March 21-25, 1997

Obituary Archive

Mason City

Globe Gazette
Box 271
Mason City, Iowa
50402

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The Mason City Globe Gazette year 1997 archive

MCGG 03/20/1997 Violet Piper DUMONT Violet Piper, 94, of Dumont, died Monday (March 17, 1997) at the Southland Lutheran Home, Norwalk, Calif. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Dumont United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Marilyn Winch officiating. Burial will be in the Dumont Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home. Violet Piper was born June 19, 1902, in Bristow. Survivors include two daughters, Dawn Bronsema, Downey, Calif., and Lorraine Ubben, Mason City; one son, Floyd Piper, Goddard, Kan.; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and one sister.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Ella E. Gratias MASON CITY Ella E. Gratias, 80, of 21 20th St. S.E., died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Carl A. Ries officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., where other arrangements are incomplete.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Arnie Olson ALEXANDER Arnie Olson, 85, of Alexander, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Belmond Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick Lane S., Belmond.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Vera Schwietert BURT Vera Schwietert, 92, of Burt, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Titonka Care Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, Bancroft.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Benjamin R. Boerjan ST. ANSGAR Benjamin R. Boerjan, 80, of St. Ansgar, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home.

MCGG 03/20/1997 John D. `Jack' Burnett BELMOND John D. ``Jack'' Burnett, 74, of Belmond, formerly of Goodell and Meservey, died Wednesday (March 18, 1997) at his home in Belmond. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick Lane S.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Florence I. Waddell MASON CITY Florence I. Waddell, 87, of 1413 N. Pennsylvania Ave., died Tuesday (March 18, 1997) at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., with the Rev. Kathy Graves of Hospice of North Iowa officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral chapel and will continue until time of services on Friday. Florence I. Waddell was born Sept. 9, 1909, in Mason City, daughter of Carl M. and Clara B. (Gardinier) Nessett. She married Carl A. Waddell on June 25, 1949, in Mason City. Florence was a lifelong member resident of Mason City. She worked at Jacob E. Deckers for eight years, retiring in 1950. Survivors include her husband, Carl Waddell, Mason City; one daughter, Beverly Murphy, Mason City; seven grandchildren, Linda Westendorf, James Fransen, Diana Hampton, Joe Fransen, Mike Fransen and Lisa Schaer, all of Mason City; and Loree Mitchell, Manly; three stepgrandchildren, Lowell Murphy, Mason City; Charles Murphy, Peacon, Ill., and Jerry Murphy of Florida; 13 great-granddaughters; 13 great-grandsons; five great-great-granddaughters; and three great-great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Bud Nessett; and two great-grandsons.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Jacob John Schlotterback MANLY Jacob John Schlotterback, 62, of Manly, died Tuesday (March 18, 1997) at the Manly Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Bethel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Robert Cumings and the Rev. Thomas McAndrew of Sacred Heart Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in the Manly Cemetery with military honors by the Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E. Spring St., and one hour prior to time of services at the church on Friday. Jacob John Schlotterback was born on June 21, 1934, in Manly, the son of Homer and Mary (Seidel) Schlotterback. He attended and received his education in the Manly School system now North Central Community Schools, graduating from Manly High School in 1952. After completing his education, he began working on the section crew for the Rock Island Railroad in Manly. He was inducted into the U.S. Army serving from 1957 until 1959. