Tressa Mae Waddingham
September 19, 1926 - July 4, 2011

Tressa Mae Waddingham, age 84, of Clear Lake, died on Monday, July 4, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, July 9, at the United Methodist Church in Ventura, with Pastor Rhonda Preston officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, July 8, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue an hour prior to the services at the church.

Tressa Mae Waddingham, the daughter of James Lester and Lula Leona (Streeper) Tompkins was born on September 19, 1926, on the family farm northwest of Ventura, in Ellington Township. She attended the rural schools of Ellington Township and then graduated from the Ventura High School in 1944. On September 24, 1944, she was married to Ardell Timothy Waddingham at the United Methodist Church in Klemme. They lived on the Waddingham home farm until 1947, when they moved northwest of Ventura to Tressa's home farm. They farmed for a total of 50 years before retiring. She lost Ardell in 200l. Tressa sold the farm home in 2010 and moved to an apartment at the Oakwood Assisted Living Center in Clear Lake.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Ventura, UMW and the Christian Women's Club in Clear Lake. Tressa enjoyed cooking, baking, entertaining, cross stitching and gardening.

Survivors include three daughters, Kathy Payne (Tom) of Vancouver, British Columbia and their two children, Tiffany K. Payne (Matt) of Colorado and Judd T. Payne (Sherami) of Colorado and their two children, Kaelyn and Kody; second daughter, Iris Alt (Jerry) of Earlham, Iowa and third daughter, Valerie Hasbrouck and her two daughters, Vanessa Hasbrouck, who with her partner, Jason Schultz have a new daughter, Aubrey Kay Hasbrouck and Natalie Hasbrouck, who is a student at the Forest City High School; a niece, Bonnie Betts of Minnesota; a nephew, Barry Orcutt of Wisconsin and the Waddingham clan of nieces and nephews in Southern Iowa.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ardell on February 2, 2001; a son, Gary Waddingham in 1983; her parents, James in 1968 and Lula in 1967; and a sister, Violet Otis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Ventura United Methodist Church Memorial Fund in her memory.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Mildred Phyllis Yaggy
February 6, 1916 - July 12, 2011

Mildred P. Yaggy, 95, of Britt, died on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, at the United Methodist Church in Britt, with Revs. Larry Vallery and Bob Dodge officiating. A private family inurnment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Mildred Phyllis Yaggy, the daughter of Norman and Lila Dickens was born on February 6, 1916 at Alpha, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and became a member of the United Methodist Church in Sumner. Millie received her education in the schools of Bremer County and graduated from the Sumner High School in 1934. On December 2, 1939, she was married to Mahlon Yaggy, son of Rev. Jacob and Mabel Yaggy of Toledo, at the United Brethren Church in Cedar Falls. They spent the biggest share of their married life in Britt.

Millie enjoyed her flower gardens, oil painting, reading and her dog, Benjie. She loved sports and during high school was very active in track, basketball and also softball. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and belonged to UMW. Millie loved to share her flowers and many Sunday mornings they were seen in the church. Mille was also past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star and past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge No. 334.

Millie is survived by her daughter, Lori (Kevin) Stockman of Ogden; four grandchildren, Lisa (Dan) McNickle of Alden, Darla Van Kooten of Dallas Center and her friend, Daryl, Kim Reiber of Iowa Falls and David (Catrina) Sweers of Mauston, Wisonsin; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mahlon on June 23, 1992; daughter, Sandra Troe on October 11, 2002; parents; and a brother, Ross Dickens.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Thelma Elida Mitchell
March 12, 1920 - July 15, 2011

Thelma E. Mitchell, 91, of Garner, died on Friday, July 15, 2011, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, July 21, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Harvey and Thelma Mitchell Radio Ministry Fund, Lutheran Laymen's League or to the Hospice of North Iowa.

