Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette obituaries

CHARLES CITY _ Harold C. "Pete" Heise, 76, of 1655 Victory Ave., rural Charles City, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at Floyd County Memorial Hospital of complications from injuries suffered in a car/train accident on June 16.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Main and Gilbert streets, with the Rev. Dennis D. Niezwaag officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens south of Charles City.

Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt Street. The family will receive friends from 3 to 9 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at the funeral home, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Harold Charles "Pete" Heise was born July 31, 1920, in Ionia.

Survivors include a daughter, Allison Foster of Ridgeway, Mo.; a son, Randy Heise of Charles City; a bother, Wilbur "Bill" Heise of Charles City; three sisters, Lucille Trappe, Bernice Troge and Florence Greenzwieg, all of Charles City; and five grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife and parents.

AUSTIN, Minn. _ Alice Snowbeck, 85, of Burr Oak Manor, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at the Austin Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Andrew Lindahl officiating. Burial will be in the Union Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Stacyville, Iowa.

Friends may call at the Worlein Funeral Home, 1801 Fourth St. N.W., from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and one hour before services at the church on Wednesday.

The family prefers memorials.

Alice was born on May 2, 1912, in Johnsburg, Minn., to George and Elizabeth (Fischer) Ziegler. At an early age, Alice moved with her family to a farm northwest of Stacyville where she attended school. She married George Snowbeck on Aug. 12, 1942, in Albert Lea. They lived in California during World War II and moved back to the Stacyville area until 1959 when Alice and George moved to Lyle, Minn. Alice moved to Burr Oak Manor in January of 1996.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Dona Ziegler of Lyle, Minn.; three grandchildren and their spouses, Darwin and Kathy Ziegler of Kasson, Minn., Randy and Kathy Ziegler of London, Minn., and Gary and Cindy Ziegler of Lyle, Minn.; six great-grandchildren, Trenton, Mary, Cory, Colleen, Megan and Sarah; and one sister, Ruth Becker of California.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant granddaughter, three brothers, Carl, Earl and Floyd, and a sister, Myrtle Weber.

BRITT _ Elizabeth "Betty" O'Hern Koziol, 91, died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Algona Good Samaritan Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Chapel, Britt.

ROCKWELL _ Harley Scholl, 80, of 216 N. Third, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at his home.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Stephen Meyer and the Rev. Dennis Cahill officiating. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery where military rites will be conducted by the Gallagher Post of the American Legion.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today with a scripture service at 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish Center. Fullerton Funeral Home of Rockwell is in charge of arrangements.

The family requests that those who wish to direct memorials to the Harley Scholl Memorial Fund.

Harley was born Aug. 31, 1916, the son of Joseph and Anna (Koppen) Scholl in Burchinal. In 1931 he moved to Rockwell where he had been attending school. He then attended barber college in Sioux City. Harley served his country from 1942 until his honorable discharge in 1946 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. During his tour he was with the Medical Corps as a Tech Sergeant.

On Jan. 27 1947, Harley was united in marriage to Wilma "Jean" Vosburgh at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell. Harley owned and operated Scholl_s Barber Shop from 1947 until 1971. In 1966 the couple purchased Jean_s Cafe which they successfully operated until retiring in 1991.

Harley was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Gallagher Post of the American Legion in Rockwell.

Harley is survived by his wife, Wilma "Jean"; two sons, Douglas Scholl of Boston, Mass., and his wife, JoLynn Scholl, of Rockwell and Dennis and his wife, Debra Scholl, of Des Moines; one sister, Eunice Stangler of Mason City; two brothers, Victor "Bud" and his wife Wilma Scholl and Edwin and his wife Patricia Scholl, both of Rockwell; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ethel Ackerman; and four brothers, Joe, Lawrence, Charles and Richard Scholl.

WASECS, Minn. _ Mildred J. Burckhardt, 84, formerly of Clear Lake, died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Waseca Area Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Congregational Church, Waseca, with the Rev. Robert Christian, the Rev. Markus Hill and the Rev. Grant Hill officiating. Private interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

The family will greet friends for one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. McRaith Funeral Home of Waseca is handling arrangements.

A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.

CLEAR LAKE _ Muriel Peitzke, 84, of 114 N. Fifth St., died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Willowcreek Healthcare Center, Mason City.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth.

