Iola D. Blumer

August 17, 2011

Iola Dorothy Blumer, 81, of Fountain, Minnesota, died on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at the Olmsted County Hospital.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 6, at the United Methodist Church in Fountain, Minnesota. Burial was held on Monday, August 8, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Iola D. Blumer, was born on February 16, 1930 in rural Gamer, to William and Gertrude (McKaskey) Riemer. She graduated from Garner in 1948 and Waldorf College, after which she taught in rural Hancock County for several years. On March 11, 1952, she was united in marriage to Robert Blumer. They farmed near Hayfield until 1979, when they moved to a farm near Fountain and later moved into town.

She was a member of the Fountain United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and the American Legion Auxiliary of Fountain. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, especially her two grandchildren.

Iola is survived by her son, Donovan and his wife, Julie of Fountain and a daughter, Barbara of Garner; and two grandchildren, Justin and Jenna.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
©The Garner Leader 2011

Dorothey Jean Oxley
October 2, 1932 - August 10, 2011

Dorothey Jean Oxley 78, of Clear Lake, died on Wednesday August 10, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with Reverend Dean Hess officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg. Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church in Dorothey’s memory.

Dorothey Jean was born on October 2, 1932 in Tyler, Minnesota, the daughter of Richard and Helen (Teufel) Schnell. She received her education and graduated high school in Tyler, Minnesota. Shortly after graduation she worked in an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dorothey was united in marriage to Albert Oxley on March 26, 1951. They lived a short while in Iowa before moving to Chicago, Illinois, where Albert worked at the United States Postal Service and Dorothey attended Northwestern University and continued work in an office. Albert and Dorothey lived in Chicago for 8 years; there they were blessed with three children, Richard, Debra and Albert Jr. Dorothey became a homemaker after the eldest child was born. Albert and Dorothey moved to Corwith, Iowa; where they were blessed with three more children Lee Ann, Merri Jean and Jim.

In 1969, they moved to Clear Lake, Iowa, where they settled on a small acreage. Dorothey was an active and dedicated member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. Dorothey will miss her quilting friends as she especially enjoyed all her time with them. She participated in women’s circle, serving church luncheons and dinners, school supply, and health drives. Dorothey loved to read, tended to her flower gardens and traveling with Albert across the United States and abroad. Dorothey and her family always got together the week of 4th of July each year. This year they celebrated Albert’s 93rd birthday, and their 60th wedding anniversary. Dorothey will be deeply missed by her family and friends; her family takes comfort knowing that she is in the arms of her Lord and Savior.

Dorothey is survived by her husband, Albert Oxley Sr. of Clear Lake; children, Richard Oxley and special friend, Joann of Cedar Rapids, Debra Bower and her husband, Steve and their children, Michael and Bryan of Greenville, Wisconsin, Albert Oxley Jr. of Cedar Rapids, Lee Ann Braga and her husband, Mark and their children, David and Hollie of Marshalltown, Merri Jean Jones and her husband, Bob and their children, Kerri, Christopher and Rebecca of Kingsport, Tennessee and Jim Oxley of Clear Lake.

Dorothey was preceded in death by her parents.

The Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel of Clear Lake, was in charge of the arrangements.
© Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 2011

Chester Raymond Ploeger
September 1, 1925 - August 21, 2011

Rev. Chester R. Ploeger, 85, of Garner, died on Sunday, August 21, 2011, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, August 24, at the Peace Reformed Church south of Garner, with Rev. Harvey Opp officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Peace Reformed Church in his name.

Rev. Chester Raymond Ploeger, one of seven children of Fred and Amelia (Luelf) Ploeger, was born on September 1, 1925 at Schaller, Iowa. He was baptized in the Immanuel Reformed Church in Schaller, on September 13, 1925 by Rev. Herman Greimann. Chester grew to manhood on his father's farm located seven miles northeast of Schaller. On May 28, 1939, he received the Rite of Confirmation by Rev. Willard Sherman. He received his elementary education in the rural schools of Eden Township and graduated from the Hayes Consolidated High School at Storm Lake in 1942. In 1946, he graduated from the Mission House College in Plymouth, Wisconsin, with a bachelor of arts degree and from the Mission House Theological Seminary with a bachelor of theology degree in 1949. He was examined and licensed by the Germania Classis, Reformed Church in America at Lennox, South Dakota, on July 8, 1949 and ordained into the Holy Ministry by the Same Classis on July 27, 1949. On June 18, 1950, he married Miss Grace Grether in the Salem-Ebenezer Reformed Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by the Rev. K.J. Stuebbe.

Chester served the following pastorates: Logan Reformed Church in Dell Rapids, South Dakota from 1949 to 1952, Peace Reformed Church in Garner from 1952 to 1965, Zion Reformed Church in Menno, South Dalpta from 1965 to 1970, Peace Reformed Church in Napoleon, Ohio from 1970 to 1973, Salem-Ebenezer Reformed Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin from 1973 to 1976, Grace Reformed Church in Bakersfield, California from 1976 to 1983, Peace Reformed Church in Loveland, Colorado from 1983 to 1985 and Eureka Reformed Church in Eureka, South Dakota from 1985 to 1990. In 1990, Chester retired from the ministry and moved with Grace back to Garner. Chester was elected to Pastor Emeritus by the Peace Reformed Church in Garner on July 15, 1990. From 1990 to 2000 he did substitute preaching in various Reformed churches in the area.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Ploeger (nee Grether) of Garner; a sister, Evelyn Currie of Storm Lake; a sister-in-law, Mardelle Ploeger of Sioux Center; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ivan (Genevieve) Ploeger and Everett (Verna) Ploeger; fraternal twin brother, Lester Ploeger; two sisters, Opal (Lyle) Langner and Mildred (Bill) Demers; and a brother-in-law, Wilbur Currie.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Edgar "Junior" Mayhew

August 31, 2011

Edgar "Junior" Mayhew was born at the family farm in Hancock County near Goodel, on March 30, 1928, to Edgar V. Mayhew and Leona F. (Sandry) Mayhew. He attended school in Goodell from first through eleventh grade and graduated from the Belmond Community High School in May 1946.

Junior worked on the family farm up until 1989 at which time his father had a stroke and he spent the next few years caring for his elderly parents. His father passed away in May 1993 and his mother in March 1995. He continued living on the farm until failing health caused him to enter the Belmond Rehabilitation Center in June 2005. This is where he resided until his death on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, due to complications following a stroke.

Junior enjoyed numerous things in his life, some included watching television, playing bingo, as well as enjoyed doing crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. Junior also loved to talk about John Deere tractors.

Edgar's love and memories will continue on with his sister, Gladys Marie Sprugel a resident of the Scenic Manor, Iowa Falls; two nieces, Vicki L Sprugel of Marshalltown and Beth (Brent) Hendricks of Grinnell and their two sons, Isaac B. Hendricks and Zachary W. Hendricks; along with several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar V. and Leona; grandparents; a brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Sprugel; and a great-nephew, Justin Hendricks.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date. The Andrews Funeral Homes in Belmond, is in charge of the arrangements.
©The Garner Leader 2011