Thelma Elida Mitchell, the daughter of Theodore Charles and Malenda (Rosaaen) Rogness, was born on March 12, 1920 on a farm in Ellington Township, southeast of Forest City. In the fall of 1926, Thelma lived with her grandparents in Thor, Iowa, where she attended her first year of school. She attended Ellington #5 for the rest of her elementary education. She graduated from the Forest City High School in 1938 with a Normal Training Teacher's Certificate. Thelma continued her education at the La James Cosmetology School in Mason City. After graduation she taught at La James until 1942. During WW II, Thelma moved to Omaha, Nebraska and was employed at Glen L. Martin as a final assembly electrical inspector for airplane bombers. During her employment at the bomber plant she met her future husband, Harvey Mitchell. On February 6, 1944, they were married at the Faith Lutheran Church in Miller. Thelma and Harvey lived with her parents before moving into Garner in 1946. Thelma was a stay-at-home mother for their children and in 1966 became the assistant librarian at the Garner-Hayfield Elementary School retiring in 1988. In 1976, she began working as an assistant librarian at the Garner Public Library. She continued working at the Garner Public Library until 1995.

Thelma enjoyed reading and was instrumental in establishing libraries at St. Paul Lutheran Church and at Prairie View Apartments. She also enjoyed traveling, golfing, sewing, using her computer and communicating with friends and relatives. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, LWML, Garner Wa-Tan-Ye Club, WIT and the Book Worms Book Club.

Thelma is survived by her three children, Harvey "Dan" (Cari) Mitchell, Jr. of Hastings, Minnesota, Dennis (Barb) Mitchell of Hollywood, Florida and Deb (Mike) Schmidt of South Haven, Minnesota; seven grandchildren and their families, Mitzi Mitchell (Greg Huff), Mindi (Gunnar) Nelson and their three children, Masayda, Cassian and Joakim, Shayne (Sarah) Mitchell and their two daughters, Adrianna and Mackenzie, Caryn (Jason) Smith and their two sons, Brayden and Rylan, Bryan (Stacy) Mitchell, Christian Schmidt and Gretchen (Jeremy) Etzler; a brother, Martin (Miriam) Rogness of Forest City; two sisters, Alma (Arno) Olson of Iowa City and Marie Jordahl of Enid, Oklahoma; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Rogness of California; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey on September 29, 1997; parents; and two brothers, Lester and Emmet Rogness.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Rodney Theodore Olson
January 24, 1952 - July 19, 2011

Rodney T. Olson, 59, of Garner, died on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, July 22, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Church or to the Hospice of North Iowa.

Rodney Theodore Olson, son of Theodore and Helen (Helland) Olson was born in Forest City, on January 24, 1952. He was the youngest of five siblings. Rod graduated from the Thompson High School in 1970 and later attended NIACC. In 1971, Rod was married to Julie Westcott and to that union a son, Nicholas was born; they later divorced. In 1985, he was married to Donna (Heyer) Birkey. To that union, two daughters were born, Tamara and Trina. They later divorced. On November 2, 2002, Rod was united in marriage to Karen (Swalve) Olson, also of Garner. He has lived in Garner since 1984.

Rod was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church and had been employed at IMT for the last 15 years. Rod was a very loving person with a great personality, who cared a lot about his family and friends. He loved building and flying model airplanes and helicopters. A few of his interests were playing the guitar, camping, boating, enjoying time with family and friends, and his dog Muffy. He also adored his three grandchildren, Rylie, Grace and Grant.

Rod is survived by his wife, Karen of Garner; son, Nick Olson of Minneapolis; two daughters, Tamara and Trina Olson, both of Glenwood; three step-children, Heather (Nate) Klemm of Ixonia, Wisconsin, Melanie (Steve) Thorne of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and Josh (Vanessa) Swalve of Watertown, WIisconsin; one grandchild, Rylie Simpson of Glenwood; two step-grandchildren, Grace and Grant Klemm of Ixonia, Wisconsin; his mother, Helen Olson of Thompson; a brother, Harlan (Jo) Olson of Buchanan, Tennessee; three sisters, Janice Mathenia of Paris, Tennessee, Sandy Peterson of Thompson and Evonne (Doug) Kouba of Leon, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law, LaVina Bakken of Garner; and two brothers-in-law, Jim (Cheryl) Bakken of Forest City and Steven (Laurie) Bakken of Faribault, Minnesota.