MASON CITY _ Erwin H. "Erv" Wetterling, 89, of 63 Stony Way, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Other arrangements are incomplete.

SCARVILLE _ Milford Curtis Brudvig, 74, of 49629 170th Ave., died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Scarville Synod Lutheran Church with the Rev. Thomas Rank officiating. Burial will be in the Scarville Synod Lutheran Cemetery, rural Scarville.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Milford Brudvig was born Sept. 16, 1922, in Norway Township, Winnebago County.

Survivors include his wife, Vivian; two sons, Brian Brudvig of Lake Mills and John Brudvig of Scarville; two stepsons, Wayne Bausch of Ames and David Bausch of Scarville; two daughters, Andrea Loduha of Jackson, Wis., and Teresa Ahrens of Simpsonville. S.C.; one stepdaughter, Kathy Hylland of Leland; 12 grandchildren; one brother, Erling Brudvig of Lake Mills; and two sisters, Martha Gullerud of Eau Clair, Wis., and Agnes Andersland of Nissawa, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette obituaries

CLEAR LAKE _ Mildred J. Burckhardt, 84, of Waseca, Minn., formerly of Clear Lake, died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Waseca Area Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Congregational Church, Waseca, Minn.

Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake.

Memorials are preferred to the Humane Society.

McRaith Funeral Home, 707 N. State St., Waseca, Minn., is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Burckhardt and her husband, Arthur, resided in Clear Lake from 1937 until her husband_s death in 1984. She had resided in Waseca, Minn., since that time.

She was a member of the Clear Lake V.F.W. Auxiliary and a former member of the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake.

She is survived by two daughters, Cynthia (Roger) Ashland of Waseca, Minn., and Sally (Wayne) Hill of Victoria, Minn.

MASON CITY _ A memorial service will be held for the Rev. James E. Brown at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Rolling Acres Free Methodist Church, 604 23rd St. S.W.

Interment of the cremains will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, following the service with the Rev. E. Wayne Ryan officiating.

The Rev. James E. Brown was born March 22, 1929, son of Levi and Berniece Brown. The Rev. Brown died at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn., on Feb. 28, 1997, from cancer. His funeral was held at the Cedarcrest Free Methodist Church, in Bloomington, Minn., on March 6, 1997.

The Rev. Brown pastored the Cedarcrest Free Methodist Church in Bloomington, Minn., for 30 years. The Rev. Brown was raised in the Mason City Free Methodist Church and he served as the church_s interim pastor in the spring of 1994.

The Rev. Brown served as senior pastor of other Free Methodist Churches in Minnesota until he retired in 1994 from pastoral ministry. The Rev. Brown had served as Christian Education Director, Conference Superintendent, Family Camp Director and Prayer Promoter of the Minn-I-Kota Conference of Free Methodist Churches during his 38 years of ministry. He became an ordained minister in 1956.

The Rev. James E. Brown, 67, of St. Louis Park, Minn., is survived by his wife, Laveen; four sisters, Janet Sellick, San Francisco, Calif.; Margaret Hulst, Waltham, Minn.; Marian Frazier, Northwood, Minn., and Bonnie Peterson, Forest City; one brother, Robert of Elkhart, Ind.; and many nieces and nephew

MASON CITY _ Erwin H. "Erv" Wetterling, 89, of 63 Stony Way, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave., with the Rev. Frederick J. Wood, officiating. Interment will be in St. John_s Cemetery, Garner.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour before service time at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Erwin H. Wetterling Memorial Fund.

Erwin H. "Erv" Wetterling was born Feb. 22, 1908, in Ellington Township, rural Garner, the son of Frank and Pauline (Lenz) Wetterling.

Erv attended country school, St. John_s Parochial School and Ventura High School.

On March 16, 1932, Erv married Lillian Boehnke at St. John_s Lutheran Church.

Erwin farmed east of Miller until 1959, when the family moved to Mason City.

He was employed at Allied Mills for 15 years, then worked part time as a weighmaster until fully retiring in 1983.

Erv was an avid reader. He also enjoyed making wind chimes and woodcrafts. Until recent years, fishing was a favorite summer vacation activity.

