Dennis James Praska

 Funeral services for Dennis Praska were held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 1, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union with the Rev. Dale Rausch officiating. Interment was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in West Union. Burnham-Wood Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The body of Dennis Praska, formerly of West Union, was found Monday morning, November 28, 1994, in a field one and one half miles northeast of Hawkeye. He had apparently lost control of his car early Sunday morning. The car went off the roadway and he apparently left the car, became disoriented in the poor weather, and walked into the cornfield where his body was discovered Monday. Dennis James Praska was born September 26, 1951, at Cresco, the son of James Praska and Dorothy Kerian Praska. He attended Lourdes Parochial School, graduated from Cresco High School in 1969 and attended Iowa State University. On September 22, 1973, he married Betty Freidhof at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Lourdes. To this union three children were born. Dennis was part owner of the West Union Implement Co. He was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Finance Officer for the West Union American Legion Post 15 and District Deputy of the Knights of Columbus. Surviving him are his wife, Betty Praska; two sons, Robert Praska and Brian; one daughter, Kare; his parents, James and Dorothy Praska of Elma; two brothers, Chris Praska of New Hampton and Roy Praska of Cresco; six sisters, Linda Tallman of Ankeny, Elaine Hoey of Waucoma, Glenice of Poolsville, MD, Jane Runneals of Nevada, Jean Frontino and LuAnn Praska, both of Aliso Viejo, CA; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Eugene and Gertrude Freidhof of Elma. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 

Margaret (Peggie) Kulow Stran 

Margaret (Peggie) Kulow-Strand (nee) Dozark Funeral services for Margaret (Peggie) Kulow-Strand a long-time Lime Springs business woman and resident will be held at 11:00 a.m. today, Wednesday, December 7, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Chester. Interment will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Lourdes. Lindstrom Funeral Home, Lime Springs, is in charge of arrangements. Peggie (64) died Saturday, December 3, 1994, at Mitchell County Hospital in Osage. Peggie was born July 31, 1930, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of William Dozark and Thelma Wentworth Dozark. She married Edward Kulow of Riceville in June 1950, and he preceded her in death in 1979. To this union five children were born. In 1981, she married Curtiss Strand from Lime Springs and he preceded her in death in 1989. Peggie and Eddie farmed for 22 years in Riceville. They purchased the Town and Country Bar and Grill in 1970 and moved to Lime Springs in 1972. Later the business was named Peggie's Place. She retired from the business in 1990. While living in Riceville, Peggie and her family were active in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church there. She was president of the Rosary Society and was active in Bible study. After moving to Lime Springs, she became active as one of the local business leaders. She served as an elected member of the city council and was an officer of the Commercial club. She served on the Economic Development Board and worked for the development of the new apartment complex in Lime Springs. He volunteered her time at the softball and swimming pool concession stands and organized pool tournaments for children of the community. After retirement, she volunteered as a tour guide for visitors to Lidtke Mill. Survivors include her five children, Charles Kulow of Oakville, Richard Kulow of Granada Hills, CA, Mary Wherry of Lime Springs, Jeffrey Kulow of Fort Wayne, IN, and Anne Kulow of Morgan Hill, CA; nine grandchildren; two sisters, Diana Lauterbach of Waterloo and Florence Sutton of Waterloo; and two brothers, Paul Dozark of Las Vegas, NV, and William Dozark of Lime Springs. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Edward and Curtiss; her parents; and one brother, David Dozark.

CTPD 12/07/1994 /Menominee County Journal

 Irene Speer 

Irene Tuchek Funeral services for Irene Speer, 81, of Bethany Towers, Fargo, ND, were held at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 27, at Bethany Homes, Fargo. Irene died Thursday, November 24, 1994, after a long illness. Irene Tuchek was born October 13, 1913, in Calmar. She grew up in Protivin and graduated from high school in Cresco. On January 1, 1937, she married Robert V. Speer. They lived in Edgemont, SD, St. Paul, and Red Wing, MN, Cedar Rapids and Fargo, ND. She worked for the North Oaks (MN) Kennel from 1953 to 1957 and the Mohawk Fur Store in Red Wing from 1959 to 1964. Surviving her are her husband; one son, David of Texas; two daughters, Dorothy Burg of Edina, MN and Donna Nalewaja of Fargo; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 / 12-7/

 Julia Dvoracek Buresh 

Julia Buresh (nee) Dvoracek Services for Julia Dvoracek Buresh were held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 1, at the Saratoga Presbyterian Church in Saratoga with the Rev. Tim Sir officiating. Interment was in the Saratoga Cemetery. Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. She died Thursday, December 1, 1994, at the age of 89, at the Riceville Rest Home. Julia Dvoracek Buresh was born February 27, 1905, at her home in Tabor, South Dakota. On October 10, 1923, she married William Buresh at the Tabor Presbyterian Church located in the country. Julia and William moved to the farm that he had purchased in Saratoga where they lived for the rest of their lives. Julia was active in the church and attended the Saratoga Presbyterian church. For over 15 years she dedicated herself to caring for her husband when he became disabled from Guillan Barre syndrome. She cared for him every day until she was admitted to the Riceville Rest Home in 989 after being diagnosed as having Alzheimer's. Surviving her are one daughter, Adeline G. Buresh Sullivan of Decorah; five grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; one sister, Bertha Dvoracek Kreutziger, and one brother, Harry Dvoracek, Jr. She was preceded in death by her husband William, in March of 1993; one grandson; one great-grandson; and her sisters, Anna Dvoracek Rehurek, Francis Dvoracek Buresh and Emma Dvoracek Chase Jasa. 

