Funeral services for Leonard Schmitt of rural Fort Atkinson were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 10 at St. John's Catholic Church with interment in St. John's Catholic Cemetary, both in Fort Atkinson.

Rev. John Moser officiated. Pallbearers were: Ronald Schmitt, Darrel Elsbernd, Kenneth Schmitt, Alan Elsbernd, Thomas Kuennen, and Roger Uhlenhake. Chekal Chapel, Schluter-Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Leonard, 80, died Sunday, November 4, 2001 at his home of an apparent heart attack.

Leonard Theodore Schmitt was born February 2, 1921 on the family farm near Fort Atkinson, the son of Frank X. and Anna (Hackman) Schmitt. He attended St. John's Catholic School in Fort Atkinson. He farmed southwest of Fort Atkinson with his parents and his brother.

He enjoyed farm life and had livestock until this past summer. He also enjoyed music.

He was a member of the Catholic Order of the Foresters and was a life-long member of St. John's Catholic Church.

He is survived by three sisters: Mildred Uhlenhake of Ossian, Luella Elsbernd of Spillville, and Elaine Kuennen of Ossian; and two brothers: Clarence of Waukee and Elmer of Fort Atkinson.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother: Francis in infancy.

Muriel Gardner

Funeral services for Muriel Gardner of Elma were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 9 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma with Rev. John Hemann officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Elma. Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Muriel, 82, died Monday, November 5, 2001 at her home in Elma of natural causes.

Muriel C. Gardner was born June 2, 1919 at Elma, the daughter of Ed and Mable (Roche) McAvoy.

On November 21, 1938 she married Joe Gardner at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma.

She is survived by one daughter: Joan Schlicht of Rancho Mirage, CA; five grandchildren; and one sister: Betty Bigley of Elma.

Muriel was preceded in death by her husband Joe; her parents; and one brother: Leo.

Robert Baker

Funeral services for Robert Baker of Decorah were held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, November 5 at the United Methodist Church in Decorah with Rev. Jim Dale officiating.

Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs. Pallbearers were his grandchildren: Melissa Foley, Jeffrey Hovey, Pamela Perry, Greg Hovey, Michael Moen, and Nicole Walker. French and Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Robert, 85, died Thursday, November 1, 2001 at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home following a short illness.

Robert S. Baker was born August 20, 1916 on the family farm west of Decorah, the son of Wm. Stewart and Lula (Taylor) Baker. Robert attended country school near his home.

On May 11, 1941 he married Dorothy Kintz at the parsonage of the United Methodist church in Ridgeway. To this union twin daughters were born. They farmed and lived their entire married life on the Baker home farm.

Robert enjoyed farming and enjoyed spending time at the Cresco and Decorah Sales Barns. He served on the Winneshiek County Fair Board and was a member of the United Methodist Church in Decorah. On January 28, 1997, Robert moved into the Aase Haugen Nursing Home and resided there.

He is survived by two daughters: Sharon Moen of Stoney Creek, NC and Karon Hovey of Ridgeway; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one sister: Alice Lubke of Ridgeway.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 1997; his parents; three sisters: Florence Hegvedt, Pauline Bakken, and Virginia Faldet; and one brother: Steve.

Kathleen Johnson 

Funeral services for Kathleen Johnson of Chester were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10 at the Chester United Methodist Church with interment in Chester Hill Cemetery, both at Chester.

Rev. Tim Walker officiated. Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Kathleen, 79, died Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at Rochester Methodist Hospital following an operation for pancreatic cancer in July.

Kathleen Hazel Johnson was born March 16, 1922 in rural Chester, Howard County, the daughter of William J. and Hazel (Markham) Armstrong. She attended two local schools and was the sole graduate of Chester High School in 1940. After graduation she attended Upper Iowa University for one year. She moved to Santa Monica, CA and worked for one year at Douglas Aircraft. After returning home she worked for the Register of Deeds in Austin, MN.

On October 12, 1944 she married George A. Johnson at the Chester United Methodist Church.

