Lola Mary (Bowers) Murphy,
1914-2006
July 12, 2006
Lola Mary
(Bowers) Murphy, 92, of Cherry
Valley, Illinois, died on
Monday, July 3, 2006, in her
daughter's home in Cherry Valley
with her family by her side.
A funeral service
was held at 9:30 a.m., on
Saturday, July 8, 2006, in the
Cherry Valley United Methodist
Church, Cherry Valley, Illinois,
with Rev. Nancy Retford and Rev.
Dr. Richard Wang officiating.
Burial was in the Cherry Valley
Cemetery. The Fitzgerald Funeral
Home & Crematory, Mulford
Chapel, was in charge of the
arrangements.
She was born on
January 5, 1914, to Archie and
Hazel Theresa (Ford) Bowers in
Concord Township, Hancock
County. Lola graduated from the
Garner High School in the class
of 1932.
Lola married
Robert Dale Murphy on February
6, 1934 in Rockford. She has
been a Cherry Valley resident
for 56 years. She was employed
by the U.S. Government in Cherry
Valley for 21 years, retiring in
1974 as a postmistress.
Lola was a member
of Cherry Valley United
Methodist Church for over 50
years, a member of the Busy Bee
Circle, former member of the
Cherry Valley School Board and a
life time member of the American
Legion Auxiliary, post 77
Belvidere.
She and Bob were
awarded Cherry Valley "Citizens
of the Year" in 1995.
She is survived
by four daughters, Patricia
(Willard) Gorsuch and Kathleen
(Vance) Sundberg, both of
Belvidere, Sally (Ronald)
Hollembeak and Mary Erickson,
both of Cherry Valley; sons,
Robert "Terry" (Sherry) Murphy
of Cherry Valley and Timothy
(Connie) Murphy of Kirkland;
sisters, Mildred Tice of
Freeport and Elnore Larkin of
Garner.
She is also survived by 18
grandchildren, Bonnie (Bob)
Young, Debbie (Mike) Hecht, Andy
(Sandy) Gorsuch, Martin Gorsuch,
Russ (Kim) Gorsuch, Jennifer
(David) Dienberg, Jeff
(Marybeth) Sundberg, Chad
(Cheryl) Hollembeak, Jill
Hollembeak, Dawn Hollembeak,
Marc (Jodi) Erickson, Jon
Erickson, Lisa Murphy, Theresa
Murphy, Tim Murphy, Kim Murphy,
Brian Murphy and Amy Murphy; 27
great-grandchildren; and 4
great-great-grandsons; and by
many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by
her husband, Bob on July 27,
2003; her parents; brothers,
Herbert Bowers and Raymond
Bowers; and great-granddaughter,
Amelia Gorsuch.
A special thank
you to Anam Care, Lisa Leum, RN
and Heartland Hospice Services.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
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Sister of Garner Resident
Passes Away
July
12, 2006
Charlotte
Finnerty, 72, of Des Moines,
passed away on Wednesday, July
5, 2006, at the Iowa Methodist
Medical Center in Des Moines
from complications of polycystic
kidney disease.
Services were held at the Iles
Funeral Home in Des Moines on
Saturday, July 8.
She is survived
by four children; seven
grandchildren; three brothers;
and three sisters, including
Elizabeth Schrader of Garner.
She was preceded
in death by her husband, Bob;
her parents; and her sister,
Gloria Munch.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
|
Elsie M. Renner, 1923-2006
July 19, 2006
Elsie
M. Renner, 83, of Clear Lake,
died on Tuesday, July 11, 2006,
at the Muse Norris Hospice
Inpatient Unit, Mason City.
Funeral services
were held on Friday, July 14, at
the St. Patrick's Catholic
Church, Clear Lake, with Rev.
John Tilp officiating. Interment
followed lunch in the St.
Boniface Cemetery, Garner. The
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel
was in charge of the
arrangements. In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be given
to Hospice of North Iowa.
Elsie was born on
April 4, 1923 on the family
farm, rural Klemme, the daughter
of George and Erma (Born)
Thiemann. She graduated from the
Klemme High School in 1941.
Elsie married Maurice (Bud)
Murray, November 17, 1943. They
lived on the family farm where
they raised their family. She
was always involved and active
in the community.
Elsie married
Chet Renner on July 9, 1984 at
the St. Boniface Catholic
Church, Garner. They lived in
Clear Lake. She loved traveling
the United States. Elsie was a
member of the St. Patrick's
Catholic Church, Clear Lake, the
Crescent Club and the O.D.O.
Club.
