WANDA J. MCLAUGHLIN
November 6, 1954 - July 31, 2013

Wanda J. McLaughlin, 58, of Hanlontown, passed away Wednesday (July 31, 2013) at her home in Hanlontown surrounded by her loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (August 3, 2013) at Epiphany Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Neil Manternach as Celebrant. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

Visitation will be held Friday evening (August 2, 2013) from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. N.E., Mason City where the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will recite a Rosary at 4 p.m. followed by a Scriptural Wake service at 7 p.m.

Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Wanda's name in care of her family.

Wanda Jean Chizek was born on November 6, 1954 in Mason City, the daughter of Walter and Marceline (Varvel) Chizek, she was one of nine children. Wanda attended and graduated from Garner High School amongst the class of 1973.

On June 27, 1973 Wanda was united in marriage to Daniel Martin McLaughlin in Duncan; this union would be blessed with two daughters, Shawn Lee and Shannon Lynn.

Throughout the years Wanda worked at Deluxe, Winnebago, and cleaned houses in neighboring communities. She was very active within St. Joseph Catholic Church, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, CCD Instructor, and administering Communion to the sick.

Family came first and foremost in Wanda's life. She cherished the time spent with her husband, daughters, and grandsons. Some of her favorite times were spent traveling and vacationing with her family.

In her free time Wanda enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers, and bird watching. She was an excellent cook and always looked forward to hosting the next family gathering which would be filled with food, family, and fun.

Wanda will be remembered for her love of life, unwavering faith, and caring spirit. She was always ready to lend a listening ear or offer a friendly piece of advice in a time of need.

Those grateful in sharing in her life are her husband, Daniel McLaughlin, Hanlontown; daughters, Shawn Lee (Roungaroun) Phaiboun, Clear Lake, and Shannon Lynn (Franklyn) Ruiz, Fertile; grandsons, Thai and Tucker Phaiboun and Franklyn Jr. and Anthony Ruiz; siblings, David Chizek, Marshalltown, Diane (David) Fenton, Garner, Roger (JoAnne) Chizek, Mason City, Catherine (Kevin) Foley, Coralville, Ruth E. Fisher, Havelock, North Carolina, Joseph (Laurie) Chizek, Round Rock, TX, Paul (Becky) Chizek, Clear Lake, and Dennis Chizek, Garner; sister in laws, Pat (Lyle) Boehmer, Mary (Bob) Paulus, Vonnie McLaughlin, and Victoria Paulus; brothers in law, Mike McLaughlin, and Robert McLaughlin; a special niece, Renae Foley; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother in law, John McLaughlin; great aunt, Lois Caldwell; and nephews, Benny Fenton, Cory Russell, and Dylan Johnson.

TARA L. BESHEY
March 25, 1973 - August 6, 2013

Tara L. Beshey, 40, of Garner, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 9, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with Father Dennis Miller officiating. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with a rosary at 4:45 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 8 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Tara Beshey Memorial Fund.

Tara Lynn Beshey, the daughter of Kevin and Wendy (Skelton) Mills, was born March 25, 1973, in Spencer. She graduated from Laurens-Marathon High School in 1991. Tara continued her education at AIB College of Business in Des Moines, graduating with an associate degree in general business. Tara worked in Des Moines at Strauss Safe and Lock, Riekes Material and later operated a day care. In May of 2009 she moved with her family to Garner where she worked at Farm Bureau as an administrative assistant.

On August 25, 2012, she was married to Evan Beshey at St. Boniface Catholic Church. They made their home in Garner. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, exercising and watching her brothers race their modified cars.

She was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church and also was a volunteer on the ambulance crew.

Tara is survived by her husband, Evan Beshey of Garner; her three children: Brittany Hall, Colby Reid and Jensen Reid; her parents, Kevin and Wendy Mills of Marathon; brothers, Stacey (Melany) Mills of Webb and Jeremy (Dawn) Mills of Garner; a sister, Sarah (Jamie) Staley of Webster City; paternal grandmother, Darlene Mills of Webb; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Roy Mills; maternal grandparents, Russell and Arlene Skelton; and a niece, Makinley Mills.

Cataldo Funeral Home, 641-923-2481 www.cataldofuneralhome.com.

SANDRA "Sandy" WOIWOOD

Sandra Woiwood, 50, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. She was born March 29, 1963, to Donald A. and Lois F. Woiwood in Mason City, Iowa. She graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1981.

