ACKLEY - Hazel M. Steffen, 95, of Ackley, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, at Presbyterian Village in Ackley. Services were held Monday, Dec. 3, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ackley, with burial in the church cemetery. Father Jim Miller officiated.

Hazel was born May 23, 1906, at Ackley, to William and Catherine Carroll Lamm. She graduated from Ackley High School in 1924 and received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught in area country schools and on Oct. 15, 1927, she married Virgil Steffen at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ackley. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and St. Mary's Altar Society. She went to live at Presbyterian Village in 1996.

She is survived by two sisters, Mary Hofmann of Ackley, and Dorothea Woll of La Mesa, Calif.; 10 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a sister, Gwen Gilbert, and her husband, Bill.

Sietsema Funeral Home of Ackley, was in charge of arrangements.

Diana Langhammer

Diana was born Oct. 2, 1940, to Gordon and Kathleen Davis Trowbridge, in Pittsburgh, Pa. She attended school in Pittsburgh and moved to Iowa Falls in 1993. In 1967 Diana married Rainer Langhammer in San Francisco, Calif. He was in the Air Force and they moved to many different bases. He is retired and currently works at Porter's on Main. She worked as a sales clerk in stores for a few years. She was a member of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband, Rainer; two daughters, Elizabeth Ladley and her husband, Lee, of Lakeside, Calif., and Katherine Pickering and her husband Daniel of Rawlings, Wyo.; nine grandchildren; three brothers, Scott, David and Richard Trowbridge; and two sisters, Kathy and Anne. Preceding her in death were her parents and grandparents.

Penny Thomas

Penny was born July 29, 1972, in Iowa City, to Clair Jr. and Sharon White Clay. She was raised in northern Iowa and lived in Clear Lake for 14 years, where she graduated from high school. She attended Hamilton Business College and worked at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. She lived for a time in Iowa Falls, and in 1999 she and her daughter moved to Olympia. She enjoyed writing poetry, computers, collecting teddy bears and cross stitching.

She is survived by her daughter, Shelby, of Olympia; her mother, Sharon Clay of Centralia, Wash.; her father, Clair Clay Jr., of Charles City; a sister, Sheryl Pratt of Olympia; and a brother, David Clay of Garner; three nieces and two nephews.

Wilbert Simmons

WOODWARD - Wilbert J. Simmons, 79, of Woodward, formerly of Williams and Eldora, died Monday, Dec. 3, 2001, at the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, Dec. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Eldora, with burial in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Eldora. Father Jim Dubert will officiate. There will be no evening visitation, however the family will be present to greet friends one hour before services. A memorial fund has been established to the Woodward State Hospital School.

Wilbert was born Nov. 22, 1922, in rural Eldora, to Michael and Maggie Trade Simmons. He was raised in the Eldora area living with his mother until the early 1950s when he moved to Williams to live with his sister and her husband, Lu and Emmett Kearney. He lived with them for many years helping as a farm hand until the early '80s when he moved to Woodward to live at the Woodward State Hospital School. On Nov. 21, he moved to the Presbyterian Village at Ackley. He was a member of the Catholic church and enjoyed singing, wildlife, and John Deere tractors.

He is survived by four sisters, Lu Kearney and husband, Emmett, of Williams, Lillian Simmons of Hubbard, Myrtle Nellesen and husband, Norbert, of St. Ann, Mo., and Ruth Clarke of Marshalltown. He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Ambrose, Harlan, Earl and Owen Simmons.

Creps-Abels Funeral Home of Eldora, is in charge of arrangements.

Velma Lois Groenenberg

Velma Lois was born Sept. 5, 1922, in Hansell, to Edward and Mamie Adkins Tucker. She graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1941 and on June 1, 1960, she married John Groenenberg at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. She was a homemaker.

She is survived by a brother, Ray Tucker and his wife, Gail, of Hampton; three nieces Beverly Tucker of Hampton, Joyce Duea and her husband, Jim, of Ames, and Joe Schroeder and her husband, Mel, of Fort Dodge; and several other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers; and three sisters.

Surls Funeral Home of Iowa Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

Grace Franklin

Grace was born Oct. 21, 1901 near Vale, to Wilbur and Anna Slegel Hawley. She was educated in Crawford County Community Schools and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. On Nov. 8, 1919, she married William Franklin in Cedar Rapids. They taught schools in several areas in Iowa and received their master's degree from the University of Washington. After retiring from teaching, they moved to Iowa Falls and she opened Shady Rest Tea Room, an upscale restaurant specializing in full dinners. Grace owned and operated the Tea Room for 22 years, retiring in the mid-1960s. She enjoyed square dancing, bridge and traveling. She was a member of American Association of University Women; Shakespeare Club of Cedar Rapids, Alpha Literary Society, American Legion Auxiliary and the Plymouth Church in Des Moines.

