Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at North Prairie Lutheran Church with the Rev. Randy Baldwin officiating. Burial will be at North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery.

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

Elwood Truman Brekken was born on Nov. 19, 1926, on a farm near Scarville in Winnebago County.

Survivors include his wife, Gladys, Lake Mills; one son, Larry Brekken, Northwood; one daughter, Nancy Fjelstad, Lake Mills; five grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Brekken, Mission, Texas, and Richard Brekken, Austin, Minn.; one sister, Carolyn Severson, Arlington, Texas; one sister-in-law, Beverly Brekken, Lake Mills; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death be his parents and one brother.

Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for noon Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nashua.

Other arrangements are incomplete at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Milford Cemetery in Milford.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania. Memorials may be sent to the Blythe E. Wilson Memorial Fund.

Blythe Wilson was born on July 6, 1911, in Clearwater, Minn., the daughter of Charles and Myrtle (Boulden) Legg. She married Charles M. Wilson on Jan. 9, 1943, in St. Paul, Minn. The Wilsons moved to Mason City in 1952 where, in 1958, they started Wilson Lumber and Builders. Blythe was bookkeeper at the lumber yard.

Survivors include her son, Barry Wilson and his wife, Sandra, Mason City; and three grandchildren, Zachary, Gabriel and Luke Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in 1966; one son, Bruce, in 1997; and three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Woden Christian Reformed Church, rural Woden, with the Rev. Perry Fruhling officiating. Casket bearers will include James Spruill, Henry Lawrence, George Dennis, James Cullum and Venancio Fragoza.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center.

Ken was born Sept. 10, 1946, the son of Clarence and Anna Vrieze, in Garner. He attended school in the the Woden-Crystal Lake district.

On Feb. 19, 1965, her married Sharon Tollagson at the Woden Christian Reformed Church. Together they had four children, Jeff, Tim, Cyndy and Sherri.

For the past 12 years he had worked as a project superintendent for H & M Construction Co. of Jackson, Tenn. Throughout his career he has earned numerous safety awards and recognition for his years of service.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, of Moore, S.C.; two sons, Jeff and his wife, Donna, and Tim; two daughters, Cyndy and her husband, Mike, and Sherri and her husband, Robert, all of Moore, S.C.; four grandchildren, Blake, Bret, Derek and Haley; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Rick Eichenlaub officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family will establish the Thelma Barnes Memorial Fund.

Thelma was born on Feb. 27, 1902, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Claude and Elizabeth (Grey) Madison. She married Ivan A. Barnes on May 3, 1924, in St. Joseph, Mo. They lived in Keokuk prior to moving to Mason City in 1928.

Thelma worked in the Barnes Insurance and Real Estate Agency for more than 40 years. She was a dedicated and long-time member of First Christian Church where she taught Sunday school and also was a long-time choir member. Thelma was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a life member of St. Joseph Chapter No. 198 of the Eastern Star of St. Joseph, Mo., and a member of the East State Street Club. Those who knew Thelma remember her for her keen sense of humor and the greeting cards she would send family and friends.

Survivors include her daughter, Brenda Ehlers, and her husband, Robert, Mason City; four grandsons, Bruce Ehlers and his wife, Sherri, Mason City, Steven Ehlers and his wife, Kay, Austin, Texas, Rob Ehlers and his wife, Mina, Salinas, Calif., and Scott Ehlers, St. Paul, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Heather and Kristelyn Ehlers, Mason City, Aimee, Lynn and John Ehlers, Austin, Texas, and Douglas Ehlers and Rhandal, Gary and Ronald Sayat, Salinas, Calif.; and a niece, Virginia Schuler and her husband, Don, St. Joseph, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ivan Barnes in 1964; one brother, Clyde Madison; two sisters, Iona Holkenbrink and Aldine Higgins; and one niece, Louise Madison.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Curtis DeLong officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one prior to services at the church on Monday. Memorials may be sent to First Church of the Nazarene.

Dewey Smith was born Oct. 13, 1910, in Illinois, the son of James C. And Ivor (Karnes) Smith. He grew up in Williamson County, Illinois, and attended McKinley School in Williamson County. Dewey married Berniece M. Bartelt in Mason City in August of 1936.

