North Central Iowa
Genealogical Society
Box 237
Mason City, Iowa 50402-0237

Obituary Archive

Howard County

Cresco Times-Plain Dealer
 
214 North Elm Street
Cresco Iowa
52136-1522

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Robert H. Bronner

Funeral services for Robert H. Bronner of rural Lime Springs will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5 at the United Methodist Church in Lime Springs.

Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 today, Wednesday evening at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco.

Robert is survived by his wife Lois; and one son: Brian.

A full obituary will appear in next weeks issue of the Times Plain Dealer.


Alan Burnikel, D.V.M

A Celebration of Alan's Life was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, IL with Rev. David Langseth officiating.

Butala Funeral Home and Crematory handled the arrangements.

Alan, 40, died Friday, November 29, 2002 at is home of cancer.

Alan W. Burnikel was born November 26, 1962 in Cresco. He was a 1981 graduate of Crestwood High School. He graduated from Iowa State University and the Iowa State School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. He began his veterinary career in Franklin Park, IL. In 1995, he opened Animal House Veterinary Hospital in St. Charles, IL.

He was a member of the American Veterinarian Association and the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, IL.

He loved the outdoors, enjoyed fishing and sports, and was an avid golfer.

He is survived by his wife Michele; his father: Wayne; his mother: Carol Burnikel; one brother: Dr. Brian Burnikel; and one sister: Julie Miller.


Helen Bakula

Funeral services for Helen Bakula were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 30 at the Assumption Worship Center in Cresco with Rev. Henry W. Charipar officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Pallbearers were: John Bakula, Leo Bakula, Francis Bakula, Gerald Barthelme, Robert Barthelme, and Kenneth Maruska. Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Helen, 90, died Wednesday, November 27, 2002 at the Cresco Care Center.

Helen Mary Bakula was born April 16, 1912 in New Oregon Township, Howard County, the daughter of William and Emma (Mrachek) Hosek. She attended the rural school.

On November 12, 1943 she married Joseph Bakula in Cresco. They lived in Fort Atkinson, Protivin, and moved to Cresco. Helen had worked for other people.

She loved to garden, crochet, fish, listen to music and dance.

She is survived by one daughter: Ruth Garrison of Cresco; two grandchildren; and one brother: Edward.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Joseph on September 14, 1982; her parents; three brothers: Leonard, William, and an infant brother Raymond; and one sister: Marcella Koshatka.


Michael Njus

Funeral services for Michael Njus of rural Lawler, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Lawler with Rev. Peter D. Peterson officiating.

Interment was in New Hampton Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Michael Buchheit, Rachel Njus, Roger Reicks, Ron Njus, Craig Crooks, and Ed Foxen. Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Michael, 74, died Monday, November 25, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City of heart failure.

Michael Wallace Njus was born January 16, 1928 at New Hampton, the son of Iver and Clara (Sanderson) Njus. He attended country school and was a 1946 graduate of New Hampton High School. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Japan as part of the U.S. Occupation Force.

On June 9, 1949 he married Betty Zweibohmer at St. Joseph Church in New Hampton. Mike was recalled into active service in September of 1950 and fought in the Korean Conflict. After this discharge, he farmed near Jerico for almost 20 years. After retiring from farming, he sold insurance until his retirement.

He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Chickasaw County Republican Central Committee, the Chickasaw County Pork Producers and was very active in Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife Betty; one daughter: Diane Valade of Charlottesville, VA; three sons: Mark of Carrollton, TX, Tom of Cedar Rapids, and David of Decorah; three grandchildren; and two brothers: Rev. Iring of San Antonio, TX and David of North Richland Hills, TX.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters in infancy.


Sylbert Christofferson

Funeral services for Sylbert Christofferson of Decorah will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6 at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. James Glesne, Rev. Bryan Robertson, and Rev. Ole Winter officiating.

Interment will be in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah.

Friends may call on Friday after 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Sylbert, 90, died Saturday, November 30, 2002 at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah following a long illness.

She is survived by one daughter: Rita Kern of Decorah; and one brother: Ivan Smith of Postville.


Eugene F. Johnson

Funeral services for Eugene F. Johnson of Decorah will be held at 11:00 a.m. today, Wednesday, December 4 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah with Rev. Anita Bane officiating.

Interment will be in Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak.

Eugene, 62, died suddenly at his home following a sudden illness.

He is survived by one sister: Zola Whalen of Harmony, MN.


Thomas Goebel

Memorial services for Thomas Goebel of Key West, FL, formerly of New Hampton will be held at 8:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 4 at the Hugeback Funeral Home, New Hampton with Pastor David Bergstrom officiating.

Private family interment will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday before the service at the funeral home.