Elsie is survived
by her husband, Chet Renner of
Clear Lake; four children, Janet
Murray Blasingame of Cedar
Rapids, Jerry Murray and his
wife, Dori of Port Byron,
Illinois, Tom Murray and his
wife, Kathy of Iowa City and
Mary Jo Hamrick and her husband,
Brian of Springville; two
step-children, Bill Renner and
his wife, Julie of Garner and
Tom Renner and his wife, Janelle
of Ventura; step-son-in-law,
Lowell Greimann of Ames; seven
grandchildren, Debbie Finger and
her husband, Scott, Angela
Murray, Adam Murray, Wade
Murray, Kim Appleberg and her
husband, Brett, Michelle Grover
and her husband, Judd and Deana
Trotter and her husband, Ryan;
40 great-grandchildren; and one
sister, Stella Beiber of Cedar
Rapids.
Elsie was
preceded in death by her
parents; first husband, Bud
Murray (1981); son-in-law, James
Blasingame; and step-daughter,
Jane Greimann.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
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Merle W. Bilyeu, 1921-2006
July 19, 2006
Merle
W. Bilyeu, 85, of Woden, died on
Thursday, July 13, 2006, at the
Westview Care Center in Britt.
Funeral services
were held on Monday, July 17, at
10:30 a.m., at the St. John's
Lutheran Church in Woden with
Rev. Arlen Lloyd officiating.
Burial was in the Grant Township
Cemetery, with military rites by
the Woden Veterans Ceremonial
Unit. The Cataldo Funeral Home
was in charge of the
arrangements.
Merle Wilbur
Bilyeu, the son of Josiah and
Karen (Hanna) Bilyeu, was born
on May 19, 1921 at Woden. He
attended country school near his
home and graduated from the
Buffalo Center High School in
1939. Merle worked at a
consolidated air plane factory
in California until enlisting in
the U.S. Army Air Corps in
October of 1942. He received his
basic training at Midland, Texas
and then attended airplane
maintenance school. Merle was
sent to the 364th Group and the
384th Squadron at Van Nys,
California and then sailed on
the Queen Elizabeth arriving in
England on February 6, 1944. He
served as a crew chief for P-38
“Lightnings” and P-51 “Mustang”
airplanes. Merle was awarded 6
Bronze Stars for his
contribution during the European
Campaigns of WW II and was
honorably discharged. He
returned home and worked as an
automobile mechanic for Whites
Motors in Forest City.
On July 5, 1947, he married
Adeila Fay Anderson at Forest
City. They farmed near Thompson
and later moved to a farm near
Buffalo Center. In 1965 they
moved to their present farm
north of Woden, where Merle
retired from farming in 1989.
For the past 15 years he enjoyed
attending reunions of the 364th
fighter group. Merle was an avid
reader and centered his life
around his family.
He was a member
of the Grant Lutheran Church
serving on the church board, was
a past commander and life time
member of the Woden American
Legion, served on the
Woden-Crystal Lake School Board,
was a 4-H leader, Grant Township
ASC committee member and
belonged to the North Iowa Wood
Carvers.
He is survived by
his wife, Adeila of Woden; 5
children, Steven Bilyeu of San
Antonio, Texas, Keith (Libby)
Bilyeu of Ames, Jeff (Renee)
Bilyeu of Fort Smith, Arkansas,
Joel Bilyeu of Minneapolis,
Minnesota and Angela (Timothy)
Bennett of Monterey, California;
11 grandchildren; 4
great-grandchildren; and
sisters-in-law, Lucy Bilyeu of
Mason City, Norma Bilyeu of
Mason City, Carol (Al) Cordes of
Britt and Kathryn Bilyeu of
Omaha, Nebraska.
He was preceded
in death by his parents;
brothers, Archie, John, Julius
and Roy Bilyeu; and sisters,
Edith Slattenow, Geneva Hager
and Elna Harms.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
|
Cecil K. Bridges, 1916-2006
July 19, 2006
Cecil
Kenneth Bridges, 89, of
Thornton, died on Thursday, July
13, 2006, at the Hospice of
North Iowa, Mason City.
Funeral services
were held on Monday, July 17, at
the Thornton First United
Methodist Church with Pastor
Dave Teixeira, of the Ventura
Missionary Church in Ventura,
California, presiding. Interment
followed in the Ell Township
Cemetery in Klemme. The
Retz-Grarup Funeral Home,
Thornton, was in charge of the
arrangements.
Cecil, the
youngest of seven children, was
born on August 29, 1916, on a
farm northwest of Klemme, the
son of Herman and Elizabeth
(Fanslow) Bridges. He attended
rural schools in Hancock County
and graduated from the Klemme
High School.
Cecil married
Lucille Stille on May 21, 1938,
in Northwood. He then worked for
several years in the Jacobs
Hardware Store in Klemme. During
WW II, Cecil was a welder in the
shipyards in Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin.
In 1949, Cecil
and Lucille started farming in
the Thornton area and in 1954
they moved onto their own farm.