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he continued to work for the Rock Island Railroad as a fireman and as an engineer for over 30 years, and also worked for the Iowa Northern Railway, retiring in 1989 due to ill health. He was united in marriage to Lucille Standish on Jan. 20, 1962, in South St. Paul, Minn. He enjoyed hunting ducks, skeet and trap shooting in which he won several trophies during competitions and he also loved to sharpen knives for other people. He was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110, Manly, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and was a former member of the South St. Paul, Minn., Gun Club. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lucille Schlotterback of Manly; four children, Teresa Cordle and her husband, Rod, of Manly; Mary Kraft and her husband, Scott, of Riceville; Monica Schlotterback and her fiancee, Duane Ausenhus of Hanlontown, and Jason Schlotterback of Coralville; three grandchildren, Kaci, Jordan and Tayler Kraft; one brother, Marcus Bartusek and his wife, Patsy, of Manly; one sister, Maude Evans of Wilmington, N.C.; and one brother-in-law, Bob Grefe, Hampton; as well as other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, two sisters in infancy and a sister, Cora Grefe.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Richard Lee Hovey NORTHWOOD Richard ``Bud'' Lee Hovey Jr., 70, of Northwood, died Tuesday (March 18, 1997) at the Lake Mills Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, Highway 65 S., with the Rev. Gary Johnson of Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Rest Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Richard Lee Hovey Jr. was born March 11, 1927, in Tenstrike, Minn. Survivors include one daughter, Diane Hovey, Lake Mills; one son, Larry Hovey, Northwood; two sisters, Edna Mihelich of Hibbing, Minn., and Virginia Beck, of Austin, Minn.; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one sister and one granddaughter.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Alice M. Solum ROCHESTER, Minn. A memorial service for Alice M. Solum was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the Zumbro Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lester J. Horntvedt and the Rev. Gary E. Benson officiating. A family prayer and burial service was held on Wednesday morning in Oakwood Cemetery. Mrs. Solum, 64, of 2636 Oakridge Dr. S.W., a bank secretary, died Friday (March 14, 1997) at Rochester Methodist Hospital, following a prolonged illness. Alice M. Bakke was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Lake Mills, Iowa. She graduated from Lake Mills High School and attended Concordia College in Moorhead. She was married Oct. 19, 1957, in Minneapolis to Donald F. Solum, and they moved to Rochester. Her husband is a retired IBM laboratory technician. She was a commercial banking secretary and a member of Zumbro Lutheran Church. Vine Funeral Home, Rochester, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Zumbro Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice. She is survived by her husband, Donald F. Solum; a daughter, Sara Solum of Denver, Colo.; four sons, John of Denver, Colo.; David of Oronoco, and Andy and Paul of Rochester; five grandchildren; and three sisters, Elizabeth Francis of Clear Lake, Iowa; Ellen MacGregor of Rochester, and Mary Lyon of Zumbrota. She was preceded in death by one sister.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Vincent F. `Bud' Moltz CHARLES CITY Vincent F. ``Bud'' Moltz, 80, of 1 Sunset Place, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hauser Funeral Home, 1205 S. Main St., with the Rev. William Green officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and from 9 a.m. until time of services on Saturday. Vincent Fredric Moltz was born June 14, 1916, at Huron, S.D. Survivors include his wife, Marvlyn; two sons, V. Paul Moltz and Galen Moltz, both of Colorado; one daughter, Judy Sylvester of Denver, Iowa; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Loretta Kehret of Charles City. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother. The family suggests memorials to the Heart to Home Hospice.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Roy A. Reiher ALLISON Roy A. Reiher, 69, of Allison, died Tuesday (March 18, 1997) at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Allison United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Paul Schultz officiating. Burial will be in the Allison Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home. Roy A. Reiher was born Nov. 13, 1927, in Butler County. Survivors include his wife, Vernette Reiher, Allison; two sons, Gary Reiher and Jason Reiher, both of Allison; one daughter, Glenda Lovrien, Lakeville, Minn.; five grandchildren; and one brother, Vern Reiher, Allison. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.