He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian Wetterling of Mason City; three daughters, Judy Hagen and her husband, Dick, Albert Lea, Minn.; Joan Wetterling of Eagan, Minn., and Anna Wetterling of Eagan, Minn.; one son, Jerry Wetterling and his wife, Patty, St. Joseph, Minn.; five grandchildren, Brenda Moles and her husband, Michael, Augusta, Ga.; Amy Wetterling of Minneapolis, Minn.; Trevor Wetterling, St. Joseph, Minn.; Carmen Wetterling, St. Joseph, Minn., and Jacob Wetterling, abducted in 1989 and is still missing; two great-granddaughters, Nissa and Kristen Moles, Augusta, Ga.; one brother-in-law, Ray Boehnke and his wife, Ruby, Garner; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janet Pederson; his parents; one infant brother; one brother, Otto Wettering; and two sisters, Erna Olson and Lillian Jones.

Erv will be greatly missed by all those hearts he touched.

CLEAR LAKE _ Muriel Peitzke, 84, of 114 N. Fifth St., died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Willowcreek Care Center, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Muriel Peitzke was born July 18, 1913, at Grant Township, the daughter of George and Mabel (Peterson) Peitzke.

She enjoyed crafts, gardening and her flowers. She especially loved raising roses.

Muriel was a past member of the Colonial Club.

She was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church and was active in the ladies circles there until a few years ago.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother, Warren Peitzke, Clear Lake; and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother in infancy.

CHARLES CITY _ Russell M. Fisher, 75, of 1622 Timber Ave., died Monday (July 21, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Hauser Funeral Home, 1205 S. Main St., with the Rev. Dennis Niezwaag of Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens, near Charles City, with graveside military honors by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. today at the Hauser Funeral Home, and from 9 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday.

Russell Melvin Fisher was born Feb. 7, 1922, at Charles City.

Survivors include three sisters, Darlene Greenman of Floyd, Jerry Spurbeck of Charles City and Helen Whitney of Denver, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, one daughter and two brothers.

BRITT _ Elizabeth (O_Hern) Koziol, 91, of Britt, died Sunday (July 20, 1997) at the Algona Good Samaritan Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick_s Catholic, with the Rev. Marvin Bries officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ewing Funeral Chapel, with a 7:30 p.m. parish wake service. There will be further visitation one hour prior to services at the church.

Elizabeth O_Hern Koziol was born March 10, 1906, Barum.

She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Susie O_Hern of Britt, and Dorothy O_Hern of Mason City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and four sisters.

MASON CITY _ Leo M. Cimijotti, 94, of 505 N. Delaware Ave., died Monday (July 21, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph_s Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with a 7 p.m. rosary wake service and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture wake service, and until 10 a.m. Thursday.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the funeral home.

THOMPSON _ Cora Annette Olson, 87, of 14857 450th St., died Monday (July 21, 1997) at home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with the Rev. Randy Baldwin officiating. Burial will be in the North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lake Mills.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Cora Annette Olson was born April 11, 1910, in Logan Township, Winnebago County.

Survivors include one son, Allan Olson of rural Thompson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one son.

ROCKWELL _ Harley Scholl, 80, of 216 N. Third, died Saturday (July 19, 1997) at his home.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Stephen Meyer and the Rev. Dennis Cahill officiating. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery where military rites will be conducted by the Gallagher Post of the American Legion.

Visitation was held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish Center.

Fullerton Funeral Home of Rockwell is in charge of arrangements.

The family requests that those who wish may direct memorials to the Harley Scholl Memorial Fund.

Harley was born Aug. 31, 1916, the son of Joseph and Anna (Koppen) Scholl in Burchinal. In 1931 he moved to Rockwell where he had been attending school. He then attended Barber College in Sioux City.

Harley served his country from 1942 until his honorable discharge in 1946 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. During his tour he was with the Medical Corps. as a Tech Sgt.

On Jan. 27 1947, Harley was united in marriage to Wilma "Jean" Vosburgh at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell.

Harley owned and operated Scholl_s Barber Shop from 1947 until 1971. In 1966 the couple purchased Jean_s Cafe which they successfully operated until retiring in 1991.

Harley was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Gallagher Post of the American Legion in Rockwell.

