Edna C. Hammitt
July 15, 1919 - July 2, 2012

Heaven made room for a very special lady on Monday, July 2, 2012. Edna C. Hammitt, of Garner, 92, passed away at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., on Friday, July 6, at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner, with Rev. Brian Lund 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 in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice of North Iowa.

Edna Caroline Hammitt, the daughter of Herman and Carolina (Grell) Jass, was born on July 15, 1919 in Garner. She attended the Garner Community Schools and then helped take care of her parents. She married Lyle Hammitt in Garner, where they made their home and raised seven children. Edna was employed at Winnebago Industries, the Garner Bakery, and Concord Care Center.

Family was the center of Edna's world, and she enjoyed playing cards with her family, watching stock car racing and basketball, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. Many mornings were shared over coffee with her best friend Esther, and Edna never forgot a birthday or anniversary even as her family continued to grow. Each Christmas, the family of 80+ gathered to celebrate the Hammitt Christmas, a treasured memory for all. Edna was a faithful member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Women's Fellowship. A Sunday never passed without her in attendance. She had an amazing gift for making sure each member of her family felt her constant love, no matter how close or far away.

Edna is survived by her children, Sheral (Robert) Tumilson of Rockford, Ron (Dot) Hammitt of Princeton, Illinois, Pat (Bill) Haan of Klemme, Bette Litzel (special friend Steve Plummer) of Nora Springs, Dan (Darlene) Hammitt of Garner and Rick (Kelley) Hammitt of Garner; a daughter-in-law, Linda Hammitt Olson of Marion; twenty-five grandchildren and spouses, Bob, Jr., Greg, Kevin, Shelley, Mike, Marcus, Teresa, Troy, Tim, Trisha, Rob, Curt, Misty, Todd, Jeff, Troy, Bobbie, Tracy, Levi, Cory, Michelle, Nathan, Katie, Megan and Lauren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Myrna Jass Schmidt of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

Edna was reunited in Heaven with her parents; her husband, Lyle, December 29, 1965; her son, Cecil, January 20, 1995; son-in-law, Lew Litzel; one sister; and five brothers.

Edna was loved by many, will be missed by all, and forgotten by no one.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Leo W. Nedved
September 23, 1919 - July 6, 2012

Leo W. Nedved, 92, of Garner, died on Friday, July 6, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, July 9, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Fr. Paul Lippstock officiating. Inurnment will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Sunday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with a combined Knights of Columbus and Catholic Workman rosary at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be given to the St. Boniface Catholic Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Leo William Nedved, the son of William and Mary (Wellik) Nedved, was born on September 23, 1919 at Duncan. He attended the rural schools of Garfield Township and helped his father on the family farm south of Duncan. On June 12, 1944, he married Dorothy Formanek at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan. They made their home on the family farm where they raised their four sons. In 1977, they retired from farming and moved into Garner. Besides farming, Leo also worked at Schmidt Livestock, Garner Livestock, the Garner Leader and Formanek Auction Service.

He enjoyed dancing, playing cards and family gatherings. He was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Garner Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Workman FCSLA w51 and was a past 4-H Leader.

Leo is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Garner; four sons, Larry Nedved of Plano, Texas, Jerry (Judy) Nedved of Garner, Vern (Pam) Nedved of Humboldt and Randy (Jill) Nedved of Garner; seventeen grandchildren; and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Jennifer Nedved; and great-grandsons, Tate and McCoy Nedved.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Kenny Irwin
June 12, 1970 - July 11, 2012

Kenny Irwin, 42, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, July 16, in the Hampton Cemetery in Hampton. Pastor Corby Jo Johnson will officiate at the service. Visitation will be held from 2-4:00 p.m., on Sunday, July 15, at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton.

He was born on June 12, 1970 in Britt, Iowa, to Robert N. and Shirley A. (Holck) Irwin. Kenny was confirmed at the Methodist Church in Garner. He attended school at Garner-Hayfield in Garner and then graduated from the Hampton-Dumont High School in Hampton in 1988. Kenny loved spending time with his son, Andrew and his daughter, Brooke. He was very proud of his family life with his special friend, Erica Anderson and her children, Alexis, CJ and Taylor Anderson. Kenny loved using his ability to create new things and repair neglected things. He enjoyed playing pool and foosball. As a child, Kenny spent a lot of time camping, boating and water skiing with his parents, sister and friends. He lived life to the fullest his way.