MCGG 03/20/1997 Elizabeth Harig LUVERNE Elizabeth ``Betty'' Harig, 90, of LuVerne, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Algona Manor Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Benedict Catholic Church, rural Algona, with the Rev. Lynn Bruch officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Algona. Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. today at the Geilenfeld-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, Algona, with a 3 p.m. parish rosary, an 8 p.m. parish prayer service and a family prayer service at 9:15 a.m. Friday. Elizabeth Harig was born March 28, 1906, in rural Algona. Survivors include her husband, Adrian of LuVerne; one son, Charles Schneider of Algona; one sister, Mathilda Henry of Algona; and one brother, George Steil, Algona.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Ella E. Gratias MASON CITY Ella E. Gratias, 80, of 21 20th St. S.E., died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Carl A. Ries officiating. Following services, the body will be cremated. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, or to the Ella E. Gratias Memorial Fund. Pallbearers for her funeral Mass will be Chad Levis, Kevin Blake, David Yung, Richard Bergan, Larry Bergan and John Behm. Ella E. Gratias was born April 30, 1916, in Plymouth, daughter of John and Anna (Fitzl) Behm. She married Ralph Gratias Sr. on July 6, 1940, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City. Ella was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mason City. Survivors include her husband, Ralph Gratias Sr.; two daughters, Mary Lou Blake and her husband, Leon, and Karen Levis and her husband, Jim, both of Mason City; four grandchildren, Lori Yung and her husband, David, Apple Valley, Minn.; Kevin Blake and Michelle Blake, both of Mason City, and Chad Levis, Minneapolis, Minn.; one great-granddaughter, Abigail Yung, Apple Valley, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Gerald Ralph Gratias and Ralph Gratias Jr.; one brother, Lawrence Behm; and three sisters, Dorothy Fiala, Rosie Pinneke and Lila Bergan.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Lawrence Gilman Gordon KENSETT Lawrence Gilman Gordon, 92, of rural Kensett, died Thursday (March 20, 1997) at his home in Kensett. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church with the Rev. Selmer ``Sam'' Hernes officiating. Burial will be in the Kensett Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 99-11th St. S., Northwood, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. The family of Lawrence Gilman Gordon has requested that memorial contributions be made to Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett in his memory. Lawrence Gilman Gordon was born on Sept. 2, 1904, in rural Kensett, the son of Teman N. and Emma (Braun) Gordon. He attended and received his education in the Kensett Community Schools, graduating from Kensett High School. He was united in marriage to Myrtle Minnie Annie Gillerman on Sept. 2, 1937, in Rapid City, S.D. After their marriage together they farmed all of their lives in the Kensett area until their retirement in the late 1960s. During his life, he enjoyed serving on various boards of farm organizations and also was a director for the Federal Land Bank for two terms and served 10 years on the ASCS County Board. He enjoyed traveling all his life although in his later years, his traveling was confined to slide show trips with the Manly Camera Club. Earlier in their life, he and his wife spent a great deal of time in their trailer touring the United States, especially traveling to Florida over 40 years and the West. He also enjoyed woodworking and took great pride in caring for his lawn. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett and served on the church board during the time the new church was being built. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Myrtle Gordon of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood; two sons, Dean Gordon and his wife, Phyllis, of Northwood, and Roger Gordon and his wife, Debbie, of Hudson; one daughter, Laura Greenlund and her husband, Gary, of Mason City; five grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; one brother, Gaylord Truman Gordon of Kensett; as well as other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Norman and Ernest Gordon.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Floyd V. Easley MASON CITY Floyd V. Easley, 66, of Mason City, died Thursday (March 20, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The casket will be closed during visitation. Memorials may be given to the Floyd V. Easley Memorial Fund. Floyd V. Easley was born Feb. 14, 1931, in Mason City, the son of Fred W. and Susanna (Gunnels) Easley. He married Janice Deckard on Aug. 27, 1949, in Mason City. Floyd worked as a plasterer for W.J. Easley and Sons Plastering and Stucco Contractors for many years. He was last employed by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where he took medical retirement. Floyd enjoyed gardening and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Janice Easley of Mason City; children, Floyd David Easley of Des Moines; Kevin Easley and his wife, Kathy, of Mason City; Gregg Easley and his fiancee, Linda M. Popp of Mason City; Laura Jiminez and her husband, Ralph, of Fort Myers, Fla.; Dan Easley and his wife, Lisa, of Mason City; and DeAnn Easley of Mason City; grandchildren, David Nathaniel Easley, Kyle Easley, Katie Easley, Kacy Easley, Rhondi Easley, Serena Easley and Blake Easley; brothers, Fred W. Easley Jr. and John Easley, both of Mason City; Thomas Easley of Northwood and Leon Easley of California. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Benjamin R. Boerjan ST. ANSGAR Benjamin R. Boerjan, 80, of St. Ansgar, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Osage, with the Rev. Dennis Cahill officiating. Burial will be in the St. Ansgar Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today at the Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, with a 7 p.m. rosary. Benajmin R. Boerjan was born Dec. 6, 1916, at Plymouth. Survivors include two daughters, Myrna Hrubetz, Prescott, Wis., and Gwen Reiss, Ellendale, Minn.; two sons, Roger of St. Ansgar, and Gary of San Dimas, Calif.; seven grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; one sister, Minnie Heitland; and two brothers, George and John, both of St. Ansgar. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one daughter, one granddaughter, one sister and two brothers.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Vera Schwietert BURT Vera Schwietert, 92, of Burt, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Titonka Care Center. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Susan Thomas officiating. Burial will be in the Buffalo Township Cemetery, Titonka. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Garry-Roberts- Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, Bancroft, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. Vera was born on July 11, 1904, at Crookston, Minn. Survivors include two daughters, Patricia O'Hara of New Brighton, Minn., and Shirley Dana of Waynesboro, Va.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one infant son and two brothers.