Harley is survived by his wife, Wilma "Jean"; two sons, Douglas Scholl of Boston, Mass., and his wife, JoLynn Scholl of Rockwell, and Dennis and his wife, Debra Scholl of Des Moines; one sister, Eunice Stangler of Mason City; two brothers, Victor "Bud" and his wife Wilma Scholl and Edwin and his wife, Patricia Scholl, both of Rockwell; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ethel Ackerman; four brothers, Joe, Lawrence, Charles and Richard Scholl.

WEYAUWEGA, Wis. _ Mrs. Raymond (Viola Thiemann) Barz, 82, of Weyauwega, died Monday (July 21, 1997) at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of The Pines, near Fremont, Wis.

Arrangements are incomplete at the Lewin Funeral Home, Freemont, Wis.

Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette obituaries

MASON CITY _ Leo M. Cimijotti, 94, of 505 N. Delaware Ave., died Monday (July 21, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph_s Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Mike Schueller officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with a rosary wake service at 7 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture wake service.

Memorials may be given to the Leo M. Cimijotti Memorial Fund.

Leo M. Cimijotti was born on April 20, 1903, in Mason City, the son of E.B. and Josephine Cimijotti.

Leo attended St. Joseph_s Catholic School and Hamilton Business College.

Leo sold and trained horses for the Ringling Circus for several years.

Leo was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Leo was a member of the St. Joseph_s Catholic Church and the NRA.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Cimijotti, Mason City; one son, Lew Cimijotti and his wife, Barbara, Albany, Ga.; two grandsons, Mark Cimijotti and his wife, Linda, and Bruce Cimijotti and his wife, Anita; two great-grandsons, Steven and Michael Cimijotti; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and two brother

Of The Globe-Gazette

MASON CITY _ Leo Cimijotti, 94, a horseman whose performances earned him a place in the Circus Hall of Fame, died Monday in the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Cimijotti was the last living member of a family that supplied horses for circuses and performed on horses all over the country 70 years ago.

The Cimijotti family troupe was described in a May 1928 issue of Billboard as "the world's greatest horse act." Cimijotti's father was considered an expert horse trainer.

The family had a farm from which they sold horses to circuses when they came to town. In a 1991 interview with the Globe-Gazette, Cimijotti recalled seeing John Ringling, owner of the famed Ringling Brothers Circus, at the family farm.

I can see him yet with his big mustache," Cimijotti said. "He was just a regular guy," he said.

Starting in 1926, Cimijotti took some of the family horses on the road with the Robbins Brothers Circus.

When circuses began to dwindle, the Cimijotti horses were used in fairs and exhibitions throughout the United States and Canada and were also used in a few movies.

In that 1991 interview, Cimijotti summed up his skills in those old films: "You don't have to be an actor to ride in a movie," he said.

Funeral services for Leo Cimijotti will be Thursday - See Page A11

FOREST CITY _ Sylvia Ann Anderson, 61, of Forest City, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Samuelson officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark.

Sylvia Ann (Cooley) Anderson was born in her grandparent_s home in Lake Mills, on March 12, 1936, the daughter of Dale and Viola (Twito) Cooley.

She spent her childhood growing and playing in Mason City. Her education, both formal and religious, began in Mason City, where she was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in 1949.

Soon thereafter, her family moved to Thompson, where she completed her formal education and met her future husband.

She was married to Gary E. Anderson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, on Dec. 27, 1953.

A devoted wife and mother, Sylvia helped her husband farm, served as a den mother, taught Sunday school and when her children were all in school and took a job at Millers Locker in Thompson.

In 1967, Sylvia began a long career at Winnebago Industries where she served in various capacities.

She and her family moved from their farm north of Thompson in January 1969 to Forest City where she continued to work until 1989, when lung cancer forced her to retire.

Sylvia was a gifted singer and craft person. She loved her family and compiled her family_s history into many albums for her future generation_s enjoyment.

She loved traveling in the United States. Throughout her travels, mountains always brought tears to her eyes and on one such trip, she and Gary stayed in Fairbanks, Alaska, for a year for the area_s beauty.

Sylvia leaves to mourn her passing, her husband of 43 years, Gary E. Anderson of Forest City; three sons and their wives, Scott and Donna Anderson of Fort Mill, S.C.; David and Sherry Anderson of Sioux City, and Gary and Linda Anderson of Dallas, N.C.; six grandsons, Chad of Minot, N.D., Corey and Casey of Fort Mills, S.C., Jeremy and Nicholas of Dallas, N.C., and Matt of Sioux City; her mother, Viola Cooley; and one brother, Lee Cooley of Lake Mills.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her father, Dale Cooley in 1969; a niece, Billie Jo Cooley in 1970; her son, Bruce in 1974; and a brother, Brian Cooley in 1993.