Dewey worked for Swift and Co. and later for the city of Mason City in the Water Department. Following his retirement, he worked for the Mason City Parks Department. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed yard work and gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Berniece, Mason City; one brother, Ralph Smith, Omaha, Neb.; one sister, Lena Hodgson, of Illinois; one brother-in-law, LaVern Tolzman, and his wife, Lillian, Havana, Ark.; four nephews, Terry Smith, Omaha, Neb., Eugene Smith, Ottumwa, Dennis Tolzman, Fort Smith, Ark., and Al Tolzman, Idaho; and seven nieces, Diane Neuhring, Mason City, Susan Berry, Havana, Ark., Francis Blades of Illinois, Jane Blades of Illinois, Patricia Sandborn, Portland, Ore., Jacquelyn McCoy, Portland, Ore., and Betty Nelson, Burbank, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Cecil, George, Albert and Noah; sister, Beulah Beasley; and nephew, Daryle "Butch" Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Other arrangements are incomplete at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. James Carpenter officiating. Interment will be at the Belmond Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to the church for lunch following the graveside services.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Dugger Ewing Funeral Home.

Norman, the son of Silas and Bertha Malina Erlein Sampson, was born Feb. 2, 1915, on the family farm near Belmond. He grew up in the Belmond area, where he attended country school and graduated from Belmond High School in 1933.

Norman worked in various occupations throughout his life. In the 1930s he was a salesman in Iowa and North Dakota. During the war years he worked at the ammunition plant in Burlington and worked in a factory in Chicago. He later farmed in Florida and then operated a motel, in partnership with his brother, in Springfield, Mo. He returned to the family farm in Belmond where he farmed. He lived there until entering the Belmond Health Care Center in 1996.

Norman enjoyed antiques, collecting and attending sales. He was member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond where he was baptized and confirmed. Norman had come to a personal relationship with his Lord in recent years.

He is survived by one sister, Arlotte Clark, Belmond; two brothers, Curtis Sampson and his wife, Kathleen, Birmingham, Ala., and Merlin Sampson and his wife, Bertha, Springfield, Mo.; two nieces, Cindy Sampson, Birmingham, Ala., and Judy Anderson, Springfield, Mo.; three nephews, Airell Clark and his wife, Joan, Belmond, Joe Whiteid and his wife, Juanita, Atlanta, Ga., and Wayne Whiteid and his wife, Eileen, Springfield, Mo.; and great nieces and nephews.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. Wayne Droessler officiating. Burial with military rites will be held at St. Francis Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Tenold Funeral Home with a Parish Rosary at 2:30 p.m. and a Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m.

Survivors include his wife, Rita; children, Mary S. Redder, Nevada, David E. Redder, San Francisco, Calif., John R. Redder, Portland, Ore., and JulieAnn R. Hager, Ankeny; sisters, Mildred Pfannes, Portland, Ore., Lorraine Ocks, Seattle, Wash., and Vonnie Cockfan, Seattle, Wash.; brothers, Lester Redder, Fort Collins, Colo., and Richard Redder, Las Cruces, N.M.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Further arrangements are pending at Major Erickson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Woden Christian Reformed Church, rural Woden, with the Rev. Perry Fruhling officiating. Casket bearers include James Spruill, Henry Lawrence, George Dennis, James Cullum and Venancio Fragoza.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center.

Ken was born Sept. 10, 1946, the son of Clarence and Anna Vrieze in Garner. He attended the Woden Crystal Lake school district.

On Feb. 19, 1965, he married Sharon Tollagson at the Woden Christian Reformed Church. Together they have four children, Jeff, Tim, Cyndy and Sherri.

For the past twelve years he has worked as a Project Superintendent for H & M Construction Co., of Jackson, Tenn. Throughout his career he has earned numerous safety awards and recognition for his years of service.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, Moore, S.C.; two sons, Jeff and his wife, Donna, and Tim; two daughters, Cyndy Demory and her husband, Mike, and Sherri Hill and her husband, Robert, all of Moore, S.C.; four grandchildren, Blake, Bret, Derek and Haley; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., with the Rev. Curt Schnieder, of Messiah Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Hospice of North Iowa, Charles City Satellite.

Viola ‘Ole" Staebler was born on Nov. 13, 1911, in Elkader.

She is survived by many neighbors and friends who treasured her acquaintance, including Carl and Avonell Ross and their family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and several half brothers and sisters.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Peace Reformed Church with the Rev. Chester Ploeger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

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

Naomi Ruth Goll was born Sept. 25, 1909, on a farm in Ell Township in Hancock County.

