at Liebe Care Center in Greene, were held Monday September 13, 2004 at St Peter Lutheran Church in Greene.

09/19/04

Lillian H. Dingel, age 78, Parkersburg, Iowa, was born the daughter of John and Hulda (Nauman) Adelmund on July 15, 1926, in Clarksville, Iowa. Lillian started school in Clarksville and finished her education in Charles City, Iowa. Her first job was at the Sherman Nursery in Charles City. From there she moved to Parkersburg and started working at Clay Equipment in Cedar Falls. On August 31, 1946, Lillian was united in marriage to Henry Dingel in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Their first home was in Parkersburg, then Morrision, Dike, and then R.R.2, Parkersburg where they spent the rest of their married life together until Henry’s death on December 20, 1990. Lillian then moved to 204 Wemple in Parkersburg where she spent the rest of her life. Lillian was employed at Plastronic’s in Grundy Center for 15 years. Lillian enjoyed fishing with her husband and rides around the country side. She enjoyed campfires in the backyard with the family, playing cards, and loved listening to music. The past five months, Lillian’s health was failing and she was admitted to Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo where she passed away at 1:00 p.m., September 6th, 2004, of natural causes. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers and two sisters. Lillian is survived by two daughters Linda (Douglas) Rewerts of Aplington, Iowa; Helen (Dennis) Haan of Baraboo, Wisconsin; one son, Henry K. (Linda) Dingel of Grundy Center, Iowa; eight grandchildren; one great grandson; and six sisters. Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 9, 2004, at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home in Parkersburg, Iowa with Rev. Betsy Piette officiating. Special Music was “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye,” by Patty Loveless, “Good Bye’s (The Saddest Word),” by Celin Dion and “Amazing Grace.” Honorary Casketbearers were Steve Adelmund and Richard Vanderventer. Casketbearers were Albert Adelmund, Gary Adelmund, Randy Vanderventer, Glenn Whiteside, Henry Dingel Jr., and Herman Dingel. Interment was in Fairfield Township Cemetery, rural New Hartford, Iowa. Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home, Parkersburg was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the family.

                  Posted on 09/20/2004 by Gene Manning

09/27/04

Bennie R. Hinders, 84, of Allison, Iowa, passed away September 19, 2004, at the Allison Care Center, Allison, Iowa. Bennie was born December 4, 1919, in Kesley, Iowa, to Ben and Gertie (Bruns) Hinders. He received his education at Spring Garden country school near Kesley. He was married to Gladys Brocka on February 23, 1940, at the Vilmar Parsonage. Bennie worked as a farmer near Kesley for seven years, drove semi for Reiher Bros. for three years, he worked for the ASCS office for government grain bins for twenty years, and Butler County road maintenance for eight years. He retired in 1982. He was a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Allison, Iowa He enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, and riding motorcycles. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Gladys Hinders of Allison; son Lonnie L. and wife Shirley Hinders of Elephant Butte, New Mexico; daughter Londa L. and husband Michael Wihlm of Greene; sister Gert Adelmund of Allison; brother Kenneth Hinders of Waterloo; grandchildren: Chad and wife Monica Hinders, Brent and wife Maria Hinders, Corey, Mandy, Kelly, Amy, and Lindsey Hoodjer, Bethany and Megan Wihlm, and one great grandson Grant Hinders. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Lowell, two sisters Ann and Lois, and three brothers Hank, Jake, and Henry. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at the Trinity Reformed Church in Allison with Rev. Steve Petroelje officiating. Special music was provided by keyboardist Greta Cordes, soloist Francis Winkowitsch and congregational hymns “Just As I Am” and “Rock of Ages.” Pallbearers were Bud Schueler, Chuck Smith, Mike Wilson, Cleve Wilson, Dick McCready and Bud Adelmund. Honorary pallbearers were Chad Hinders, Brent Hinders, Corey Hoodjer, Kelly Hoodjer, Mandy Hoodjer, Amy Hoodjer, Lindsey Hoodjer, Bethany Wihlm and Megan Wihlm. Final resting place was in the Allison Cemetery with Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

                   Posted on 09/27/2004 by Gene Manning