She is survived by a sister-in-law, Alice Hawley, of Vail; four nephews and three nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and three brothers.

Lyle Fank

MASON CITY - Lyle Albert Fank, 87, of Mason City, formerly of Iowa Falls, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2001, at U.S.A. Health Center in Mason City, of heart failure. A mass of Resurrection will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Iowa Falls, with burial in St. Mark's Catholic Cemetery in Iowa Falls. Father Jim Dubert will officiate.

Lyle was born Aug. 16, 1914, at Britt, to John and Lula Mae Brown Fank. He attended Britt country school and on Oct. 1, 1941, he married Clarice Foss in Forest City. They farmed in the Iowa Falls area and he was also employed by Concrete Products and Boyt Manufacturing, both in Iowa Falls. Lyle moved to the Mason City nursing home in 1998 after living in the Iowa Falls area over 50 years. He was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church in Iowa Falls.

He is survived by his wife, Clarice, of 710 S. Pierce St., Apt. 215, Mason City; a daughter, Cathy Fank of Superior, Wis.; a daughter-in-law, Linda Fank, of Iowa Falls; two grandchildren, Brenda Fank of Springfield, Mo., and Brian Fank of Iowa Falls; and one sister, Louise Wedeking of Clear Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Carroll Fank and Clairence Fank; seven brothers, Leo (his twin), John, Balltis, Joseph, Raymond and Carl; four sisters, Flora Slagle, Josephine Woodard, Mattie Smith, and Elizabeth Fank.

Linn's Funeral Home of Iowa Falls, is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Scherbert

Donald was born April 3, 1914, at Minneapolis, Minn., to William and Ella Mathison Scherbert. He attended schools in Minneapolis and on Nov. 15, 1942, he married Corinne Anderson at Minneapolis. Wayne served in the United States Navy for three years and then was employed by the University of Minnesota in the printing department, retiring in 1976. He was self-employed for a time operating Scherbert Printing in Minneapolis. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the American Legion in Minneapolis. They moved to Iowa Falls in October 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Corinne of Iowa Falls; two sons, Jack and wife, Carla of Lafayette, Calif., and Bruce and wife, Debbe, of St. Paul, Minn.; three daughters, Jeanne Mikkelson and husband, Steve, of Arden, Minn., Diane Williams and husband, Mitch, of Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada, Carrie Hemken and husband, Steve, of Alden; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lorraine Brody and her husband, Frank.

Linn's Funeral Home of Iowa Falls, are in charge of arrangements.

Robert Tracy

Bob was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Iowa Falls to Ernest and Lela Tracy. He graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1940 and obtained a degree in engineering. He served in the United States Air Force in World War II as a flight engineer and married Bettie Storey, formerly of Iowa Falls, in 1946. They spent most of their life in Sioux Falls, S.D. Following his retirement from Westinghouse Electric after 30 years, they settled in Hot Springs, Ark., and in 1992 they moved to Chandler. He was a past president of the Association of Consulting Engineers and was active in the United Church of Christ in Sioux Falls, and Sun Lakes, the Kiwanis and Elks clubs.

He is survived by a son, Michael of Coral Spring, Fla.; a grandson, Matthew Tracy of Augusta, Ga.; a daughter-in-law, Laurie Bruner, of Alpharetta, Ga. He was preceded in death by his parents his wife in 1995.

Delores Mott

Delores was born July 23, 1924, in Hampton, to Joseph and Minnie Rotz Behrends. She was educated in Hampton and on Nov. 28, 1945, she married D. W. Mott Jr. She was a homemaker and worked for the Bell Telephone Company and Maytag Company. She was a Baptist and her hobbies were traveling, dancing and her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, D. W., of Hampton; a son, Terry Mott of Humboldt; two daughters, Paula Mott and friend, Brian Tegtmeyer, of Hampton, and Cynthia Brunner and husband, Bob, of Minneapolis, Minn.; and two grandchildren, Melissa and Stephanie. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters; and one brother.

Hugh Scallon

ACKLEY - Hugh Steffen Scallon, 46, of Ackley, died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2001, at Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls. Services were held Tuesday, Dec. 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ackley, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. Father Jim Miller officiated.

Hugh was born May 18, 1955, in Waterloo, to Hugh and Marie Nicklaus Scallon. He graduated from Ackley High School in 1975. He was a farmer and bartender at Grumpy's. He did welding and barbecuing for events. He was a member of the Ackley Men's Club of which he was a past president and one of the founders. Hugh was a member of the Ackley Jaycees, where he served as secretary and president, was a member of Pheasants Forever, and helped promote the farm-home show every two years. His interests have always been projects for teenagers and being Santa Claus.