Thomas, 49, died Wednesday, November 27, 2002 at his home from an apparent heart attack.

Thomas D. Goebel was born January 11, 1953 in New Hampton, the son of Abraham and Bertha (Hughbanks) Goebel. He received his education in the New Hampton Schools and was a 1971 New Hampton High School graduate.

On October 27, 1977 he married Wendy Straw in Cedar Rapids. They lived many years in Stevens Point, WI where they operated several businesses and moved to Key West in 2001 where they owned a retail store.

He enjoyed fishing.

He is survived by his wife Wendy; one son: Jason of Stevens Point, WI; seven brothers: Vincent of Minneapolis, MN, Arnold of Denver, Kenny of New Hampton, Reynold of Reinbeck, Ervin of Brainerd, MN, Ralph of Ames, and Robert of Cedar Rapids; and three sisters: Mary Huebner of Rochester, MN, JoAnn Johnson of Hoffman Estates, IL, and Alice Jane Murphy of Justice, IL.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: Jim, William, Dennis, and Richard; and one sister: Lois Ann Goebel.


Charlotte Heying

Funeral services for Charlotte Heying of New Hampton, formerly of Elma were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3 at the Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in Elma with Rev. John Hemann officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in at Elma.

Charlotte, 84, died Saturday, November 30, 2002 at her home of an apparent heart attack.

Charlotte Katherine Heying was born March 18, 1918 at Cresco, the daughter of Ray and Nell Brown. She attended school in Cresco and after the death of her mother, she stayed at home and helped raise her younger brother and sister.

After her marriage to William Hayes they resided in Cresco until his death in 1950. She was then employed at several places until her marriage to David Beaston in 1954. They lived in Bonair and later in Elma until his death in 1956. She married Elmer Heying July 8, 1959 at Elma where they lived until retirement. They moved to Chatfield, MN for 10 years before making their home in New Hampton.

She is survived by her husband Elmer of New Hampton; seven daughters: Marinell Halweg of Denver, Sharon Adelmund of Round Lake Beach, IL, Donna Jacoby of Forsyth, MO, Cheri Reich of LeCenter, MN, Helen Geerts of North Washington, Julie DiLaura of Chatfield, MN, Tammy Steffen of Sumner; two sons: Steve Beaston of Centralia, MO and Peter Heying of Cedar Rapids; 27 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Charlotte was preceded in death by two husbands: William Hayes and David Beaston; two grandsons; one great-grandson; one brother: Ray; and one sister: Shirley Hanson.


Elizabeth Kuennen

Funeral services for Elizabeth Kuennen of St. Lucas will be held at 11:00 a.m. today, Wednesday, December 4 at St. Lukes Catholic Church in St. Lucas with Rev. Marvin Salz officiating.

The pall will be placed on the casket by her seven sons. Interment will be in St. Lukes Cemetery in St. Lucas. Pallbearers are: Kenneth Lukes, Steve Kuennen, Larry Kuennen, Marvin Kuhn, Dean Kuennen, Ronald Kuennen, Norbert Kuennen, Jr., and Alan Kuhn. Honorary pallbearers are her godchildren: Eileen Valdez, Mary Thoma, Susan Kuennen, Debra Oelberg, Lois Kuennen, Nancy Lukes, and Alice Conlon. Hugeback Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Elizabeth, 93, died Sunday, December 1, 2002 at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of natural causes.

Elizabeth Kuennen was born March 24, 1909 on her parents farm near St. Lucas, the daughter of Theodore B. and Helen (Balk) Meyer. She attended St. Lucas Catholic School.

On September 4, 1928 she married Frank Conrad Kuennen at St. Lukes Catholic Church, St. Lucas. They farmed near St. Lucas until retiring in November of 1970. They moved into St. Lucas. Frank died on March 5, 1996.

She was a member of St. Lukes Catholic Church and Rosary Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the St. Lucas American Legion Auxiliary.

She enjoyed gardening, flowers, playing cards, Bingo, and crocheting.

She is survived by seven sons: Norbert of St. Lucas, Luke of Waucoma, Neil of Waucoma, Henry of Cresco, Greg of Waucoma, Francis of Waucoma, and Martin of West Union; five daughters: Mary Ann Kuhn of Lime Springs, Helen Kuhn Williams of Mabel, MN, Laura Lukes of Protivin, Margaret Kuennen of Waucoma, Kathleen Russler of Burnsville, MN; 60 grandchildren; one step-grandchild; 81 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren; one brother: Cletus of St. Lucas; and one sister: Irene Dietzenbach of Waucoma.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband Frank; one son: David; her parents; four grandchildren; and three brothers: Leo, Herbert, and Fidelis.


Corolla Lennon

Memorial services for Corolla Lennon of Decorah will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 at the Decorah Lutheran Church.