CTPD 12/07/1994

 Margaret Maggie Casey 

A Funeral Mass for Margaret "Maggie" Casey, 87, of the Bluffton area was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 3, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Bluffton with burial in the church cemetery. French and Balik Funeral Home in Decorah was in charge of arrangements. Maggie, 87, died at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah Thursday, December 1, 1994, after a short illness. Survivors are nieces and nephews.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 

Walter R. Klimesh 

A funeral mass was held for Walter R. Klimesh at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 5, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville. The Rev. Daniel Keppler officiated with interment in St. Clement's Cemetery in Spillville. Balik Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Walter, 65, died Friday, December 2, 1994, at the Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union after a long illness. Walter R. Klimesh was born June 8, 1929, in Conover, the son of Joseph A. Klimesh and Albina (nee) Kalishek Klimesh. He attended country school and St. Wenceslaus school in Spillville. On May 4, 1953, he married Florine Herold at St. Clement's Catholic Church in Spillville. He farmed for 25 years north of Spillville and in 1978 moved to Spillville. Walter did custom combining and helped out other farmers and was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Surviving him are his wife, Florine; four daughters, Sally Koenig of Postville, Sherry Bouska of Ridgeway, Peggy Beastrom and Jean Bednar, both of Cedar Rapids; two sons Kenneth Klimesh of Ridgeway and Paul Klimesh of Ankeny; 11 grandchildren; one brother, Leonard Klimesh of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and two sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Stanley Klimesh and Joseph; and two sisters, Pauline Malek and Angeline Weston.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 circa 

Regina Markovetz

 Funeral services for Regina Markovetz, 96, of Cresco, were held at the Conway Funeral Home in Cresco Wednesday, November 30, with the Rev. Tim Sir of the First Congregational United Church of Christ officiaing. Interment was in the Bohemian National Cemetery east of Protivin. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Regina died Monday, November 28, 1994, at the Evans Memorial Home where she ad made her home since 1991. Services held Nov. 30. Regina Markovetz was born near Protivin in Howard County October 8, 1898, the daughter of Anton Markovetz and Katherine Kostohryz Markovetz. She attended rural schools. On Novmeber 10, 1942, she married James Markovetz at Protivin. They first made their home on a farm and later moved to Cresco where she worked at the Chambers Hotel in Cresco. Regina is survived by nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in 1992; her parents; five sisters, Emma Vopava, Mae Riha, Anges Sobolik, Louise Sobolik and Frances Bohach; and one brother, Anthony Markovetz.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 

Raphael A. Baker

 Funeral services for Raphael A. Baker were held Thursday, December 1, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cresco with the Rev. Paul L. Weis officiating. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery. Conway Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Raphael, 84, of Cresco, died November 28, 1994, at the Howard County Hospital after a short illness. Raphael A. Baker was born September 10, 1910, in Cresco, the son of Joseph A. Baker and Barbara K. Lickteig Baker. He graduated from high school in Cresco. On June 12, 1939, he married Earline Woellstein in Cresco. He was working as a clerk in the hardware store in Cresco when he was inducted into the Army March 11, 1943. He served with Troop D 88th CAV RCN SQ and spent one year and seven days in the Central European Theatre. He was dischared November 19, 1945. Returning to Cresco, he worked for Floyd Van Auken and then decided to enter the political field, running as a candidate for Howard County Recorder where he worked for 26 years before his retirement. Raphael belonged to the American Legion Post 135 of Cresco and was an avid fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Earline, of Cresco; two daughters, Pat Mobely of West Union, and Judy Polashek of Protivin; six grandchldren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Irene Sovereign and Anna Grace Lentz, both of Cresco. Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, Anthony Baker and Henry Baker; and one sister, Eva Reburn.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 

Dr. Thomas Walker

 Funeral services for Dr. Thomas G. Walker of Riceville, were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 2, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Riceville. Rev. Hawf, Rev. Fagan and Rev. Walker officiated with interment in Riverside Cemetery in Riceville. Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville handeled arrangement. Thomas died Tuesday, November 29, 1994, at the Riceville Community Rest Home at the age of 85. Thomas G. Walker was born December 29, 1908, the eldest son of six children born to Dr. Thomas S. Walker and Jessie Farnham Walker. He graduated from Riceville High School in 1926, and the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in 1932. While serving as an intern at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, OR, he met and married Lucille M. Shierry on March 4, 1933, in Springfield, OR. Except for the war years, 1941 through 1946 when he was a Navy Flight Surgeon, he practiced general medicine in the Riceville community until retiring in 1979. During his active years, he was involved in many civic activities. He served 25 years on the school board and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Shrine, American Legion and the Riceville Town Council. His medical associations include the Iowa Medical Society, University of Minnesota Alumni Association, and the Mitchell County Medical Association. Survivors include his wife, Lucille, of Riceville; one son, John "Tim" Walker of Tierra Verde, FL; one daughter, Susan Baker of Plymouth, MI; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, Robert Walker of Farmer's Branch, TX, and Doughlas Walker of Greene; and two sisters, Jessie Eyestone of Riceville and Margaret McGrath of Austin, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald.

 CTPD 12/07/1994 /12-7/ 

Philip Carolan 

Funeral services for Philip Carolan of Ridgeway were held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 30, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Bluffton with the Rev. Michael Fitzgerald officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. French and Balik Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Philip, 83, died Sunday, November 27, 1994, at the Oneota Riverview Care Facility in Decorah after a long illness. Philip Carolan was born in Bluffton June 21, 1911, the son of Philip Carolan and Elizabeth Whalen Carolan. He attended rural country schools. He worked as a farm hand for area farmers throughout his life. Philip never married. Surviving Philip is one brother, Fredrick Carolan, of Ridgeway. Preceding him in death were his parents, one sister, Marie, and five brothers, Thomas Carolan, John Carolan, Clement Carolan, Leonard Carolan and Joseph Carolan. 

                        Posted by Gene Manning