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

Obituary Archive

Hancock County

Garner Leader
Garner IA
50438-1236

Britt News Tribune
Box 28,
42 Center Street West
Britt, IA
50423-1655
Kanawha Reporter

P.O. Box 190
Kanawha, IA
50447


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The NCIGS Hancock County Archive



Ardith L. Furness
July 26, 1922-December 1, 2010

GARNER - Ardith L. Furness, 88, of Garner, died on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, at the IOOF Home in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10 A.M., Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church, east of Garner with Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Burial will be in Ellington Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Friday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ardith Lorraine Furness, the daughter of Conrad and Cora (Hall) Anderson, was born July 26, 1922 at Ventura. She was baptized and confirmed at Ellington Prairie Lutheran Church northeast of Garner. Ardith graduated from Ventura High School in 1940. On December 1, 1946 she was married to Edwin Furness at Ellington Prairie Lutheran Church. As members of Ellington Prairie Lutheran Church they were active as Luther League counselors. They farmed near Lake Mills until 1951 when they moved to the Anderson family farm northeast of Garner. In 1986 they retired from farming and moved into Garner. Ardith also worked at Winnebago Industries in Forest City from 1968 until her retirement in 1990. In 2006, she moved to Prairie View Apartments and in 2008 to Concord Care Center in Garner. In February of 2010 she became a resident of IOOF Home in Mason City.

She enjoyed cooking, embroidering and driving her friends to church on Sunday. Her home was always open for people to have coffee and a little lunch. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school. She also belonged to the Fellowship Club, Ladies Aid, was a charter member of the Evening Guild and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Ardith is survived by her four sons, Dennis (Karen) Furness of Story City, Donald (Janis) Furness of Pottsboro, TX, Ralph (Nancy) Furness of Sioux City and Roger Furness of Garner; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Beverly Anderson of Ventura; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed, July 21, 2004; son, Marlin, Mar. 24, 1964; and four brothers, Nordahl, Grant, Leonard and Roy Anderson.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010



Brigett Ann Wirtjes
February 17, 1983-December 6, 2010

Brigett Ann Wirtjes, 27, of Manly, Iowa, died Monday Dec. 6, 2010, at her home.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2010, at the Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, with Rev. Don Preston officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, Iowa and then one hour before the service at the church. Following the service she will be cremated and a private graveside service will be held at a later date in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to Brigett Ann Wirtjes memorial fund.

Brigett was born Feb. 17, 1983 in Mason City, Iowa the daughter of Donald Bottleman and Lesa (Wood) Eckert. She was involved in Girl Scouts for many years. She attended Garner Hayfield Community Schools and graduated in 2001. While attending N.I.A.C.C. with a full-time schedule to receive her L.P.N Nursing Degree she balanced taking care of her new born baby and a part-time job. Brigett worked at the Mason City Clinic Heart Center. She was very proud to be a part of the heart center team. She married the love of her life Tyler Wirtjes April 28, 2007 at the Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, Iowa.

Her greatest enjoyment in life was being a mom and spending time with family. She enjoyed camping, playing spider solitaire, shopping, gardening, canning and baking. Her favorite color was orange.

She is survived by her husband Tyler Wirtjes, Manly, Iowa two children Shelby Heyden and Trenton Wirtjes, Manly, Iowa; her father Don Bottleman and his wife Janet, Grafton, Iowa; her mother Lesa Eckert, Garner, Iowa; 6 siblings Tara (Casey Swyter) Bottleman, Manly, Iowa, Eric (Jennifer Carrison) Jensen, Northwood, Iowa, Brandon Bottleman, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Lacie Eckert, Garner, Iowa, Abagail Eckert, Garner, Iowa and Devon Eckert, Garner, Iowa; mother-in-law Pamela Wirtjes, Grafton, Iowa; grandparents Avis Wood, Rockford, Iowa and Phyllis Biekert, Mason City, Iowa and many aunts, uncles, nieces and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Elmer and Florence Bottleman, Russel Wood, Arnold Biekert and Irene “Perm” Shahan.
© The Bride Colonial Chapel 2010



David M. Neuberger II
May 16, 1969-December 24, 2010

David M. Neuberger II, 41, of Garner, died Friday, December 24, 2010, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 2 P.M., Tuesday, Dec. 28th at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with the Very Rev. Kenneth B. Gehling officiating. Cremation will follow. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Monday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