She donated her body to the hospital in Iowa City.

Corolla, 84, died Wednesday, November 27, 2002 at the Aase Haugen Home. She had Alzheimers.

She is survived by her husband Hubie of Decorah; two daughters: Judy Knutson and Ellen Hailand; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one sister: Harriet Norland of Cresco.

Corolla was preceded in death by one daughter: Carol Ness; her parents: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Aspenson; and two brothers: Don and Oscar.


                                        Posted by Gene Manning on 12/05/2002


Sylbert Christofferson

Funeral services for Sylbert Christofferson of Decorah will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6 at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. James Glesne, Rev. Bryan Robertson, and Rev. Ole Winter officiating.

Interment will be in the Lutheran Cemetery , Decorah.

Friend s may call on Friday after 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Sylbert, 90, died Saturday, November 30, 2002 at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah following a long illness.


                                     Posted by Gene Manning on 12/05/2002


Robert H. Bronner

Funeral services for Robert H. "Bob" Bronner were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5 at the United Methodist Church in Lime Springs with Rev. Louis Flanigan and Rev. Tim Walker officiating.

Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Lime Springs. Honorary pallbearers were: Lyle Ryon, Leonard Kessler, Richard Bronner, Raymond Murphy, Leonard Robinson, Gordon Nagel, and Jonathan Keune. Pallbearers were: Jim Trainer, Loren Haugland, Jay Ryon, Randall Kessler, Lowell Bigalk, and Jerry Keune. Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Robert, 66, died Monday, December 2, 2002 at the Regional Health Services of Howard County.

Robert Herman Bronner was born November 23, 1936 at his home in Lime Springs, the son of Herman and Bessie (Bundrick) Bronner. Bob was baptized and confirmed at the Lime Springs United Methodist Church . He attended the Lincoln Country School in Albion township, graduated from the eighth grade, and then farmed on his family's farm.

On June 23, 1959 he married Lois Gansen in Lime Springs. For many years Bob drove #42 stock car at local dirt tracks and in later years helped his bon Brian race his own #42.

He enjoyed farming, stock car racing, playing with the family dogs, and card playing. He was a handyman and liked to work on cars and farm machinery.

He is survived by his wife Lois; and one son: Brian.

Robert was preceded in death by one son: Bruce; his parents; and one sister: Beverly Kessler.


Esther Griffith

Funeral services for Esther Griffith of Decorah were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 7 at the United Methodist Church in Decorah with Rev. Carol Kress officiating.

Interment was in Aspen Grove Cemetery , Burlington . Schluter-Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Esther, 86, died Sunday, December 1, 2002 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital following a short illness.

Esther Barbara Griffith was born April 10, 1916 on the family farm near Trenton , the daughter of Jona and Elsie (Lane) Egli. She attended Star School , a rural elementary school near Mount Pleasant . She was the first girl from her community to attend high school in Mount Pleasant , graduating in 1932. She attended Iowa Weselyn College in Mount Pleasant for two years .

On February 28, 1935 she married Wesley W. Griffith at the home of the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant . They lived in Oakville .

They lived in different locations including Little Rock , AR , Brownsville , TX , New York City , NY , St. Louis , MO , and Overland Park , KS . While in St. Louis , Esther completed her education at Washington University , graduating with a degree in elementary education. While in Overland Park , she taught seventh and eighth grade Unified Studies at Shawnee Mission for 10 years.

In July 2001 she moved to Decorah to be near her daughter.

She enjoyed rock collecting and flower and vegetable gardening. She also enjoyed music, reading, sewing, and her cat Freddie.

She is survived by one daughter: Dana Maxfield of Dorchester ; two sons: Gary of Noblesville , IN and Jonathan of New York City, NY and Portland , OR ; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister: Lois Titus of Ventura , CA .

Esther was preceded in death by her husband Wesley in March 1977; one daughter: LaVonne Bonnie Hopkins; her parents; one brother: Edwin; and one sister: Dorothy Powell.


Carol Johnson

Funeral services for Carol Johnson were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9 at the United Methodist Church in Lime Springs with Rev. Tim Walker officiating.

Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery . Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Carol, 104, died Saturday, December 7, 2002 at Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco.

Carol Jean Johnson was born August 23, 1898 at Stanberry MO , the daughter of Frederick Keith and Jane (Orr) Elwood. At five years of age, her family moved to Elma where she entered grade school. In 1912 her family moved to Lime Springs where Carol attended grade school and high school. She continued her education at Huron College , Huron, SD. She was a member of the Eta Sigma Sorority. She also attended Upper Iowa University at Fayette. In 1919 she graduated from Capitol city Commercial College , Des Moines .