WEYAUWEGA, Wis. _ Viola B. Barz, 82, of Weyauwega, died Monday (July 21, 1997) at Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Hope United Church of Christ in Fremont, Wis., with the Rev. Harvey Kandler, officiating. Burial will be in Wolf River Cemetery, Fremont, Wis.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Lewin Funeral Home, Fremont, Wis., and from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Thursday. There will be visitation one hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday.

A memorial fund has been established.

She was born on Jan. 16, 1915, in Klemme, Iowa, the daughter of the late Henry and Minnie (Schuettpelz) Thiemann Jr.

She was married Jan. 14, 1942, in Klemme, Iowa, to Raymond Barz.

Viola was a member of the Hope United Church of Christ and its Women_s Guild. She was also a member of the Gray Ladies, Homemakers Club, Fremont Friendly Seniors and was a former church organist and a Sunday school teacher.

Vi and her husband, Ray, delivered Meals on Wheels and participated in the Weymont Food Pantry. She was also a director of camping staff at Moon Beach Camp.

Her hobbies included bowling, dart ball, card playing, traveling, gardening and taking care of her home.

Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Raymond Barz; two sons, Lee Barz of Plover, and Gaylon Barz and his wife, Mary, of Amherst Junction, Wis.; one daughter, Heidi Barz, Wheaton, Ill.; two grandchildren, Lisa and Ryan; one brother, Paul Thiemann and his wife, Grace, of Klemme, Iowa; one sister, Luella Yakel, Klemme, Iowa; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Mabel Waddingham.

BELMOND _ Don Smith, 67, of Belmond, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at the Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Tenold Funeral Home.

Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette obituaries

GARNER _ Mary Avery, 81, of Garner, died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at Concord Care Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Cataldo Funeral Home.

BELMOND _ Don L. Smith, 67, of Belmond, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at the Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ken Fineran officiating. Interment will be in the Belmond Cemetery, with military rites by the Belmond Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Don L. Smith, the son of Leslie LeForest and Mary Florine (Grim) Smith was born Sept, 3, 1929, at Shell Rock.

He attended Shell Rock school and upon graduation he moved to Belmond where he began working at General Mills.

On Aug. 20, 1950, Don was united in marriage to Loretta Anderson at the United Methodist Church, Belmond.

In 1951, Don entered the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War.

After returning from the service, he returned to work for General Mills & Central Soya for 43 years.

Don was the Union President of the Local 25 Grain Millers.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Belmond, served on the Belmond City Council for several years and a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge.

Don bought furs for many years, enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing and working in his garden. He also enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and visiting with his nieces and nephews.

Surviving is his wife, Loretta; sons, Michael Smith and his wife, Karen, of Rowan; Brian Smith and his wife, Page, of Belmond, and Terry Smith and his wife, Sue, of Omaha, Neb.; daughter, Patricia Halfpop and her husband, Larry, of Belmond; grandchildren, Jason, Marshall, Nick, Joseph, Austin, Yashua, Quinton, Mercedes, Hannah and Brandon; and a brother, Ellis Smith of Mason City, Ill.

Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Bruce; sister-in-law, Erlene Smith; and niece, Pam Kerr.

HAMPTON _ Thelma Eva Dannen, 76, of Hampton, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at Franklin General Hospital.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Zion Reformed Church, rural Sheffield, with the Rev. Michael Ploeger officiating. A private family burial will be held at the Zion Reformed Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Latimer.

Memorials may be given to the Zion Reformed Church, rural Sheffield or North Iowa Hospice.

Thelma Dannen was born June 8, 1921, at her parents_ farm home in Franklin County.

Survivors includes her husband, Otto of Latimer; one son, Richard of rural Ames; one daughter, Nancy King of Plymouth, Minn.; one granddaughter; and four brothers, Jerry T. Jurgens, of rural Latimer; Calvin Jurgens, Thornton; Paul Jurgens of rural Latimer; and David Jurgens of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

TITONKA _ Lowell Frank Bentley, 85, of Titonka, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Good Hope Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Merlin Norris officiating. Burial will be in the Buffalo Township Cemetery, with a flag presentation by the Wm. F. Kennedy V.F.W. Post #4071 and Breen Post #465 of the American Legion of Titonka, officiating.

