Sharlene M. Reising
February 23, 1939 - May 10, 2012

Sharlene M. Reising, 73, of Garner, died on Thursday, May 10, 2012, as a result of a car accident on Highway 18, one mile east of Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, May 14, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Fr. Paul Lippstock officiating. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 p.m., on Sunday, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with a Scriptural Wake service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. The Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the Sharlene Reising Memorial Fund. Shar had the gift of brightening others' lives and loved bright colors. Please honor her by wearing bright clothes to her service.

Sharlene Marie Reising, the daughter of Edward and Elaine (Studer) Downs, was born on February 23, 1939, on a farm north of Wesley. She graduated from the Wesley High School in 1957 and continued her education at the Mankato Business School. Shar then worked at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines as a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee. On June 8, 1959, she was married to James "Jim" Reising at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wesley. They made their home in Wesley and Sharlene worked at Home Federal Savings and Loan in Algona. She then stayed home to raise their children. In 1964, they moved to Garner. Ten years later she began working for the Garner-Hayfield School District as a secretary until her retirement in 2000.

Sharlene received a lot of enjoyment watching the children grow and develop as they went through school. After retirement she and Jim enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Arizona. She enjoyed family time, music, golfing, gardening, playing bridge, laughing and enjoying life to its fullest. Shar will always be remembered for her laughter, great sense of humor and ability to light up a room. Her great joy was her grandchildren. She was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, where she was active in many church groups and activities. Shar was the church funeral luncheon coordinator for many years and was past president of the Garner Golf Association.

Shar is survived by her husband, Jim of Garner; four children, Jeff (Susan) Reising of Willcox, Arizona, Jerry (Lynne) Reising of Potosi, Wisconsin, Nancy (Rick) Prohaska of Garner and Rhonda (Dennis) Malecek of Hammond, Wisconsin; fourteen grandchildren, Leah, Luke and Taylor Reising, Nicholas, Brianna and Christina Reising, Lauren, Taryn and Mitchell Prohaska, Marcus, Madison, Andrew and Sam Malecek; three siblings, Doug (Diane) Downs of Shell Lake, Wisconsin, Syl (Art) Baker of Byron, Illinois and Dan (Janet) Downs of Burlington, Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Paul Duane Halverson
November 4, 1927 - May 11, 2012

Paul D. Halverson, 84, of Garner, died on Friday, May 11, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, after a long battle with cancer.

Private family graveside services will be held in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson with military rites. There will be no visitation. His body was cremated. The Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Paul Duane Halverson, the oldest child of eight children of Dewey and Louella (Sperring) Halverson, was born on November 4, 1927 at Thompson. He attended the Fertile Consolidated Schools. As a young man he joined the Merchant Marines and became an officer and radio operator. He later served in the U.S. Air Force. After his honorable discharge he made his home in Seattle, Washington, where he became a cement mason. On June 22, 1963, he married Barbara at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. They moved back to Iowa in 1990 and made their home in Crystal Lake and Garner. Paul was employed at Winnebago Industries and later Garner Electronics.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara "Bobbi" of Garner; daughter, Erica (Tim) Baxter and their children, Titus and Rhilynn; step-daughter, Sharon (Bill) Lindenberger and their three children, Lucy (Kyle), Mike and Brian; step-son, Jim (April) Fields of Lynnwood, Washington; and step-daughter, Cheryl (Kevin) Hoeft of Garner and their two children, Joe Hoeft and his daughter, Stella and Amanda Hoeft.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; two sisters; and grandson, Branden Hoeft.

So long grandpa, see you later in a happy future.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Harriet M. “Peg” Oetting

May 23, 2012

Harriet M. “Peg” Oetting, 78, of Seward, Nebraska, died on Monday, May 14, 2012.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, May 21, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, with Pastor Scott Bruick officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery in Seward. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the St. John Lutheran School in Seward or to Concordia University, Seward. The Zabka Funeral Home of Seward, was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to zabkafuneralhome.com

Peg Oetting was born on June 8, 1933 in Garner, to Herman John and Emma Emily (Boehnke) Pueggel. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Education Degrees both from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. On July 19, 1953, she married Eugene Oetting. She served as a teacher in Lutheran Elementary Schools for 24 years, was an instructor in Prison Ministry and a member of the St. John Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Seward.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene Oetting of Seward; her children, David and Jody Oetting of Sarasota, Florida and Shauna Oetting of Seward; sister, Viola Monahan of Loveland, Colorado; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Carol Pueggel of Garner; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Larry and Kitty Oetting, Bob and Carol Oetting and Dennis and Donna Oetting, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lois and Gerald Pomerenke and Sharon and Mike Sherrill.
©The Garner Leader 2012

Raymond Joseph Ryan
October 16, 1914 - May 29, 2012

Dr. Raymond J. Ryan, 97, of Garner, died on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 2, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Fr. Dennis Miller officiating. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Scriptural wake service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be directed to the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Relay For Life, or to the donor's choice.