MCGG 03/21/1997 John D. `Jack' Burnett BELMOND John D. ``Jack'' Burnett, 74, of Belmond, formerly of Goodell and Meservey, died Tuesday (March 18, 1997) at home. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Evangelical Free Church, with the Rev. Pat Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Amsterdam Cemetery, Goodell, with military rites by the Goodell American Legion. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, 111 S. Luick Lane S., and one hour prior to services at the church. John Burnett was born July 30, 1922, in Goldfield. Survivors include two sisters, Evaleen Walker of Lancaster, Calif., and Delores Christman, of Lake Lake, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Henry Siemers EMMETSBURG Henry Siemers, 86, of Emmetsburg, died Thursday (March 20, 1997) at the Lakeside Lutheran Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Dennis Angland officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ascherl Funeral Home. Hinderk ``Henry'' Siemers, the son of Detert and Roljke (Meyer) Siemers, was born Nov. 25, 1910, in Staplemoor, Germany, where he also attended school. After school, Henry worked as a hired hand until February of 1929, when he immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 years. He arrived in New York City and traveled by train to Corona, S.D., where he worked as a hired hand. He moved to Iowa in 1936 and worked for a farmer near Paulina. He married Martha Annetta Bohlen on Nov. 24, 1938, in Twin Brooks, S.D. The young couple returned to Iowa, where he started farming near Ayrshire and they moved to a farm north of Emmetsburg in 1942. Henry retired in 1976 and they moved to Stockholm, S.D., and returned to Emmetsburg in 1986. Henry moved into the Lakeside Lutheran Home in June of 1995. Henry was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Emmetsburg, and enjoyed attending auctions, collecting antiques and restoring old furniture. Henry passed from this life, March 20, 1997, at the Lakeside Lutheran Home, Emmetsburg. He had attained the age of 86 years, three months and 23 days. He is survived by his wife, Martha, of Emmetsburg ; their five children, Ruth and her husband, Harley Mohr of Mankato, Minn.; Gilbert and his wife, Bonnie Siemers of Emmons, Minn.; Marcella and her husband, Mike Kressin of Clear Lake; Ben and his wife, Vicky Siemers of Graettinger, and Tim and his wife, Dawn Siemers of Cylinder; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Martje Buss of Klostermoor, Germany; and a sister-in-law, Lizzy Siemers of Idehorn, Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Grace; a daughter-in-law, Marcia (Kuhn) Siemers; a brother, Sander Siemers; and twin sisters, Elsa and Roljke Siemers.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Minerva A. Dralle GREENE Funeral services for Minerva A. Dralle, 82, of 407 N. Second St., will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, Vilmar, rural Greene, with the Rev. Randall Baldwin and the Rev. Randy Nielsen officiating. Burial will be in the South Vilmar Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Reid's Funeral Chapel, with a public Scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before services Monday at the church. Minerva Alvina King was born Oct. 1, 1914, in Waterloo, a daughter of Clark Leonard and Ruth Amelia (Beyers) King and died Thursday (March 20, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center East, Mason City. She received her education in the rural Floyd County schools and the Marble Rock Public Schools and graduated from the Greene High School in 1931. She worked for the Oliver Tractor Works in Charles City for 18 years. On Jan. 7, 1961, she was united in marriage to Paul Henry Dralle at St. Peter's Lutheran Parsonage in Greene. They farmed in the Vilmar area before moving into Greene in 1974. Minerva's interests included playing bingo and going fishing in Canada with her husband. They also enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and