During this time, Cecil clerked
many farm sales. He also worked
for the Cerro Gordo ASCS office
as a field representative,
sealing corn, measuring fields,
and at many local elevators
sampling government corn during
harvest. In 1980, Cecil and
Lucille retired from farming and
moved into Thornton.
He was a faithful
member of the First United
Methodist Church in Thornton and
was a member of the Thornton
Lions Club for many years. Over
the years, he served on the
Thornton Co-op Elevator Board
and also on various boards of
the Thornton Methodist Church.
Cecil enjoyed fishing, golfing,
hunting, and playing cards.
Cecil will be
remembered mowing his lawn, for
his sense of humor, his love of
life, and his caring for family
and friends.
He is survived by
his wife of 68 years, Lucille;
three sons, Stan and wife, Marie
of Hampton, Rock and wife,
Suzanne of Lake Mills and Chad
and wife, Sherry of Plattsmouth,
Nebraska; and sister, Irene
(Toots) Davis of DeRidder,
Louisiana; seven grandchildren,
LeeAnn Wickwire, Sally
Stanbrough, Barry Bridges, Brian
Bridges, Gail Bridges, Laurie
Bridges and Amy Teixeira; two
step-grandchildren, Michele Holt
and Clint Fielding; 12
great-grandchildren; three
step-great-grandchildren; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; three
sisters, Gladys Drake, Faye
Beier and Maude Stille; two
brothers, Orville and Glen
(Sport); and one
step-grandchild, Vince Fielding.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
|
Everett I. Guth, 1920-2006
July 26, 2006
Everett
I. Guth, 85, a long time farmer
and Klemme resident, died on
Sunday, July 16, 2006, at the
Hancock County Memorial Hospital
in Britt.
Funeral services
were held on Wednesday, July 19,
at the Klemme United Methodist
Church. The Reverend Paddy Druhl
officiated at the service.
Burial was in the Ell Township
Cemetery. The Andrews Funeral
Home in Klemme was in charge of
the arrangements.
Everett Ivan
Guth, the son of Frank and Clara
(Bier) Guth, was born on
September 22, 1920, on his
parents' farm at Meservey. He
was raised and educated in
Meservey and graduated from the
Meservey High School with the
class of 1938.
Everett was
united in marriage to Lucille
Jane Hatch on May 24, 1944, at
the Methodist Church in Nemaha.
Following their marriage they
lived on a farm near Meservey
until 1946. In 1946, they moved
to a farm north of Klemme.
Everett and Lucille owned and
operated the farm for the next
33 years until 1979.
After retiring
from active farming in 1979 they
moved into their present home in
Klemme. Though he had retired
from the farm many years ago, he
continued to be keenly
interested in the happenings of
his son's farming operation,
assisting at times and always
keeping up with what was going
on. Even as recent as a few days
before his passing, he was
inquiring about an upcoming
construction project that was in
the works.
In addition to
his love of family and farming
and working the land, Everett
was very dedicated to the
community of Klemme and
surrounding area. He had been a
long time member of the Klemme
United Methodist Church and
served as church treasurer for a
number of years. Everett had
also been active in the Iowa
Farm Bureau and Cattle Producers
Association during his years of
active farming.
Everett was
elected and served as mayor of
Klemme in 1988, serving a total
of two years. He had been on the
North Iowa State Bank Board of
Director's for a number of years
and had served as President of
the Klemme Co-op Grain. Everett
was an assistant troop leader
for the Boy Scouts and served on
the Klemme School Board.
Everett enjoyed
precious time spent with his
family, and his grandchildren
will cherish their memory of
grandpa taking them for a ride
on a tractor or in the combine.
He enjoyed playing golf, square
dancing, camping, having coffee
with the guys at the Elevator,
and the fellowship of senior
meals at the 4 Point Center in
Klemme.
Ev and Lucille
spent many winters in Mission,
Texas, where he enjoyed
shuffleboard, golf, and the
company of good friends.
Everett's legacy
will be fondly cherished by his
surviving family, including his
wife and life partner of more
than 62 years, Lucille Guth of
Klemme; three children, Nancy
Cartier and her husband, David
of Vienna, Virginia, Dennis Guth
and his wife, Margaret of Klemme
and Peggy Talarico and her
husband, Frank of Omaha,
Nebraska; nine grandchildren,
Scott Cartier of Mountain View,
California, Kristina Cartier of
Herndon, Virginia, Eric Guth of
Forest City, Natalie, Anna,
Peter and Lilly Guth of Klemme,
Angela and Amy Talarico of
Omaha, Nebraska; two
step-grandsons, John Talarico of
Mollah, Oregon and Steven
Talarico of Canby, Oregon; two
great-grandsons, Gavin and
Gareth Cartier of Mountain View,
California; a sister, Marvly
Frink of New Hampton;
sisters-in-law, Amelia Guth of
Meservey and Evelyn Rockufeler
of Storm Lake.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; an
infant sister, Frances; his
brother, Eugene Guth;
brothers-in-law, Everett Frink,
Ardell Rooks and Frank
Rockufeler.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
|
Ruth A. Goll, 1931-2006
August 2, 2006
Ruth A. Goll, 75,
of Garner, died on Friday, July
28, 2006, at her home.