He is survived by two brothers, Mike and his wife, Linda, and Pat and his wife, Lori, all of Ackley; two sisters, Cecelia Scallon of Ankeny, and Toni DeHart and her husband, Steve, of Keosauqua; four nieces and nephews, Arleigh Scallon, Daniel Scallon, Teresa Scallon, Stephanie Giberson; and two great-nephews, Josh Scallon and Nick Giberson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley, was in charge of arrangements.

Wayne Lawson

Wayne was born May 30, 1926, at Alden, to Vernon "V. O." and Hattie Burns Lawson. He attended and graduated from Alden High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was united in marriage to Irene Roegner. Wayne was proprietor with his father in the Lawson Transportation Company in Alden, retiring in 1990. He was also a commodities trader and insurance agent.

He is survived by two sons, Steve Lawson of Waterloo, and Jeff Lawson and wife, Louise, of Iowa Falls; four grandchildren, Matthew and Michael Lawson of Waterloo, and Arick and Samantha Lawson of Iowa Falls; and a brother, Donald Lawson of Alden. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Irene; and two brothers, Eugene and Homer.

Linn's Funeral Home of Iowa Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

Frank Kinney

Frank was born June 6, 1914, at Angus, to Lyle and Mary Alma Cook Kinney. He attended schools in Radcliffe. On Jan. 14, 1937, he married Lorena Neubauer at Hubbard. They farmed for 11 years at Williams and 36 years northwest of Alden, retiring to Iowa Falls in 1988. Frank was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife, Lorena, of Scenic Manor; two sons, Charles Kinney and wife, Carol, of Rochester, Minn., and Larry and wife, Marilyn, of Iowa Falls; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two half-brothers, Ronald Neubauer and wife, Joan, of Fruitland, Idaho, and Donald Neubauer and wife, Shirley, of Lacserne, Calif.; a half-sister, Dorothy Wetzstein and husband, Johnie of Parson, Kan.; and one stepbrother brother, Herbert Neubauer and wife, Marie, of Hubbard. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jesse Kinney; a half-sister, Mildred Barnett; and a stepsister, Lydia Schreckengost.

Linn's Funeral Home of Iowa Falls, is in charge of arrangements.

Blanche Doyle

WILLIAMS - Blanche Marie Doyle, 84, of Williams, died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2001, at her home. Services were held Monday, Dec. 10, at the United Methodist Church in Williams, with burial in the Williams Cemetery. Rev. Rick Layman officiated.

Blanche was born March 21, 1917, in Alden, to Olliver and Helen Mourlam Jaynes. She graduated from Williams High School in 1935. She worked as a secretary in the Williams school system and in the grocery store in Williams. On July 17, 1944, she married Eugene Dewey Doyle in Mason City. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Williams, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 633.

She is survived by her husband, Dewey; two sons, Terry Doyle and his wife, Susan, of Ames, and Dick Doyle and his wife, Linda, of Story City; three granddaughters, Angela Hewitt and husband, Chris, of Jewell, Alison Doyle of Ames, and Abby Doyle of Pella; four grandsons, Cayle Doyle of Iowa City, Tim Doyle of Ames, and Kevin and Travis Doyle of Story City; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Velma Penz of Blairsburg. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Earl Jaynes and two sisters, Nellie Cheyne and Leona Wood.

Surls Funeral Home in Williams, was in charge of arrangements.

Florence Kisner

IOWA FALLS - Florence Beatrice Kisner, 90, of Iowa Falls, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, at Scenic Manor Care Facility, Iowa Falls. Services were held Monday, Dec. 10, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls, with burial in Union Cemetery, Iowa Falls. Pastor Rhoda Preston officiated. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church.

Florence was born May 2, 1911, in Franklin County , the daughter of William and Margaret Buttjer Armstrong. She attended Popejoy and Iowa Falls Community School graduating in 1929. In 1929, she married Morris Derbyshire and they were later divorced. In 1943, she was united in marriage to John Kisner and they were later divorced. Florence owned and operated the Westside Grocery in Iowa Falls for many years, retiring in 1973. She had previously been employed by J.C. Penney Store and the Princess Cafe, both in Iowa Falls. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Maple Grove Willing Workers Club, and Iowa Falls Woman's Club.

She is survived by a son, Richard Derbyshire of Fullerton, Calif.; a daughter, Kathryn Kisner of Chicago, Ill.; three stepdaughters, Virginia Jones and husband, Dean, of Iowa Falls, Donna Hutzel and Marilyn Werner both of Mason City; 15 step grandchildren; several step great-grandchildren and step great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Minnie Armstrong and Luany Hamilton; a brother, Ralph Armstrong; and two stepsons-in-laws, Donald Hutzel and Irwin Werner.

Linn's Funeral Home in Iowa Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

Updated by Chuck Prickett 12/13/2001