the Caribbean and spending time with family in California. She was a faithful member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Greene. Living family members include her loving husband, Paul, of Greene; two sons and their spouses, Don and Iola Barr of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Ron and Pat Barr of Dubuque; two stepsons and their spouses, Darwin Dralle of Greene and Dean and Doris Dralle of Clarksville; 11 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 18 great- grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters and their spouses, Dorothy ``Dotty'' and Erv Solberg of Floyd, and Geraldine ``Gerry'' and Tom Vader of Oklahoma; two brothers and their spouses, Carroll ``Buzz'' and Edna King of Marble Rock and Leonard King of Charles City; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Joe Barr; her parents; one sister, Katherine Davis; and one brother, George King. Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Minerva A. Dralle Memorial Fund in care of the family.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Gordon Lee Freeseman GREENE Funeral services for Gordon Lee Freeseman, 62, of 406 West Iowa St., will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Galen Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Parkersburg. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Tack Barnett Post #268 American Legion of Greene. Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. with a public Scripture service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before services on Saturday at the church. Gordon Lee Freeseman was born Feb. 16, 1935, in rural Parkersburg, Butler County, a son of William Howard and Evelyn Marguerite (Arends) Freeseman, and died Thursday (March 20, 1997) at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City. He received his education in the rural schools near Cedar Falls and Clarksville, then graduated from the Greene High School in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Army on March 3, 1954, serving with Hq Battery 285 Field Artillery. Following his discharge on March 2, 1956, he returned home where he was employed for Oliver Tractor Works in Charles City. On Nov. 2, 1958, he was united in marriage to Arthena Marlene Bobst at the Unity Presbyterian Church in rural Clarksville. Gordon and Arthena lived on a farm east of Greene where they farmed and raised cattle. During this time, he hauled milk for the Farmers Cooperative Creamery in Greene. In 1971, they moved into Greene where he held various jobs. Gordon's life was marked with alcohol abuse in which he overcame by treatment in 1977. Soon after he became Director of the Butler County Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Referral Center in Allison, where he continued until his death. This year would have marked 20 years of dedicated service to the center in which over 1,200 people had been referred for treatment. He has been recognized for his many contributions toward alcoholism treatment and was voted Alumni of the Year at MHI in Independence. In his youth, he was active in the Boy Scouts and was elected a delegate to Boys State. He was a member of the Tack Barnett Post 268 American Legion of Greene and a member of the Greene City Council where he served a mayor pro-tem. He had many interests which included fishing, camping, gardening and puttering around in his shop. He was a nature lover, watching the birds and erecting feeders and bird houses for them. He also had a great love for music and many years played guitar for a band called the Playmates. Most of all, Gordon and Arthena were always together, in work, in play, enjoying and cherishing each other's company. Living family members include his loving wife, Arthena of Greene; two daughters and their spouses, Terri Lea and Ron Boelts of Wellsburg, Dawn Renae and James McLennan of Alexander; one son, Kevin D. Freeseman of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; seven grandchildren,