As a young woman she taught in the rural schools of Howard County , the business department of the high school at Eveleth , MN , and after her marriage in the grade school in Lime Springs. During that time she also coached the Lime Springs High School girls' basketball team.

On September 8, 1920 she married Loren William Johnson at the home of her parents in Cresco. They lived in the same home with the exception of residing in Burlingame , CA while Loren served with the US Navy during WW II.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church . She enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as a member of the Administrative Council. She taught Sunday School and for a number of years served as Sunday School Superintendent. She was very active in many organizations.

One of Carol's pleasures was expressing her thoughts in poetry.

She is survived by one daughter: Phyllis Stevenson; one granddaughter; and three great-granddaughters.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband Loren; her parents; and eight sisters.


Betty Fisk

Funeral services for Betty Fisk of Monona were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9 at St. Paul Lutheran Church , Monona with Rev. Allen Bidne officiating.

Interment was in Monona City Cemetery , Monona. Pallbearers were: Phillip Fisk, Peter Fisk, Patrick Fisk, Paul Fisk, Aaron Fisk, Jon Fisk, Scott Weber, and Charlie Fisk. Honorary pallbearers were: Janelle Rega, Heidi Weber, Dan Torkelson, Laura Whittle, Leah Fisk, Andrew Torkelson, Amy Wolf, and Travis Torkelson. Leonard Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Betty, 71, died Thursday, December 5, 2002 at her home following a sudden illness.

Betty LaJune Fisk was born June 17, 1931 in Lake Park , MN , the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Reinerts) Temple . She received her education in the Lake Park School .

On June 7, 1952 she married John Charles Fisk in Moorhead , MN . Betty worked as head checker in a grocery chain in Moorhead and a waitress in California and Iowa . She was currently working in the family store in Monona.

She loved working in her yard and enjoyed the outdoors.

She is survived by one daughter: Paula Weber of Moorhead, MN; four sons: Timothy and Curtis of Monona, Paul of Cresco, and Kevin of Las Vegas, NV; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters: Elizabeth Peterson of Moorhead, MN, Esther Eide of Hitterdal, MN, Pat Mitchel of Ankeny, Judy Hahn, Bernice Walls of Moorhead, MN; and one brother: John of Garden Grove, CA.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband John on May 11, 1991 ; her parents; four sisters: Bernadette Rudolph, Pauline Courneya, Flossy Lee, and Catherine Hayashi; and one brother: James.


Inez Huntting

Inez Huntting passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2002 in Kalamazoo , MI at the age of 94.

It was her wish that her body be donated to Wayne State University School of Medicine to benefit medical research. Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home, Inc. handled the arrangements.

Inez Huntting was born January 14, 1908 in Cresco, the daughter of William T. and Carrie Belle (Dale) Huntting. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Cresco.

Her career started with the state hospital systems of Wiscosin and Michigan . During WW II she relocated with the Veterans Commission to Lincoln , NE. She practiced, instructed and supervised in a variety of general hospitals, including locations as Boston , MA , Birmingham , AL , Cleveland OH , and Galveston , TX prior to her retirement to Grand Rapids , MI . She later moved to Kalamazoo with her sister, Majorie Huntting Nickel.

Inez had been recognized by State and National organizations for her work as an occupational therapist in hospitals in Ohio and Texas .

Inez was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers and four sisters.


Lowell Roelofs

Funeral services for Lowell Roelofs of Greenleafton were held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 at the Greenleafton Reformed Church with Rev. Jonathon Loper officiating.

Interment was in Greenleafton Cemetery . Thauwald Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Lowell , 72, died Friday, December 6, 2002 at the Harmony Care Center .

Lowell D. Roelofs was born September 29, 1930 in Bristol Township , the son of Evert and Vera (Mensink) Roelofs. He graduated from Preston High School in 1948. He farmed with his father until his enlistment in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. Following his military duties he returned to the family farm.

On May 23, 1959 he married Evelyn Mensink in the Greenleafton Reformed Church. They farmed until 2001. They moved to Greenleafton in 1998. He worked part-time at Paris Foods in Cresco, and also for a nephew farming.

He was a member of the Greenleafton Reformed Church; he served as a Deacon, Sunday School Treasurer, Brotherhood Treasurer, and Youth Leader. He was active in many organizations including the Republican party and was a seed dealer for many years.

He enjoyed music, bowling, and all sporting events.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn; three sons: Bruce of Cresco, Brian of Lakeville , MN , and Brent of Preston; six grandchildren; two sisters: Gayle Eskra of Beatrice , NE and Joyce Collett of Chandler , AZ ; and one brother: Jon of Cedar Rapids.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents.


                                                Posted by Gene Manning on 12/12/2002  


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