Rod was preceded in death by his father, Ted Olson; father-in-law, Carrol Bakken; brother-in-law, Wylie Mathenia; a nephew, Keven Peterson; and a great nephew, Carl Gergen.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Vanetta A. Molencamp
October 24, 1954 - July 19, 2011

Vanetta A. Molencamp, 56, of Garner, died on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, July 23, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City. Visitation will be held from 4-8:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Vanetta A. Molencamp, the daughter of Kenny and Shirley (McKenna) Otto, was born on October 24, 1954 at Stanley, North Dakota. She graduated from the Kanawha High School in 1973. After graduation, Vanetta moved to Mason City where she worked at Gretchen's for the next eighteen years. On April 28, 1984, she was married to Mickey Molencamp at Mason City. They lived in Mason City for a year before moving to Garner. Vanetta was employed at Bill's Family Foods and at several other businesses in Garner. The past three years she had worked at Woodharbors in Mason City.

Vanetta loved life. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, baking cakes, cross stitching and playing sports, especially with her family. She was an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and Christian Education.

Vanetta is survived by her husband, Mickey of Garner; two children, Shawna Otto of Middlefield, Ohio and Timothy Molencamp of Garner; two grandchildren, Erin Forry and her two children, Leighlah and Hayden and Gregory Trosin; her father, Kenny Otto of Kanawha; five siblings, Peggy (Jim) Miller of Britt, Tom (Deb) Otto of Clear Lake, Tim (Mary) Otto of Bellevue, Nebraska, Greg Otto of Wisconsin and Nancy Gilbert (Jason Hahn) of Mason City; three aunts, Marilyn McKenna of Clear Lake, Carol McKenna of Livermore and Mardell McKenna of Indiana; an uncle, Jack Uhlenhake of Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Otto; nephew, Dale Johnson; and her parents-in-law, Bob and Georgia Molencamp.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

Nile E. Patton
September 6, 1930 - July 29, 2011

Nile E. Patton, 80, of Garner, formerly of Sumner, died on Friday, July 29, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family.

A graveside service will be held at the Committal Shelter in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa, with military rites provided by the Iowa Honor Guard. There will be no visitation. The Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner, is in charge of the arrangements.

Nile Edward Patton, the son of Deles and Velma (Kost) Patton, was born on September 6, 1930 at Woodland in Decatur County, Iowa. He graduated from the Garden Grove High School in 1949. Nile served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to Iowa. On May 9, 1953, he married Marjorie Slauter at Lamoni, Iowa. They lived in Woodland for three years before moving to Sumner in 1957. Nile farmed near Sumner for a time and was a long time employee of Beatrice Foods in Fredericksburg. In 2005, Nile and Marjorie moved to their home in Garner.

Nile enjoyed his family, gardening and was a car enthusiast. He was a member of the Sumner American Legion.

Nile is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Garner; four children, Joyce (Doug) Decherd of Moline, Illinois, Mary (Kenny) Walleser of Waterloo, Rodney (Miriam) Patton of Hartley and Sharon (Darren) Welsh of Garner; four grandchildren, Jason, Nathan and Adam Walleser and Laura Welsh; four siblings, Gary (Kathie) Patton of Lamoni, Doris (Jim) Harvey of Urbandale, Dorothy (Bill) Bond of Earlham and Fay (Judi) Patton of Des Moines; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011

George L. Tanner
January 4, 1925 - July 31, 2011

George L. Tanner, 86, of Garner, died on Sunday, July 31, 2011, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner, with Rev. Paul Evans officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery, with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the services at the funeral chapel.

George Laverne Tanner, the son of Albert and Rosetta (Schwichtenberg) Tanner, was born on January 4, 1925, on a farm southeast of Klemme. He attended the rural schools of Hancock County and served his country in the U.S. Army during WW II in the Pacific Theatre. George was employed at Decker's Meat Processing in Mason City before retiring in 1975.

He enjoyed spending winters in Harlingen, Texas, for over thirty years. George was a life member of the Edwin Jante VFW Post 5515.

He is survived by his brother, Walter (Lois) Tanner of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Ervin Tanner, Anna Carolus, Beverly Prescott, Clair Tanner, Delores Johnson, Ione Harms and Lorraine Houdek
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2011