Tiffany Lee and Melanie, of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; Chelsea Lea and Dillon of Wellsburg; Jamie Lee, Jered and Jordon, of Alexander; three sisters and their spouses, Darlene and Ross Enabnit of Marble Rock, Ima Jean Sellers of Osage, and Evonita and Virgil Dahl of Waterloo; two brothers and their spouses, Glenn Dale ``Butch'' Freeseman of Allison, and Delaine and Jane Freeseman of Charles City; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Gordon Lee Freeseman Memorial Fund in care of the family.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Arnie Olson ALEXANDER Arnie Olson, 85, of Alexander, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Belmond Community Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at First Reformed Church. Burial will be in the Alexander Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick Lane S., Belmond, where other arrangements are incomplete.

MCGG 03/21/1997 Agnes Mathews LELAND Agnes Mathews, 88, of Leland, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Lake Mills Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with the Rev. Bill Peters officiating. Burial will be in the Winnebago Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and one hour prior to services at the church. Agnes Mathews was born Feb. 3, 1909, near Forest City. Survivors include two daughters, Verlaine Swingen, Woden, and Karolyn Flatrud, Thompson; one son, Ronald Mathews, Leland; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Orven Charlson, Lake Mills, and Ray Charlson, Forest City. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sons, one sister and three brothers.

MCGG 03/22/1997 Lee Marvin Schmitt GREENE A funeral Mass for Lee Marvin Schmitt, 54, of 941 37th St., Des Moines, formerly of Greene, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Phillip Schmitt and Monsignor Walter Brunkan officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Reid's Funeral Chapel, with a 7:30 p.m. Scriptural wake service followed by a rosary service. Lee Marvin Schmitt was born June 16, 1942, in Minneapolis, a son of Leo John and Florence Marie (Martin) Schmitt and died Friday (March 21, 1997) at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines of an apparent heart attack. He received his education in the Greene Public Schools graduating in 1960 and later graduated from Drake University in Des Moines with a degree in business. He was engaged as an insurance salesman and sold heavy equipment. His last employment was at Menard's and Paits Grocery, both in Des Moines. Lee was a life-long member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greene and attended the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines. His special interests included music and golf. He will be greatly missed by his companion, Armetta Dawson of Des Moines; his brother, Dean of Greene; several cousins; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father in 1960 and mother in 1983.

MCGG 03/22/1997 Arnie Leonard Olson ALEXANDER Arnie Leonard Olson, 86, of Alexander, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Belmond Community Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Reformed Church, with the Rev. Gerald Norman officiating. Burial will be in the Alexander Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick Lane S., Belmond, and one hour prior to services Monday at the church. Arnie Leonard Olson was born March 11, 1911, in Clear Lake. Survivors include his wife, Effie, of Alexander; two daughters, Gladys Peterson of Altoona, and Arlene DeMoss of Marion; three sons, Oliver of Port Orange, Fla.; Edward of Longmont, Colo., and Arlen of Alexander; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Bena Wieman of Belmond. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant grandsons.

MCGG 03/22/1997 Lester K. Shepard REDDING, Calif. Lester K. Shepard, 80, of Redding, formerly of Mason City, Iowa, died Monday (Feb. 10, 1997) at Redding Medical Center. Lester K. Shepard was born Aug. 2, 1916, in Des Moines, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Margaret ``Betty'' Lawton, formerly of Mason City, Iowa. His first wife was Doris Crabb, also of Mason City, Iowa. She died Sept. 9, 1973. Their surviving children are Robert of Porterville, Calif.; Gary of West Fork, Ark.; Lee of Veradale, Wash., and Marilyn Lindgren of Visalia, Calif. Burial was in California.