She is survived by her children, Paula Stittsworth, Mason City, Frederich Goll, Emily Mikesh, Belmond, and Herman Goll, Klemme; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and a brother, Kermit Sandersfield, Latimer.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. James B. Norem officiating. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Esther Busch was born on Dec. 8, 1920, in Mason City, the daughter of Ernest G. and Julia (Twedten) Nygren. Esther graduated from Mason City High School in 1938. She married Kenneth A. Busch March 22, 1942, in Mason City, and that same year moved to Davenport where they lived for 12 years before returning to Mason City in 1954. Esther worked for S.S. Kresge Co. for 37 ½ years retiring in 1983 as personnel manager. Esther was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Esther Church Circle and W.E.L.C.A.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth A. Busch, Mason City; one son, Douglas A. Busch and his wife, Julie, Iowa City; two grandchildren, Amy and Andrew Busch, Iowa City; two nephews, John Busch, Clear Lake, and Craig Busch, Ventura; one niece, Priscilla Mayland, Clear Lake; one sister-in-law, Minnie Busch, Ventura; and three cousins, Hulda and Myrtle Holmlund, Mason City, and William Holmlund, Lake Mills.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Dallas Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be in Montecito Memorial Park in San Bernadino, Calif.

Mike was born to Vasili and Dora Geloff Balaban in Streeter, N.D., on Oct. 22, 1914. His parents had immigrated to the United States from Bulgaria in 1913. He was raised in North Dakota, later moving to Montana, before settling in Iowa in 1928. He married Elva Mae Nolterieke on Jan. 9, 1941, in Las Vegas, Nev. He served in the Navy during World War II. They moved to Lakewood, Calif., in 1952, to Redlands, Calif., in 1955, and to Dallas, Ore., in 1970. He worked as an auto mechanic, specializing in electrical and brakes. He retired from E. H. Burrell in Salem in 1978. He enjoyed working in his shop and on his acreage.

Mike is survived by his daughters, Sharon L. Froeschle and Sharyl L. Beattie, both of Salem; sons, Michael W., Lushton, Neb., Duane A., Dallas, Ore., and Gerald M., Lake Oswego, Ore.; sisters, Mary Halberstadt, Ventura, Tonna Stoynoff, Mason City, and Irene Caffrey, Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elva, in 1995.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at United Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Swaledale.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., and one hour prior to service time at the church.

Alfred Emil Zirbel was born on May 26, 1903, on a farm in Owen Township, rural Mason City, the son of Herman and Mathilda (Milbrot) Zirbel. He attended and received his education in the Owen No. 3 School which is now located on the North Iowa Fairgrounds. On Dec. 7, 1929, he was united in marriage to Ruth Holt at her father's home in Clear Lake. The couple lived near Rockwell where their first three children were born. In 1936, they settled on their farm four miles north of Swaledale where seven more children were welcomed to the family. This home was also a haven for many other relatives and friends who needed care and love, often for months at a time. It also served as a handy lodging place for school teachers who taught at Mt. Vernon No. 5 School across the road from the farm. He is believed to the first farmer in Cerro Gordo County without a horse on the farm. In 1974, Alfred and Ruth retired from farming and moved to Clear Lake into a house he reconstructed. He also built a duplex apartment house and remodeled several other houses after his retirement. Al enjoyed working. His favorite pastime was dismantling discarded appliances in his garage and salvaging their scrap value. He also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and gave many away after completing and mounting them for hanging. Al had been a resident of the IOOF Homes in Mason City since April 16, 1997, where he leaves many friends, and also at the Clear Lake Senior Center where he regularly attended and appreciated the fellowship and noon meals before entering the nursing home.

He was an associate member of the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake.

Alfred Zirbel was a wonderful husband and father. His wife, Ruth, passed away on July 5, 1996.

He is survived by ten children, Glen H. Zirbel and his wife, Dolores, Ankeny, Fred H. Zirbel and his wife, Bev, Mason City, Margaret L. Marinis and her husband, Jim, San Bernardino, Calif., Rachel A. Wood and her husband W. Amos Wood, Clear Lake, Keith A. Zirbel and his wife, Janora, Dalles, Ore., Don L. Zirbel and Maraget Hayden, Sioux City, Paul L. Zirbel and his wife, Kathy, Sun Prairie, Wis., David J. Zirbel and his wife, Melanie, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mark D. Zirbel and his fiancee, Doris Swenson, Clear Lake, Doreen K. Hanson and her husband, Don, Redwood Falls, Minn.; 39 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews as well as other relatives and friends who mourn his memory.