Lowell was born Nov. 19, 1911, at Jewell.

Survivors include his wife, Lela of Titonka; one daughter, Lois Bjelke of New Brighton, Minn.; one grandson; and two sisters, Pearl McEnroe of Algona, and Gladys Christiansen of Wesley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, two brothers and four sisters.

MASON CITY _ Estelle A. Jones, 88, of 4 Third St. N.W., died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Arrangements are incomplete at the Fullerton Patterson James Funeral Chapel, 123 Second St. S.E.

FOREST CITY _ Roy Lovik, 74, of Forest City, died Thursday (July 23, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, Mason City.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home.

GREENE _ Harry Backer, 85, of 502 N. Fifth St., died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Liebe Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Lance Kittleson and the Rev. Perry Brown officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Tack Barnett Post #268 American Legion of Greene.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Reid_s Funeral Chapel, with a 7:30 p.m. public Scripture service, and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Harry Backer was born March 6, 1912, in rural Eldora, Hardin County.

Survivors include his wife, Noma of Greene; one son, Roger of Greene; two grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Durand of Waverly, and Gladys Blunt of Charles City; and two brothers, John of Greene and Donald of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Harry Backer Memorial Fund in care of the family.

ALGONA _ Ed Skilling, 75, of Algona, died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Doug Hoag, the Rev. Steve Turner and the Rev. Tim Boekelman officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post #2541 and the American Legion Hagg-Turner Post #90 of Algona.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Geilenfeld-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home.

Ed Skilling was born Feb. 11, 1922, in Algona.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne of Algona; two sons, David Skilling and John Skilling, both of Algona; two daughters, Joann Smith of St. Peter, Minn., and Danette Miller of Humboldt; nine grandchildren; and one brother, Gerald "Jerry" Skilling of Surprise, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one grandson.

VENICE, Fla. _ Florence H. Morris, 89, of Venice, formerly of the Sioux City and Mason City areas, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) in Venice.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date. Burial will be in the Venice United Church of Christ Memorial Gardens.

Ewing Funeral Home, 140 E. Venice Ave., Venice, Fla. 34285, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be given to the Venice United Church of Christ, 620 E. Shamrock Blvd, Venice, Fla. 34293 and Hospice of S.W. Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fla. 34238 in her memory.

Florence H. Morris was born Jan. 6, 1908, in Round Lake, Minn. She was a graduate of Nebraska State Teachers College and did post graduate work at Drake University and Iowa University.

She taught school in Iowa for 38 years.

She was a life member of the Iowa State Teachers Association, member of Chapter DU of P.E.O.; life member of Venice Hospital H.A.V.; a member of the Venice Area College Club; and a member of the Venice Yacht Club.

She was a member of the Venice United Church of Christ.

She is survived by a stepdaughter, Patricia Wells of Caswell Beach, N.C.; one sister, Wanda Mercuriali of Venice, Fla.; two brothers, R.J. Will of Sioux City, and D.F. Will of South Sioux City, Neb.; two stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

MASON CITY _ Melva J. Pals, 63, 1415 Eighth St. S.W., died Wednesday morning (July 23, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center.

Funeral services for Melva will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. David Shogren officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be held after 2 p.m. today at the Fullerton Patterson James Funeral Chapel, 123 Second St. S.E.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Melva Pals Memorial Fund.

Melva was born on Dec. 20, 1933, at Clear Lake, the sixth child of 10, to Theodore and Greona (Pals) Nelson.

She moved with her family to several area farms and received her education and graduation from the Goodell High School. While in school, she played basketball and was the majorette at the Mason City Band Festival for the Goodell School System.

After school she met her neighbor, Ron Pals, who united with her in marriage on Jan. 20, 1951, at Mechanicsville.

Ron soon entered the service and Melva began her career as an operator for Northwestern Bell in Mason City.

After Ron returned from the service, they transferred to Iowa Falls where both of them were employed by the telephone company and moved back to Mason City in 1976 where she was a clerk for the company. She retired from the telephone company in 1986.

She then was a bookkeeper for Bauer Built Tires for a few years. Even though she did not have to work, her caring spirit led her to becoming a nurses aide at Good Shepherd Nursing Home where she was known as a hard worker.