David Myron Neuberger II, the son of David and Janice (Millard) Neuberger, was born May 16, 1969 in Belmond. Dave grew up on a farm south of Ventura and graduated from Ventura High School in 1987. He continued his education at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Oklahoma where he received his degree in aviation maintenance technology. On August 12, 1995 he married Kerry Furst at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Clear Lake. They lived in rural Klemme until moving to Garner in 2000. Dave was employed with Hawkeye Sow Centers based in Emmetsburg, Ia., for the last twelve years. As their production supervisor, Dave oversaw the production and management of numerous sow farm facilities while working in conjunction with Pipestone Vet Clinics. Through his work, Dave attended various workshops to enhance his leadership skills, national symposiums, and was involved in consultations in Oklahoma, Canada, and Chile.

Dave was always full of energy and ready to have fun. Very seldom would Dave pass up on a chance for fun, whether that was seeing how many times he could drive backwards around the Ventura Heights circle, or showing Dane and Derek that spring yard work was fun. When planning events, his friends always knew when it came to Dave's vote, it would be, "I'm in!" Dave truly enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and lived life to the fullest. Summer weekends, he was seldom far from the cabin and boat on Clear Lake, pulling the boys and their friends tubing, "toodling" around the lake, and tying up together with friends' boats at Farmer's Beach. Fall often found Dave and family at Iowa State Football games, supporting his friends' Hawkeye team, and cheering for the boys at their football games. Golfing and snowmobiling also seemed to find their way into his schedule. Regardless of all else, the Uno card game tournament with the boys was ongoing.

Dave was a member of numerous organizations including the Iowa Pork Producers and the National Pork Producers Association.

Dave's family includes his wife, Kerry of Garner; two sons, Dane (14) and Derek (10) of Garner; his father, David (Judy) Neuberger of Garner; his mother, Janice Millard of Clear Lake; two sisters, Julia (Lauren) Trembath-Neuberger of Clear Lake and Nicole (Greg) Willson of Waldorf, MN; a brother, Johan Neuberger (Nicole) of Waterloo; step-sisters, Michelle Luscombe of Ventura and Melody Thome of Garner; a step-brother, Mike Stout of Clear Lake; parents-in-law, Martin and Rita Furst of Crystal Lake; brother-in-law, Marty (Nicole) Furst of Garner, and sister-in-law Kate (Greg) Winter of Cedar Rapids; and nephews & nieces, Andrew, Ben, and Avery Furst, Ethan, Josie, and Grace Winter, Cole Willson, and Kaelen and Aleena Neuberger.

Dave was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Bill and Emma Neuberger; maternal grandparents, Cecil and Florence Millard; cousin, Michael Herman; and an uncle, Jerry Millard.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010



Lillian V. Malek
May 10, 1909-December 27, 2010

Lillian V. Malek, 101, of Britt, died on Monday, December 27, 2010, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan, with Rev. Fr. Donald Hertges as celebrant. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Britt, with a Catholic Workman rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Scriptural Wake service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ludmilla "'Lillian" Veronica Malek, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Tusha) Vavrik, was born May 10, 1909 in Duncan. After attending school at Garfield Township # 9, she worked as a nanny for her sisters and also helped on her parent's farm. In the early 1930's, she drove a "Model T Ford" school bus on the Hayfield bus route. On January 20, 1931, she was married to William George Malek, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan in a double wedding with her sister, Mayme and Joe Kubicka. Lillian and Bill farmed in the Hayfield and Duncan areas before buying their own farm north of Britt in 1951. In 1990, she moved into Britt living in her own home and later at the Summit House and Westview Care Center. Throughout her life, she remained true to her Czech heritage as shown in her language skills, cooking, baking, tatting, crocheting and gardening. Bill and Lillian enjoyed their family and fishing trips to Minnesota.

She was a life-long member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Catholic Workman FCSLA w51 and was an honorary member of Rosary Society.