Besides his wife, Ruth, he was also preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Leonard, age 17, Herbert and Arthur Zirbel; four sisters, Amanda and Lillie in infancy, Mabel (Mrs. Bert) Blum and Rose (Mrs. Cecil) Harrington; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home with the Rev. David Nelson officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Doris C. Holze was born Oct. 30, 1909, in Hampton.

Survivors include one daughter, Romana Jean (Susan) Holze, Hampton; one son, Richard Holze, Hampton, one sister, Violet Burns, Hampton; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and 10 brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home with the Rev. Frank Mercer, of First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Bonaparte Cemetery in Bonaparte.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to service time on today at the funeral home.

Hollis Lee Beggs was born on Aug. 20, 1937, in Cantril.

Survivors include his wife, Velda, Algona; two daughters, Anita Thornton, LuVerne, and Peggy Hinnah, Fulton, Mo.; brothers and sisters, Donald Beggs, Thompson, Ga., Bernard Beggs, Mt. Sterling, Lowell Beggs, Mt. Sterling, Darlene Bishop, Springfield, Mo., Ned Beggs, Mt. Pleasant, and Jerry Beggs, Cantril.

Hollis was preceded in death by his parents and two sons.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Petersen Lund Funeral Home.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Tenold Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. Wayne Droessler officiating. Interment will be in the St. Francis Cemetery with military rites by the Belmond Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday with a 2:30 p.m. Parish Rosary and a 7:30 p.m. scripture wake service at Tenold Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service at the church.

Erwin Henry Redder, the son of Henry and Ann (Winter) Redder, was born May 15, 1929, at Adrian, Minn.

He attended high school in Canby, Minn., and graduated in 1946. He entered the United States Army in 1951 and was in the Second Division stationed in Korea. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge and served his country until 1953.

Erwin graduated from South Dakota State University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in pharmacy. He was employed as a pharmacist in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. In 1965, he purchased Nolan Drug and owned the business until 1990. He performed pharmacy relief work at various locations until his death.

Erwin married Rita Mae Tillmans on April 6, 1953, at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Minneota, Minn.

Erwin was active in community affairs and projects, which include, member of St. Francis Xavier Church, the Church Building Committee, member and former President of the Church Council, church lector, original member of the Board of Directors of the Belmond Community Apartments, Leinbach Center, Belmond Community Housing, original member of the Arcade Committee and its improvements, past President and Board Member of the Belmond Chamber of Commerce and member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association.

Erwin loved to play golf and always played to a low handicap.

He is survived by his wife, Rita; children, Mary Susan Redder, Nevada, David E. Redder, San Francisco, Calif., John R. Redder and his wife, Sheri, Portland, Ore., JulieAnn R. Hager and her husband, Matthew, Ankeny; sisters, Mildred Pfannes, Portland, Ore., Lorraine Ocks and her husband, Ray, Seattle, Wash., Vonnie Cochran and her husband, Richard, Seattle, Wash.; brothers, Lester Redder and his wife, Ardie, Fort Collins, Colo., and Richard Redder and his wife, Beth, Las Cruces, N.M.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Vernon.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ward Van Slyke Funeral Home in Clear Lake.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. John "Jack" Gannett of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Rev. David Anderson, of the St. James Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery.

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

Memorials may be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church, in her memory.

Marion was born Oct. 29, 1917, in Stockton, Ill., the daughter of Owen and Minnie (Lee) Peters.

Marion was baptized Nov. 18, 1917, in Stockton, Ill., and confirmed May 15, 1932, at the Emmons Lutheran Church, in Emmons, Minn.

At an early age, the family moved to Emmons, Minn., where Marion graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1935, then Waldorf College in 1938.

Marion began teaching at Little Cedar in 1938 and later Forest City. She moved to Mason City in 1947.

Marion married Charles F. Enneberg on June 19, 1949, at the Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons, Minn. In 1953 they moved to Lakota where Marion taught kindergarten for eight years. Marion returned to Mason City in 1961, where she taught 13 years in the Mason City School System, retiring 1972.