She loved her family and grandchildren, and in her off time, was often found enjoying their new sun room where she tended her flowers, birds and fish.

She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Melva is survived by her husband of 45 years, Ronald, of Mason City; two daughters, Rhonda and her husband, Allen Halfpop, and Leslie and her husband, Damon Dornbier, all of Mason City; four surviving sisters, Leola and Jim Lyons, Roswell, Ga.; Jeanyce and Allan Gobeli, Milton, Fla.; Shirley and Kermit Nelson, Lake Mills, and Merna Torkelson of Forest City; three brothers, Richard and Marlys Nelson of Fairfax; Darwin and Margie Nelson, Clear Lake, and Loren and Andrea Nelson, Denison; four grandchildren, Allison and Tyler Halfpop and Kaitlyn and Morgan Dornbier; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Wanda Jenkins; and one brother, Roger Nelson.

Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette obituaries

CLARION _ Marion E. Sims, 85, of Clarion, died Tuesday (July 22, 1997) at home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the United Church of Christ Congregational, with the Rev. Curt Miner officiating.

Visitation will begin after 1 p.m. today at the Willim Funeral Home, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Marion Elsie Fisher was born April 14, 1912, at Eagle Grove.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. Paul E. Sims; two sons, John of Naperville, Ill., and Scott of Eagle River, Alaska; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister.

CHARLES CITY _ Ruth Klinehart, 86, of 301 Seventh Ave., died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Riverside Chautauqua Guest Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Dennis Niezwaag officiating. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery, Marble Rock.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the Hauser Funeral Home, 1205 S. Main St. , and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Ruth Esther Klinehart was born May 12, 1911, at Springbrook, Wis.

Survivors include two sisters, Elva Neir of Charles City, and Lois Hunn of New Windsor, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, her second husband, her third husband and an infant brother.

Memorials may be directed to Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church.

FOREST CITY _ Roy Lovik, 74, of Forest City, died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Gary Marzolf officiating. Burial will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark.

Roy Lovik was born Oct. 18, 1922, in Cerro Gordo County.

Survivors include one sister, Irene Peterson of Riceville; and four brothers, Harry Lovik of Madrid; Lloyd Lovik of Forest City; Virgil Lovik of Fertile, and Orville Lovik of Gulf Port, Miss.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, an infant brother, two brothers and one sister.

CLEAR LAKE _ Pamela Yvonne Hartnett, 49, of Clear Lake, died Thursday (July 24, 1997) at her home in Clear Lake.

A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick_s Catholic Church, with Monsignor Joseph J. Slepicka officiating. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., with a public Scriptural prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

The family of Pamela Yvonne Hartnett has requested that memorial contributions be made to the St. Patrick_s Charity Fund or to Hospice of North Iowa in her memory.

Pamela Yvonne Hartnett was born on Dec. 20, 1947, in Forest City, the daughter of Donald and Violet (Askildson) Albertson.

She attended and received her education in the Forest City School System, graduating from Forest City High School. She also attended and graduated from Waldorf College.

She was united in marriage to Donald Hartnett on Oct. 6, 1984, in Clear Lake.

During her life she worked at the Corner Drug Store as its secretary and was also co-owner of the "Antiques on Main" Store in Clear Lake.

She enjoyed antiques, cooking and gardening, but her great love and enjoyment was her family and friends.

She was a member of St. Patrick_s Catholic Church in Clear Lake.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Donald Hartnett of Clear Lake; her mother and father, Violet and Donald Albertson of Forest City; one daughter, Jody Davis of Mason City; one son, Jason Davis and his fiancee, Amy Melsa of Cedar Rapids, four stepchildren, Richard Hartnett and his wife, Donna, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mark Hartnett and his wife, Denise, of Williamsburg; Tim Hartnett and his wife, Karin, of River Falls, Wis., and Kevin Hartnett and his wife, Jenny, of Clear Lake; 11 grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald Albertson and his wife, Judy, of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Brian Albertson and his wife, Karen, of Leland; as well as numerous nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and friends.