Kenny is survived by his parents, Robert N. and Shirley A. Irwin of Hampton; the Love of his life, Erica (Ochoa) Anderson of Mason City; daughter, Brooke McKee Irwin of Mason City; son, Andrew Irwin of Mason City; sister, Sheri (Steve) Kistler of Crystal Lake; nephew, Nicholas Kistler of Crystal Lake; grandmother, Viola Holck of Britt; aunt, Patty Gartner of Germany; and cousins, Ricky Irwin of Chicago, Illinois, Linda Irwin of Chicago, Illinois, Karen Amundson of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Patty Irwin of Chicago, Illinois and Tina Irwin of Chicago, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Kenneth W. Holck; grandparents, Richard and Pat Irwin and Bill and Clare Lemke; and uncle, Richard L. Irwin.
© Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home 2012

Mildred M. Bredlow
February 5, 1926 - July 20, 2012

Mildred M. Bredlow, 86, of Garner, died on Friday, July 20, 2012, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, July 23, at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner, with Rev. Brian Lund officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-5:00 p.m., on Sunday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Mildred Margaret Bredlow, the daughter of John C. and Viola (Robbins) Goll, was born on February 5, 1926 on a farm in Liberty Township in Hancock County. She attended the rural school #2 and graduated from the Garner High School in 1943, as valedictorian of her class. She continued her education at AIB in Des Moines and then returned to Garner, where she worked as a secretary for the B.C. Berge law firm. On March 25, 1951, she was married to LeRoy Bredlow at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner. They lived all of their married life in Garner. Mildred worked as a secretary for the high school principal at Garner-Hayfield Community Schools and for 22 years was the city clerk for Garner retiring in 1992.

Mildred enjoyed her family, scrapbooking, craft work, bowling and crossword puzzles. She was a member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, where she sang in the choir and belonged to the Women's Fellowship.

Mildred is survived by her son, Denis (Barb) Bredlow of Ravenwood, Missouri; three grandchildren, Caleb, Arianne and Rory Bredlow of Ravenwood; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Bredlow of Garner and Marjorie (Bill) Millard of Perry, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, LeRoy on May 31, 1988; and three sisters, Ruby Stromer, Marie Pattison and Lola Goll.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Donald J. Nedved
June 24, 1931 - July 24, 2012

Donald J. Nedved, 81, of Britt, died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at the Concord Care Center in Garner surrounded by his family.

According to his wishes, private graveside services will be held in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan, with Fr. Dennis Miller officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Britt Veterans Ceremonial Unit.
There will be no visitation. The Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Donald John Nedved, the son of Aldrich and Lillian (Tlach) Nedved, was born on June 24, 1931, on a farm north of Duncan. He graduated from the Hayfield Consolidated High School in 1949. Don served his country in the U.S. Army 461st Infantry Battalion, 87th Infantry Regt. during the Korean conflict from 1952 until his honorable discharge in 1954. He received many battle decorations including the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Distinguished Unit Citation. On March 3, 1953, he married Donna Mae Tschirki at the United Methodist Church in Forest City. They made their home north of Eagle Lake where they farmed. In 1966, they moved into Britt. Don was employed with the Hancock County Road Department until his retirement.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, dancing, polka music, hunting, trapping, farming, watching nature, going up town every morning for pancakes and being with his morning friends. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Britt American Legion and VFW.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Donna Mae of Britt; three children, Julie (Robert) Steiff of Middle Amana, Mark Nedved of Crystal Lake and Nancy (David) Jakoubek of Garner; grandchildren, Justin, Kyle and Rebecca Steiff, Jeremy (Mindy) Nedved, Joshua Nedved, Matthew (Paula) Jakoubek and Korey Jakoubek (fiancée, Meagan); great-grandchildren, Chloe and Joel Nedved and Iris Jakoubek; a brother, Al Nedved, Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri; his mother-in-law, Anna Tschirki of Britt; two sisters-in-law, Betty Nedved of Hayfield and Leola Nedved of Britt; a brother-in-law, Robert (Mandy) Tschirki of Centennial, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elmer and Arnold Nedved; and father-in-law, Chris Tschirki.

Memorials may be given in his memory to Concord Care Center, Hospice of North Iowa or the West Hancock Ambulance Service. Don's family would like to thank each of them for the excellent care he received.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

JoAnn S. Golbuff
January 13, 1943 - July 27, 2012

JoAnn S. Golbuff, 69, of Norwalk, formerly of Forest City, died on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at the Regency Care Center in Norwalk.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. There will no visitation. Her body was cremated. The Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner, is in charge of the arrangements.