She enjoyed cooking, canning, entertaining friends, going to garage sales, antiquing, and dancing.

She is survived by husband George of Chester; her children: Karen Wendel, Reed, and Jane Ullom all of Chester; six grandchildren; and one sister: Nolla Deguch of Mesa, AZ.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother: Darryl.

Edward Bakula

Funeral services for Edward Bakula of Fort Atkinson were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7 at St. John's Catholic Church with interment in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, both in Fort Atkinson.

Rev. John Moser officiated. Honorary pallbearers were: Alex Schmitt, Dave Croatt, Francis Smith, Clem Smith, Dale Wieck, and Gerald Croatt. Pallbearers were: Leo Bakula, John Bakula, Francis Bakula, Tim Bakula, Jason Bakula, and Damian Bakula. Chekal Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Edward, 84, died Sunday, November 4, 2001 at the Mercy Medical Center, New Hampton following a short illness.

Edward Francis Bakula was born August 13, 1917 on the family farm near Fort Atkinson, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Houdek) Bakula. He attended country school and St. John's Catholic School.

On August 24, 1942 he married Bernetta Tierney at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler. Edward farmed the family farm and also worked for a tilling crew, did carpentry jobs, built bins, worked for a bridge crew and for Bucheit Produce.

In July, he spent two weeks at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah and then went to the New Hampton Care Center, where he was until he entered the hospital last Monday.

He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and enjoyed dancing and playing cards.

He is survived by three sons: Francis of Cedar Falls, Leo of New Hampton, and John of Fort Atkinson; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister: Rose Shores of Cresco.

Edward was preceded in death by his wife Bernetta; his parents; two sisters: Irene Pecinovsky and Anna Gehling; and one brother: Joe.

Marcella Lee

Funeral services for Marcella Lee of Calmar were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9 at the Calmar Lutheran Church with Rev. Ginny Olson officiating.

Interment was in Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery. Schluter Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Marcella, 77, died Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at her home following a six month illness.

She is survived by one son: Larry of Calmar; three daughters: Bonnie Holkesvik of Decorah, Brenda McCaffrey of Decorah, and Karen Anderson of Calmar; three brothers: Richard Frana of Calmar, Robert Frana of Decorah, and Vincent Frana of Nashua; and two sisters: Franny O'Brien of Cedar Rapids and Rita Jirak of Little Turkey.

Kyle Darland

 Funeral services for Kyle Darland will be held at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco with Rev. Linda Johnson Prestholt officiating.

Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco. Conway Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Kyle, 16, died Sunday, November 11, 2001 as the result of an automobile accident.

Kyle Patrick Darland was born September 7, 1985 in Cresco, the son of Patrick and Pamela (Knutson) Darland. He was a sophmore at Crestwood High School. He liked football and basketball, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers. He played football in junior high and ninth grade. Kyle loved to play golf, enjoyed camping and bowling and was an avid paint ball player. Kyle collected baseball cards and enjoyed having his own car and cruising.

Kyle was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his father: Pat Darland and his mother: Pam Darland; one brother: Tyler, all of Cresco; his step-brother: Justin Stensrud of Rochester, MN; and his paternal grandparents: Jack and Peg Darland of Cresco.

Kyle was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Orvin and Janette Knutson.

Lovern Johnson

Funeral services for Lovern Johnson were held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 12 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lime Springs with Rev. Linda Johnson officiating.

Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs.

Lovern, 91, died Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at Grandview Care Center in St. Peter, MN.

Lovern Anita Johnson was born August 12, 1910 in Lime Springs, the daughter of Albert and Lovern (Post) Johnson. She graduated from Lime Springs High School in 1928 and from Upper Iowa University with a B.A. degree in teaching in 1932. She taught school at Hiteman, Goldfield and Algona.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Algona. She was a life member of the National Education Association. She was also a member of the Kossuth Area Retired Teachers Association and had served for a number of years as its treasurer and secretary.

Lovern was preceded in death by her parents; one brother: Leland; and a twin sister: Loreen During.