GREENE _ Funeral services for Harry Backer, 85, of 502 N. Fifth Street, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene, with the Rev. Lance Kittleson and the Rev. Perry Brown officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Tack Barnett Post 268 American Legion of Greene.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Reid_s Funeral Chapel, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. public Scripture service and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Harry Backer was born March 6, 1912, in rural Ackley, Hardin County, a son of John and Augusta (DeBuhr) Backer, and died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Liebe Care Center, Greene.

At an early age, he and his family settled in Butler County where he received his education in the country schools. He started farming on his own as a young man and for 13 years, farmed 200 acres with his brother, August.

On Sept. 24, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps where he served with the 1337th AAF as an airplane instrument mechanic. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater in Central Burma and the India Burma campaigns, where he received two Bronze Battle Stars. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 7, 1945.

He was united in marriage to Noma Margaret Montgomery on Dec. 16, 1945, at St. John_s Lutheran Parsonage in Clarksville. They farmed east of Greene until their retirement in 1981, when they moved into Greene. Harry enjoyed all aspects of agriculture and was a member of the Farm Bureau and served on the Board of Directors of the Farmer_s Cooperative Society in Greene.

He was baptized June 30, 1912, at St. James Lutheran in Allison and confirmed on April 8, 1928, at St. John_s Lutheran Church in Clarksville. He became a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene in March of 1946 where he was a member of the church council and served as usher.

Living family members include his loving wife of 52 years, Noma of Greene; one son, Roger and his wife, Clarene Backer of Greene; two grandchildren, Benjamin and Joseph Backer; two sisters, Betty Durand of Waverly and Gladys Blunt of Charles City; two brothers and their spouses, John and Ethel Backer of Greene, and Donald and Evelyn Backer of Waterloo; and two sisters-in-law, Bessie Backer of Clarksville and Thelma Backer of Phoenix, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Grace Ackerman; and two brothers, Paul "Bill" Backer and August Backer.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Harry Backer Memorial Fund in care of the family.

BELMOND _ Wanda Wessels, 56, formerly of Belmond, died Thursday (July 24, 1997) at the Brighton Care Center, Brighton, Colo.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church, Belmond, with the Rev. Ken Fineran officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home.

ELMORE, Minn. _ Iona Mae Aukes, 57, of Elmore, Minn., died Thursday (July 24, 1997) at her home in rural Elmore.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Shiloh Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Olena Mound Cemetery, Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, Iowa, where other arrangements are incomplete.

MASON CITY _ Estelle A. Jones, 88, of Four Third St. N.W., died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Following cremation, memorial services are tentatively planned for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Patterson James Funeral Chapel, 123 Second St. S.E., with Father Dennis Cahill, Holy Family Catholic Church, officiating.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the funeral chapel.

GARNER _ Mary Ellen Avery, 81, of Garner, died Wednesday (July 23, 1997) at the Concord Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Kay Hooper officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. Fourth St.

Mary Ellen Avery, the daughter of Edward and Alice (Hoffman) Duregger was born July 11, 1916, at Webster City.

She moved with her family to the Swaledale area where she attended school. At an early age, she hired out as a nanny to help support herself and her family.

On June 14, 1939, she was married to Harland Avery at his parents_ farm east of Goodell. They farmed east of Goodell and later southeast of Klemme, where she helped her husband farm and raise their family.

In 1963, she began working at Concord Care Center until health problems required her to retire.

In 1966, Harland and Mary moved from the family farm south of Klemme into Garner and established a Lawn Boy Service Center.

In November of 1989, she had a stroke that partially paralyzed her and required her to make her home at Concord Care Center, where she lived until the time of her death.

She enjoyed quilt making and sewing.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church and U.M.W.

She is survived by her children, Mrs. Barbara Fisher and her husband, James, of Rowan; Mrs. Shirley Worman and her husband, John, of Garner, and Hal Avery and his wife, Janet, of Mason City; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; her sisters and brothers, Mrs. Gladys Henn of Clear Lake; Fred Duregger and his wife, Helen, of Newport News, Va.; Virgil Duregger and his wife, Thelma, of Clear Lake; Mrs. Helen Sorensen of Alden; Bob Duregger of Hayward, Calif.; Mrs. Irene Sorensen of Castro Valley, Calif.; Leo Duregger and his wife, Edith, of Clear Lake;Edward Duregger of Garner, and Larry Borum and his wife, Abbie, of Orlando, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Fanny Duregger of Clear Lake; and many nieces and nephews.