JoAnn S. Golbuff, the daughter of John and Pearl (Nielsen) Golbuff, was born on January 13, 1943 in Forest City. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Congregational Church in Forest City. JoAnn graduated from the Forest City High School and Waldorf College. She also attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She did office work at Waldorf College before moving to Des Moines.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Jim Golbuff.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Marjorie Eileen Hopper
October 4, 1922 - July 28, 2012

Marjorie E. Hopper, 89, of Ventura, died on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 4, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura, with Pastor Daird Korth officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be held from 4-6:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Marjorie Eileen Hopper, the daughter of Howard and Hazel (Halverson) Taylor, was born on October 4, 1922, on a farm just west of the entrance to Pilot Knob State Park near Forest City. She was baptized at the home of her maternal grandparents because the Miller Church was being built. She attended the Hayfield Consolidated School, where she was president of her high school class all four years and graduated as class valedictorian. She received a 100 dollar scholarship to attend Waldorf College and received her normal training teaching certificate. She taught at the Garfield Township No. 1 rural school located one mile from her parent's home, from 1941-42. She then taught at Colo for two years before moving to Garner in 1945, where she taught in the junior high school. On March 11, 1945, she was married to Richard Hopper at the Miller Lutheran Church. They made their home in Ventura and Margie began teaching fifth grade at Ventura until 1948 when she took time off to raise her children. In 1963, she began teaching eighth grade in Klemme and received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. In 1969, she returned to the Ventura school system and taught fourth grade until her retirement in 1987. After her retirement she helped her son, David at the Natural Plus Nursery.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and watching their activities. Margie and Richard loved to travel taking their kids to a World's Fair and later traveling to all fifty states and several foreign countries. They also spent many summers fishing in Minnesota. She was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Dorcas Circle, Ventura Book Club and the Ventura Federated Garden Club.

Margie is survived by her husband, Richard of Ventura; three children, Rick (Connie) Hopper of Wallingford, Iowa, David (Linda) Hopper of Clear Lake and Carolyn (Greg) Knop of Nevada, Iowa; grandchildren, Taylor Hopper, Annalisa (Corey) Miner, David Hopper (special friend, Mary Pederson), Chad (Brooke) Knop and Jennie (Brad) Melton; great-grandchildren, Sierra and Corey David Miner, Cade, Jax, Bianca and Dekker Knop, Bailey Montgomery and Gavin Melton; a sister, Arlis Bertelsen of Thornton; a sister-in-law, Ruby Taylor of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Wayne Taylor; and a brother-in-law, Eugene Bertelsen.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Richard "Rick" Johnson

August 8, 2012

Richard "Rick" Johnson, 65, of Garner, died on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City from pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Miller, with Rose Visser, lay pastor officiating. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and continued for one hour prior to the services at the church.

Richard "Rick" Knute Foster Johnson, was born on October 15, 1946 in Belmond, to Eva Loraine Fosen Foster Johnson and Gordon Russell Foster and was later adopted by John Allen Johnson. He graduated from the Kanawha High School in 1964, Waldorf College and attended State College of Iowa. Rick married the love of his life, Judith Rae Odland, on June 16, 1967 at the Lake Lutheran Church in Renwick, Iowa. They made their home in Garner, where they raised their children. Rick worked at Winnebago Industries for 39 years.

He enjoyed family vacations, working on his home with his wife, planting his gardens and was an avid collector of a variety of things.

Rick is survived by his wife, Judy Johnson of Garner; his son-in-law, Steve (Shelly) Mace of Garner and their four children, Cody Mace, Cassidy Mace, Jordan Vossberg and her son, Kale Pruessner and Taylor Vossberg; daughter, Cindy (Kevin) Hestad of McDonald, Pennsylvania and their two daughters, Sophia and Emma; son, Chad Johnson of Willow, Alaska and his sons, Chet and Luke; son, Corey (Dena) Johnson of Roland, Iowa and their three children Seth, Claire and Lindsey; daughter, Jessica (Craig) Roberts of McDonald, Pennsylvania and their four children Clayton, Connor, Madeline and Isabella; Rick's mother, Eva Johnson of Kanawha; two brothers, David (Jackie) Johnson of Kanawha and Tim Johnson of Kanawha; and a sister, Lisa Determan of Mason City.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jody Renae Mace; along with his fathers, Gordon Russell Foster, John Allen Johnson; and his wife's parents, Alma and Chet Odland.

Rick was a kind, affectionate, gracious, strong, gentleman that comforted others with his awesome storytelling abilities. He was always smiling and was affectionately known by his loved ones as Teddy Bear.
©The Garner Leader 2012