Dr. Raymond "Doc" Ryan, the son of John and Clara (Harlan) Ryan, was born on October 16, 1914 in Wabasha County near Plainview, Minnesota. He attended country schools for the primary years and then stayed with relatives who lived closer to town for his high school years. Following his graduation from the Plainview High School in 1932, Doc went to work for Carl McNallan an area dairy farmer, for three years. In 1935, after saving his earnings for tuition, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in Agricultural Education. In 1938, he was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, graduating in 1942. He started his practice of veterinary medicine in Lake Mills when he replaced a vet who had been drafted. The Lake Mills vet returned from the war in November of 1945, prompting him to relocate his practice. Shortly after, he located in Garner replacing the late Dr. Samuel Wesson. In addition to this practice, Doc became an inspector at the Garner Sales Barn. On February 7, 1948, Raymond was united in marriage to Regina (Jean) Henry at the St. Michael Catholic Church in Whittemore. To this union two daughters were born. Doc retired from his practice In 1979. He never forgot the good clients whom he claimed were the reason for his successful business.

His favorite pastimes were listening and dancing to Big Band music, traveling with his wife, Jean and helping out when an extra hand was needed on their farm near Woden. His great joy in life was following and being part of the life events of his family. He was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, a life member of the Knights of Columbus and a past member of the Garner Lions Club. Doc was a life member of the Iowa Veterinarian Medical Association, a member of the National Veterinarian Medical Association and a past president of the Upper Iowa Veterinarian Medical Association.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Mary (Roger) Kopacek of Britt and Kathleen (Patrick) McCabe of Mankato, Minnesota; grandchildren, Kara Steffensmeier, Andrew Kopacek, Ryan McCabe, Joseph (Virginia) McCabe and Dr. Jonathan McCabe; four great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Matthew and Aidan Steffensmeier and Gisele McCabe; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean on March 9, 2012; five sisters; and two brothers.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Elizabeth "Betty" May

June 6, 2012

Elizabeth "Betty" May, 84, of Corwith, died on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 1, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Corwith, with Reverend Joel DeBoer officiating. Inurnment was in the Corwith Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by the Oakcrest Funeral Services of Corwith. Condolences may be left at www. oakcrestfuneralservices.com.

Elizabeth "Betty" J. May, was born on February 20, 1928 in Woden, the daughter of Fritz and Elizabeth (Rohlfs) Gerdes. She grew up in Woden where she attended school and in 1945, Betty graduated from the Woden High School. On June 21, 1949, Betty was united in marriage to Don May at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden.

Betty enjoyed company and visiting with family and friends, as well as baking, gardening, golfing, playing cards and knitting. She was active in the community as a member of Royal Neighbors, Esther Circle, H.O.M.E. Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Birthday Card Club. Betty was also an active member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Corwith.

Betty is survived by her husband, Don May of Corwith; three children, Tom and Peggy May of Arvada, Colorado, Mike and Becky May of Britt and Susie and Doug Gayken of Britt; six grandchildren, Nick and Lisa May, Ivy and Jason Gardner, Luke May, Paige May, Stacy and Anthony Babcock and Steven Gayken; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Barb Shipman of Nora Springs; a sister-in-law, Lepta Gerdes of Garner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Elizabeth; a great-grandson, Billy Gardner; brothers, John, Freddie, Hans, Henry and Ernest "Wink" her twin; and two sisters, Mary Bode and Helen McGurk.
©The Garner Leader 2012

Nona Alberta VanDusseldorp
September 12, 1919 - May 31, 2012

Nona A. VanDusseldorp, 92, of Britt, died on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, with Rev. Steve Hall officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Monday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Nona Alberta VanDusseldorp, the daughter of John and Amizon (Dunfee) Earles, was born on September 12, 1919 on a farm near Corwith. Most of her childhood was spent on farms southwest of Britt. In March of 1937 she moved with her family to Hutchins, where she worked at the Dew Drop Inn. Nona attended rural school at Erin No. 9 and graduated from the Britt High School in 1938. On December 10, 1941, she was married to Melvin VanDusseldorp at Fort Dodge. They made their home in Fort Dodge until Melvin entered the military during WW II. They lived at Lawton, Oklahoma, where she worked at a cafe and then moved to Byoch, New York, where she was employed at a sewing factory making gun parts. They later moved to Tacoma, Washington, where Nona worked at a furniture factory. In 1946, they returned to Iowa and in 1947 moved to a farm northwest of Britt. Melvin passed away in 1975 and in 1977 Nona moved in to Britt and worked at Britt Tech until retiring in 1982.

She was a member of the Britt American Legion Auxiliary.

Nona is survived by her children, Gloria (Walbert, Jr.) Mayland of Britt and Larry VanDusseldorp of Britt and his special friend, Irene Phillips; four grandchildren, Tammy (Alan) Abbas, Misty (Doug) Abbas, Becky (Charles) Fitz and Scott (Angie) VanDusseldorp; eleven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin on October 22, 1975; a daughter-in-law, Cindy (Meyer) VanDusseldorp; a grandson, Michael Mayland; three sisters, Sulvia Kearney, Murrie Fillenworth and Estle Earles; and six brothers, James in infancy, Willie, Harlow, Burkley, Hurshel and John, Jr.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012