Sandra is survived by her son, Cody Woiwood; mother, Lois; sister, Debra Manson; brothers, Terry (Lyn), Clifford (Marla), and Jeffrey (Lisa); and her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald; maternal grandparents, Fines and Berniece Ingham; and her paternal grandparents, Walter and Selma Woiwood.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2013, at Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, 244 E. Army Post Road.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

DARLENE A. BOHN
February 10, 1926 - August 25, 2013

Darlene A. Bohn, 87, of Ventura died Sunday, August 25, 2013 at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 28th at St. John's Lutheran Church east of Garner with Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Darlene Adel Bohn, the daughter of Fred and Alvina (Kragel) Burmester, was born February 10, 1926 at Hampton. She graduated from Hampton High School in 1944. Darlene continued her education at Hamilton Business College and after graduation worked at a bank in Mason City. On November 25, 1951 she was married to Milton Bohn at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton. They lived on a farm northwest of Ventura where they raised their two children. Darlene worked for many years at the Chuck Wagon Cafe in Forest City. After Milton passed away in 1988, she continued to live on the farm. Darlene later moved into Ventura. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, listening to music, playing the organ and piano, playing cards and reading cooking books.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where she belonged to the Ladies Aid and was a Sunday school teacher for many years.

Darlene is survived by her two children, Charlie (Rhonda) Bohn of Ventura and Charlotte (Jim) Engstler of Britt; four grandchildren, Samantha (Chris) Gobeli, Jessica Bohn and Cassie and Heather Engstler; two great-grandchildren, Ian and Isaac Gobeli; three sisters-in-law, Marvel Burmester of Hampton, Thelma Bohn of Garner and Hilda Bohn of Mason City; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Milton; and brother, Harold Burmester.

BETTY BELLE WILLIAMS
September 15, 1917 - August 25, 2013

Betty Belle Williams was born September 15, 1917, at Dallas Center, Iowa, to Robert and Lillian (Becker) Masterson.

She enjoyed a happy childhood with her one brother and seven sisters. Her first six years of schooling was in country schools. She then attended school in LuVerne and graduated from Corwith High School in 1936.

On November 15, 1936, Betty was united in marriage to Lee Williams at Monticello, Illinois. They farmed east of Corwith and enjoyed 67 years together and were blessed with three children, Gary, Patricia and Michael.

Lee went to be with the Lord on October 23, 2003, and Betty on Sunday morning, August 25, 2013. Betty was first and foremost a wife, mother and grandmother, also a helpmate and homemaker. Her family was very important to her and she took much interest in her children’s activities.

Betty joined the Corwith United Methodist Church in 1934 and has remained a faithful member ever since, teaching Sunday School for many years and holding many church offices. She was very community minded, being a 4-H leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. Her hobbies were her flowers and garden — watching the many birds in her yard, sewing, knitting, reading and many crafts.

Lee and Betty loved to travel — having driven the Alaska Highway up and back eleven times to spend time with their family that lived there. They also visited Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada and the western states in between. They loved to fish and it was a family tradition from 1952-1983 to spend two weeks fishing at Lake Wabigoon in Ontario, Canada. In 1972, they started spending some winter time in southern Texas. They bought a home there in 1979, spending the winter months. After Lee died, Betty still spent her winters in Mission, Texas.

Betty was a 50-plus-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Paradise Club, 500 Club, Past Matron, the Corwith Women’s Club and the church circle.

Family members left behind to celebrate years of adventurous memories include daughter-in-law Marilyn of Alaska, daughter Patricia (Steven) Linn of Solon, Iowa, and son Michael (Deb) of Florida as well as grandchildren, Geri, Roger (Charlene), Shawn, Angela (Josh), great grandchildren Lee, Ashley and Grey and two sisters, Margaret Trettin and Frances Trettin, both of Rockford, Iowa.
Preceding her exit from this life were her parents, her husband Lee, Son Gary, one brother and five sisters.

Services will be held at the United Methodist Church, Corwith, Iowa on Thursday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held from 4:30 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Corwith Community Center in Corwith.  
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Corwith is in charge of arrangements.  
www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com. 

NORMAN D. THEDE
October 3, 1934 - April 1, 2013

Norman D. Thede, 78, of Clarkdale, Ariz., passed away on April 1, 2013.

He was born on a farm in Grundy County, Iowa, on Oct. 3, 1934.