MCGG 03/22/1997 Robert E. Adams MOUNDSVIEW, Minn. Robert E. Adams, 80, a longtime Northwood, Iowa, farmer died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the White House Good Samaritan Center, St. Paul, Minn. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home, 2130 Second St., White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110. The body was cremated. Robert E. Adams was born Aug. 24, 1916 in Blooming Prairie, Minn. He is survived by one sister, Edith Abrahams, Northwood, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Mabel E. Bitker CLEAR LAKE Mabel E. Bitker, 93, formerly of 2005 N. Shore Drive, died Friday (March 21, 1997) at the Willowcreek Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Mason City. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Mae Hillerts CHARLES CITY Mae Hillerts, 95, died Friday (March 21, 1997) at the Eleventh Street Chautauqua Guest Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Eva F. Schluter MESERVEY Eva F. Schluter, 89, of Belmond, formerly of Meservey, died Saturday (March 22, 1997) at the Belmond Health Care Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Meg C. Dieter VINTON Meg C. Dieter, 62, died Friday (March 21, 1997) at her home following a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton, and at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Lancaster, Wis., with the Rev. Mark Dieter officiating. Committal services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bear Creek Cemetery in rural Brandon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home in Vinton, and from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church in Lancaster. Meg was born Jan. 28, 1935, in Vinton, the daughter of Paul and Hilda Pinsch Mackey. She married David Dieter on April 14, 1952, and the couple later divorced. She received an associate degree from Kirkwood Community College and was currently attending Upper Iowa University majoring in public administration. Earlier in her life, Meg was a Catholic missionary. She worked in the right-to-life movement in Iowa and was a member of the Isaac Walton League. She is survived by her mother, Hilda Mackey Beresford of Urbana; two daughters, Sharon Dieter of Vinton, and Joanne Rippel of St. Louis, Mo.; three sons, John Dieter of Vinton, David and his wife, Cheryl Dieter, of Las Vegas, Nev., and the Rev. Mark Dieter of Lancaster, Wis. She also is survived by two granddaughters, Kylee Dieter and Sarah Jo Rippel. She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Mackey.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Hilda Margaret Bendickson SCARVILLE Hilda Margaret Bendickson, 93, died Saturday (March 22, 1997) at the Lake Mills Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje with the Rev. Dani Jo Ninke-Greaver officiating. Burial will be in the Bethel Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Hilda Margaret Bendickson was born Sept. 29, 1903, in Hardanger, Norway. Survivors include one daughter, Margaret B. Nesji of Scarville; one son, Donald Bendickson of St. Paul, Minn.; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 10 step-great- grandchildren; one step-great-great-granddaughter; two sisters, Alice Olson of Lake Mills, and Burnette Tveit of Floodwood, Minn.; and one brother, Helmer Thompson of Heber Springs, Ark. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one great- granddaughter and six brothers.

MCGG 03/23/1997 Arnie Leonard Olson BELMOND Arnie Leonard Olson, 85, died Wednesday (March 19, 1997) at the Belmond Community Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Reformed Church, Alexander, with the Rev. Gerald Norman officiating. Burial will be in the Alexander Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. today at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond. Arnie Leonard Olson was born March 11, 1912, in Clear Lake. Survivors include his wife, Effie of Alexander; two daughters, Gladys Peterson of Altoona, and Arleen DeMoss of Marion; three sons, Oliver of Port Orange, Fla., Edward of Longmont, Colo., and Arlen of Alexander; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Bena Wieman of Belmond.