Following retirement she taught at Plymouth and later at Holy Family.

Marion was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and worked in the church nursery. She was also a member of the Elizabeth & Rebecca Circles, a lifetime member of the I.S.E.A., Dorcas Society, Lakota American Legion Auxiliary, Mason City V.F.W. Auxiliary, Girl Scout Leader, Campfire Girls Leader, a member of Iowa Classroom Teachers and other educational societies and the Mason City Women's Club.

Survivors include one daughter, Rochelle Brown and husband, Patrick, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and two grandchildren, Holly Ann and Christopher Brown, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles, in 1972; and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Swaledale.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., and one hour prior to service time at the church.

Alfred Emil Zirbel was born on May 26, 1903, on a farm in Owen Township, rural Mason City, the son of Herman and Mathilda (Milbrot) Zirbel.

He attended and received his education in the Owen No. 3 School which is now located on the North Iowa Fairgrounds.

On Dec. 7, 1929, he was united in marriage to Ruth Holt at her father's home in Clear Lake. The couple lived near Rockwell where their first three children were born. In 1936 they settled on their farm four miles north of Swaledale where seven more children were welcomed to the family. This home was also a haven for many other relatives and friends who needed care and love, often for months at a time. It also served as a handy lodging place for school teachers who taught at Mt. Vernon No. 5 School across the road from the farm

He is believed to the first farmer in Cerro Gordo County without a horse on the farm.

In 1974, Alfred and Ruth retired from farming and moved to Clear Lake into a house he reconstructed. He also built a duplex apartment house and remodeled several other houses after his retirement. Al enjoyed working.

His favorite pastime was dismantling discarded appliances in his garage and salvaging their scrap value. He also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and gave many away after completing and mounting them for hanging.

Al had been a resident of the IOOF Homes in Mason City since April 16, 1997, where he leaves many friends, and also at the Clear Lake Senior Center where he regularly attended and appreciated the fellowship and noon meals before entering the nursing home.

He was an associate member of the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake.

Alfred Zirbel was a wonderful husband and father. His wife, Ruth, passed away on July 5, 1996.

He is survived by 10 children, Glen H. Zirbel and his wife, Dolores, Ankeny, Fred H. Zirbel and his wife, Bev, Mason City, Margaret L. Marinis and her husband, Jim, San Bernardino, Calif., Rachel A. Wood and her husband, W. Amos Wood, Clear Lake, Keith A. Zirbel and his wife, Janora, The Dalles, Ore., Don L. Zirbel and Margy Hayden, Sioux City, Paul L. Zirbel and his wife, Kathy, Sun Prairie, Wis., David J. Zirbel and his wife, Melanie, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mark D. Zirbel and his fiancee, Doris Swenson, Clear Lake, Doreen K. Hanson and her husband, Don, Redwood Falls, Minn.; 39 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews as well as other relatives and friends who mourn his memory.

Besides his wife, Ruth, he was also preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Leonard, age 17, Herbert and Arthur Zirbel; four sisters, Amanda and Lillie in infancy, Mabel (Mrs. Bert) Blum and Rose (Mrs. Cecil) Harrington; and three great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. Fourth, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Friends may call from 3 until 6 p.m. today at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church Youth Fund or Building Fund in memory of Melvin A. Evans.

Melvin A. Evans was born May 13, 1901, in rural Wright County, the son of Severt and Atlantic (Mikelson) Evans. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, in rural Wright County.

Melvin attended Waldorf Academy, where he was a cheerleader, graduating in 1926.

On June 26, 1935, Melvin was united in marriage to Ida Stomne at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, at Sioux City.

He and Ida farmed south of Burchinal for one year and then moved to a farm two miles south of Central Heights, Mason City. In 1979, upon retirement, the couple moved into Mason City.

Melvin loved all aspects of farming and always took great pleasure in his work.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, since 1939. He also was a member of the Clear Lake Noon Lions Club and the Farm Bureau.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ida Evans, Mason City; one son, Bob Evans and his wife, Judy, Mason City; two grandchildren, Lance Evans and his wife, Jana, Ames; and Carisa Evans, Cedar Rapids; two stepgrandchildren, Jon Castle and his wife, Gina, Glenview, Ill.; and Tammi Walsh and her husband, Tony, Blaine, Minn.; two great-grandchildren, Steffanie Evans and Allyson Evans; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Hannah Walsh and Leah Walsh; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 1998, at the Mulry Funeral Home, 2 King St., Dorchester, Mass.