He was the youngest of four sons born to Herman R. Thede and Hilda A. Claussen Thede. Norman grew up in Reinbeck, and graduated as valedictorian from Reinbeck High School, Class of 1952. He attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and received his B.A. and his M.D. from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

He interned at St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he met and married a nursing student, Naomi J. Arney of Marshalltown.

Dr. Thede served his military duty through the U.S. Public Health Service at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. He entered private practice of medicine and surgery in 1963 in Britt, and was in solo practice from 1971 until 1999, when he and Naomi retired to Clarkdale, Ariz.

He was a member of the Britt United Church of Christ until 1995 and the Britt United Methodist Church until retirement.

While in Arizona, he was a member of the Mountain View United Methodist Church.

Dr. Thede was an active member of the community. He served on various offices of the medical staff of Hancock County Medical Society and he spent 25 years serving as the medical director of the West Hancock Ambulance Service. He was also the medical director of the Westview Manor Nursing Home in Britt, the Britt City Health Officer, and the Hancock County Deputy Coroner.

Dr. Thede was a member and chairperson of the Hancock County Board of Health for many years. He was a life member of the Iowa Medical Society, American Medical Association, Iowa Academy Family Practice, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

His hobbies included gardening, reading, cooking, genealogy, fishing, and traveling.

Dr. Thede is survived by his wife of 52 years, Naomi; their three children, Mark and Molly Thede of Chandler, Ariz., Kim and Brian Turnmeyer of Garner, and Beth and Kevin Dahle of Northfield, Minn.; and nine grandchildren, Caitlin, Erin, and Annie Thede, Christopher Thede, Shauni and Anthony Turnmeyer, and Kally, Greenlee, and Griffith Dahle; one great-granddaughter, Payt’n Turnmeyer; one brother, H. Junior Thede of Reinbeck; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Thede and Delane Thede; and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Thede was preceded in death by his brothers Wayne and Robert Thede and one great-nephew, Matthew Thede, all of Reinbeck.

A memorial service will be held at the Mountain View United Methodist Church in Cottonwood, Ariz., at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.

A celebration of Dr. Thede’s life will take place this summer in Britt.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church, 901 South 12th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326.

ELMER A. SWEERS
August 9, 1928 - July 29, 2013

Elmer A. Sweers, 84, of Britt, passed away Monday, July 29, 2013 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services for Elmer Sweers will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church, 707 4th Street SW, in Britt with Pastor Robert Dodge officiating.  Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation for Elmer Sweers will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.     Elmer Sweers was born August 9, 1928 to John and Sena (Smidt) Sweers on the family farm near Britt.  Elmer attended country schools and began farming at age 14 when his father passed away.
Elmer served in the United States Army during the Korean War. 

Elmer was united in marriage to Francine Erickson on September 27, 1953 at the United Methodist Church in Forest City.  To this union, four children were born.  Elmer and Francine raised their family on a farm six miles west of Britt, before moving one and a half miles south west of Britt in 1970. 
Elmer and Francine moved to Britt in 1992, and Elmer retired from farming in 2000, but has helped farm every season since, up to and including planting this season.

Elmer enjoyed golfing, playing cards, word search puzzles, bowling, pool, and fishing.  Elmer was very meticulous about his lawn, and he and Francine always had a vegetable garden.  Most of all, Elmer enjoyed the company of his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Elmer was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Britt.  He was also a member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the VFW, and previously a member of the Lions Club.

Elmer is survived by his wife Francine of Britt; children Ronald (Alesa) Sweers of Britt, Robert (Johnna) Sweers of Guttenberg, Debra (Jim) Madigan of Waseca, and Deanne (Dave) Ulrich of Cedar Falls; grandchildren Drew (Krista) Sweers, Matt Sweers, Zachary (Kali) Sweers, Taylor (fiancé Mandy Kakac) Sweers, Kristen Sweers, Robby Sweers, Katelyn Madigan, Mandi Madigan, Maty Ulrich, Marissa Ulrich and Joseph Ulrich; great-grandchildren Jayden Sweers, Mazie Sweers and Cora Sweers; siblings Lucille DeWaard of Britt, Ben (Mary Rose) Sweers of Britt, Herman (Sally) Sweers of Britt, Janet (Clint) Moldenhauer of Forest City, and sister-in-law Margaret Sweers of Florida; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Elmer is preceded in death by his parents; sister Carrie (Clarence) Schaefer; brothers Jake Sweers and Louie (Joan) Sweers and his wife; brother-in-law Adrian DeWaard.