MCGG 03/24/1997 Eva F. Schluter BELMOND Eva F. Schluter, 89, of Belmond and formerly of Meservey, died Saturday (March 22, 1997) at the Belmond Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Salem United Methodist Church, Meservey, with the Rev. Jim Gochenouer officiating. Burial will be in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Dugger-Ewing Funeral Home, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Eva F. Schluter was born June 19, 1907, in Meservey. Survivors include one brother, Vern (Voral) Schluter of Belmond. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

MCGG 03/24/1997 Luella R. Brandau RUDD Luella R. Brandau, 75, of 1803 130th St., died Saturday (March 22, 1997) at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rudd Eden Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Bates officiating. Burial will be in Eden Presbyterian Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye, Nora Springs, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Luella R. Brandau was born Sept. 3, 1921, in Rockford, the daughter of Henry and Anna (Adolph) Marth. She married Wilbert Brandau on Aug. 24, 1941, in LeRoy, Minn. Leulla grew up in Rockford and graduated from Rockford High School in 1939. She worked as a beautician in Charles City, Nora Springs and Mason City. She also worked at Damons in Mason City and was a partner with her husband in farming. Luella enjoyed raising flowers, quilting, reading, and she loved nature and being outdoors. She was a member of the Rudd Eden Presbyterian Church, and was a 4-H leader for several years. Survivors include her husband, Wilbert ``Webb'' Brandau of Rudd; two daughters, Angela Brinkmann and her husband, Robert, of Marshalltown, and Carolyn Barinsky and her husband, Doug, of Chanhassen, Minn.; two sons, Larry Brandau and his wife, Cindy, of Nora Springs, and Jonathon Brandau and his wife, Barb, of Hutchinson, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Janet Rowley of Iowa City; three brothers, Lester Marth of Mason City, Harold Marth of Rockford, and Richard Marth of Marion; one sister-in-law, Joan Brandau of Osage; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Melvin and Lloyd Marth; and two sisters, Dorothy Kruse and Ruth Koehler.

MCGG 03/24/1997 Todd Joseph Scaglione GREENE Funeral services for Todd Joseph Scaglione, 40, of 23751 Sandhill Road, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Reid's Funeral Chapel with Pastor Gene Burry of the United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, where family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at 11 a.m. Wednesday to service time at the chapel. Todd Joseph Scaglione was born Oct. 17, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, a son of Tom and Jean (Watros) Scaglione, and died Sunday (March 23, 1997) at the Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City of sudden cardiac arrest. He received his education at the LeRoy-Ostrander High School in LeRoy, Minn., graduating in 1975. He was first employed for Crenlo Manufacturing in Rochester, Minn., and later drove truck. He was then employed for Hiller Carpet in Rochester for several years and in 1988 became employed for the Iowa Northern Railway where he remained until his death. On Dec. 17, 1993, he was united in marriage to Sarah Hudson in Charles City. Todd will be remembered as being a happy person who enjoyed life. His interests including fixing cars, riding motorcycles, and having fun with family and friends. He was baptized at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and confirmed at the LeRoy Lutheran Church. Living family members include his wife, Sarah of Greene; three daughters, Brandy Rose Scaglione, Misty Day, and Brandy Dawn Hudson, and one son, Joshua Hudson, all at home; his parents, Tom and Jean Scaglione of LeRoy; paternal grandparents, Joseph and Mary Scaglione of Bloomington, Calif.; one sister, Chris Rowe; and three brothers, Scot, Jody and Dino Scaglione, all of LeRoy; his mother and father-in-law, Lee and Everett Hudson of Dougherty; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents. Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Todd J. Scaglione Memorial Fund in care of the family.

MCGG 03/24/1997 Norris T. Michelson KANAWHA Norris T. Michelson, 92, died Sunday (March 23, 1997) at the Kanawha Community Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ewing-Dugger Funeral Chapel.

MCGG 03/24/1997 Mae Hillerts CHARLES CITY Mae Hillerts, 95, died Friday (March 21, 1997) at the Eleventh Street Chautauqua Guest Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim McDonald of Bethany Alliance Church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Floyd. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today, and from 9 a.m. until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.