She is survived by her son, William "Bill" J. Malek of Britt; three grandchildren, Daniel Malek of San Jose, CA, James (Mette) Malek of Sioux City and Rosanne Malek of Urbandale; six great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Catherine, Melinda, Angela and Michael; and a brother, Louis (Marge) Vavrik of Ventura.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William, Sr. on February 29, 1988; her daughter-in-law, Sally Malek on December 14, 2002; three grandchildren, Paul, Ramona and Carl; and her siblings, Mayme Kubicka Suchy, Rose (Jos. T) Formanek and Frank, Bob, Willie and George Vavrik.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010



Georgia A. Molencamp
October 3, 1933-December 28, 2010

Georgia A. Molencamp 77, formerly of Garner, went home to her Lord and Savior, Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, December 31, 2010, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with Reverend Dean Hess officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation will be held today, Thursday, December 30, 2010, from 4-6:00 p.m., at the Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake and continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Memorials may be directed to the Georgia A. Molencamp Memorial.

Georgia A. Dunahoo, was born October 3, 1933 in Mason City, the daughter of Donald and Philomena Rose (Frank) Dunahoo. Georgia graduated from Mason City High School in 1951. She was united in marriage to Robert Dean “Bob” Molencamp on October 5, 1951 and to this union four children were born. Georgia was a homemaker for most of her life until she worked for Halford’s Café and The Clear Lake Bakery. Georgia also worked in the Dietary Department at USA Healthcare in Mason City. She retired from working at Winnebago Industries. Georgia relocated to Marshalltown with her daughter and lived there for several years until relocating back to Garner.

Georgia loved the Lord, she was a very faithful person and had great devotion to the Lord and helping others. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. She loved baking, cooking, playing cards, Bingo, sewing, and tending to her flower gardens especially her Gladiolas. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends; especially with her girlfriend Donna Mostrom. Georgia was a very adventurous person. She was a Lion’s Club Member for several years.

Georgia will be greatly missed by her children Mark Molencamp, Mickey (Vanetta) Molencamp, Deon Marie Molencamp, and Jeffery (Gloria) Molencamp, all of Garner; grandchildren Lisa Molencamp, Garner, Shawna Shepherd, Ohio, Timmy Molencamp, Nicole, Cassandra, Cody, Natasha and Nicholas Molencamp, all of Garner; great-grandchildren Robert, Robyn, Sincere, Marcus, Jessie, Erin, Gregory and Carson; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister Donna Jensen, Lander, WY; along with numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Georgia is preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother Donald Dunahoo.
© Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 2010



Cleola Ann "Koky" Lackore
August 24, 1929-December 29, 2010

Cleola Ann "Koky" Lackore, age 81 of Garner, died on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Concord Care Center in Garner, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, on Monday, January 3, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Garner, with Pastor Sandy Gobeli officiating. Burial will be at Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 PM, on Sunday, January 2, 2011, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, Iowa.

Cleola "Koky" Ann Lackore, the daughter of Harvey Elmer and Edith Ross (Forristall) Boller was born August 24, 1929 at Goodell. She attended school and graduated from the Goodell Community Schools. On December 23, 1946, she was married to Marvin Keith Lackore in Wichita, KS. She had worked at various stores in Garner as a sales clerk. Koky enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, baking, fieldwork, writing poetry, latch hook, embroidering and attending sports events. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and U.M.W.

She is survived by her children, Peggy Dominguez (Leo) of Tucson, AZ, Nancy Kaduce (Rick) of Rockford, Jill Schott (Dennis) of Garner, Sally Bergman (David) of Britt, a daughter-in-law, Doris Dallman (Kurt) of Garner; 15 grandchildren, Lisa Warren (Michael), Jody Buzicky, Polly Ruiz (Armando), Lindsey Madsen (Ed), Zachary Kaduce (Katie), Bree Bartlett (Brad), Brandy Anderson (Josh), Andrew Schott (Ashley), Matthew Lackore (Gina), Kelly Muth (Mitch), Katie Koller (Chad), Melissa Rager (Ryan), Benjamin Bergman, Willie Bergman, and Holly Cassady (Dustin); 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Harriet Rust of Mason City and Beth Lackore (Dale) of San Luis Obispo, CA; two brothers, Larry Boller (Evelyn) of Goodell and Jerry Boller (Toni) of San Luis Obispo, CA and 2 sisters-in-law, Donna Buckley of Clear Lake and Thelma Boller of San Luis Obispo, CA.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Lackore on October 12, 2010; a son, Harris "Skip" Lackore on April 14, 1986; her parents; and siblings, Helen Latch, Darwin Boller, Howard Boller and Eulelia Christie.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010

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