Funeral services
were held on Monday, July 31, at
10:30 a.m., at the Zion
Evangelical and Reformed Church
in Garner with the Rev. Timothy
Diehl officiating. Music was
provided by organist, Margaret
Jass who accompanied
congregational hymns. Ushers
were Alan Jass and Allan DeWitt.
Casket bearers
were Steven Goll, Joel Goll, Lee
Stadtlander, John Whitney, John
C. Jackson, Mike Goll, Travis
Goll, Ben Goll and Dallas Goll.
Burial was in the Peace Reformed
Cemetery, south of Garner. The
Cataldo Funeral Home was in
charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Ann Goll,
the daughter of Mike and Helena
(Terhark) Kurtz, was born on
June 12, 1931, on a farm near
Belmond. She graduated from the
Klemme High School in 1948 and
then worked at the telephone
company office in Garner for a
few years.
On September 9,
1950, she was married to Calvin
"Johnnye" Goll at the Immanuel
Reformed United Church of Christ
in Klemme. They lived in Garner
until 1958 when they moved to a
farm southwest of Garner. In
1993 they retired from farming
and moved into town. Ruth
enjoyed spending time with her
family, gardening, sewing and
baking.
She was a member
of the Zion Evangelical and
Reformed Church in Garner and
the Zion Women's Fellowship.
Ruth was very strong in her
faith and always looked forward
to attending Bible Study at
church.
Ruth is survived
by her husband, Calvin "Johnnye"
Goll of Garner; five children,
Kristie Jackson of Ankeny, Wendy
(John) Whitney of Rockland,
Wisconsin, Cathy (Lee)
Stadtlander of Ankeny, Steven
(Janet) Goll of Garner and Joel
(Julie) Goll of Garner; nine
grandchildren, Sarah Jackson,
John C. Jackson, Lora Goll,
Michael Goll, Aleigha Goll,
Dallas Goll, Travis Goll,
Courtney Goll and Benjamin Goll;
two sisters, Jean O'Donnell of
Deer Park, Wisconsin and Carole
(Sanford) Morton of Coulter; and
a brother, Robert (Irma) Kurtz
of Rancho Cordova, California.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; and two
sons-in-law, John Jackson and Ed
Hudson.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
|
Carol Stacy Peterson 1942-2006
August 9, 2006
Carol
Stacy Peterson, 64, of
Muscatine, died on Monday, July
31, 2006, at the Unity Hospital
in Muscatine, surrounded by her
family.
A Funeral Mass
was held on Thursday, August 3,
at 11:00 a.m., at the St.
Mathias Church. The Reverend
Jason Crossen of the St. Mary
and Mathias Parish officiated.
Honorary casket bearers were her
grandchildren, Megan McGowan,
Katie McGowan, Patrick McGowan,
Emily Juszczyk, John Philip
Juszczyk, Nicolas Juszczyk and
Alina Juszczyk, and her nephew,
Andrew Dura.
Casket Bearers were J.R.
Francomano, Jamie Francomano,
John Francomano, John Dura,
Glenn McGowan, Don Juszczyk and
Kyle Juszczyk. Burial was in the
Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kewanee,
Illinois.
Carol was born on
January 24, 1942, in Kewanee,
Illinois, the daughter of Emmett
and Mildred Block Stacy. She
married Phillip J. Peterson on
December 28, 1963, in Kewanee,
Illinois.
Carol graduated
from the Kewanee High School in
1960, and later graduated from
the University of Northern
Colorado with a bachelors degree
in education. She worked as a
teacher in Weathersfield,
Illinois, Middletown, New
Jersey, Mason City, and later
retired from the Central Middle
School in Muscatine.
She loved to spend time with her
family and grandchildren. She
also enjoyed playing bunco,
golfing at Geneva and going to
the pool.
Survivors include
three daughters, Stacy McGowan
and husband, Glenn of Poplar
Grove, Illinois, Laura Juszczyk
and husband, Don of Muscatine
and Sarah Peterson of Cherry
Valley, Illinois; eight
grandchildren, and two sisters,
Rita Francomano and husband,
John of Baltimore, Maryland and
Sharon Dura and husband, John of
Stevensville, Michigan.
Carol was
preceded in death by her
parents; and her husband in
2004.
©The
Garner Leader & Signal 2006
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