Jill A. MacEachern, daughter of Jon and Lois Finlayson, of Mason City, was born on Jan. 29, 1969, in Mason City.

She attended Mason City Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1987.

On Dec. 30, 1995, she was united in marriage to Brian MacEachern in Dorchester, Mass. They made their home together in Plymouth, Mass.

Jill loved her job as nanny to several families in the Boston area.

She enjoyed spoiling her nieces and nephew, getting involved in ceramics, crafts and needlework.

She enjoyed collecting angels and miniature china animals and caring for and loving her many pets.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Brian; parents, Jon and Lois Finlayson of Mason City; sisters, Shelley Vining and her husband, Dan, of Clear Lake; Kris Brass and her husband, Mike, of Rudd; nephew, Matthew Seifert; and nieces, Kaci and Nicole Shafer; a special cousin, Marie Perkins, of Mason City; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Reformed Church, with the Rev. Bill Peake officiating. Interment will be in the Olena Mound Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Henry VanGerpen was born Feb. 12, 1904, in Pewsum, Germany.

Survivors include his wife, Alice, of Buffalo Center; two daughters, Elaine Boehm, of Buffalo Center; and Lila Hassebrock, of Des Moines; two sons, Peter and Arnold, both of Rake; 18 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, two sisters, three brothers and one great-grandson.

Memorials may be directed to the Hospice of North Iowa or the First Reformed Church.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ken Fineran officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Tillie Priscilla (Henn) Meints, the daughter of Jacob and Grace (Schuler) Henn was born April 14, 1908, in rural Belmond. She attended country school.

On April 22, 1925, Tillie was united in marriage to William Meints at the Parsonage of the Immanuel Reformed Church, Belmond. To this union, eight children were born, four sons and four daughters.

Together, Tillie and William farmed until 1930, when they moved into Belmond. Tillie helped her husband in the gas station and with the tank wagon for 35 years.

Tillie was a longtime member of the Home Builders Club, was in the Navy Mothers, was a member of the United Methodist Women and she was active in the Senior Citizens where she enjoyed the congregate meals.

Her survivors include two sons, Glenn Meints and his wife, Jan, of Belmond, and Bill Meints and his wife, Ayoka, of Kansas City, Mo.; three daughters, Grace Haugen of Dows, Marion Carpenter and her husband, Merrell, of Alexander, and Karen Ofstethun and her husband, John, of Clarion; a brother, William Henn of Terrell; 22 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Meints; three brothers, John, Elmer, and Harley; one son in infancy; daughter, Esther Halverson; one son, Conrad Meints; and grandson, Bill.

A memorial Mass will be held for only immediate family at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Mason City, with the Rev. Carl Ries officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, with military graveside honors by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

According to his wishes, his body was cremated. There will be no visitation. Hogan Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, is in charge of arrangements.

The family of Ralph W. Gratias Sr. has requested that memorial contributions be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or the Ralph W. Gratias Sr. Memorial fund in his memory.

Ralph W. Gratias Sr. was born on May 16, 1918, in Nora Springs, the son of Hugo and Katherine (Ahrens) Gratias.

He attended and received his education in the Nora Springs and Mason City School system.

He was united in marriage to Ella E. Behm on July 6, 1940, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, in Mason City. She preceded him in death on March 19, 1997.

On Nov. 1, 1944, he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling, Minn., serving overseas in the European Theater during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 9, 1946 at the Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

Following his discharge from the service he was a self-employed truck driver, working for various people and companies until he retired at the age of 57 to care for his special son, Ralph Gratias Jr.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mason City.

He is survived by two daughters, Mary Lou Blake and her husband, Leon, of Mason City, and Karen Levis and her husband, Jim, of Mason City; four grandchildren, Lori Yung, of Apple Valley, Minn.; Kevin Blake and Michelle Blake, both of Mason City; and Chad Levis, of Minneapolis, Minn.; two great-granddaughters, Abigail Yung and Emily Yung, both of Apple Valley, Minn.; two brothers, Art Gratias, of Mason City; and Paul Gratias, of Osage; three sisters, Helen Quandahl, of Mason City; Lorraine Sieman, of Dysart, Iowa; and Ethel Taylor, of Mason City; as well as other relatives and friends.

Besides his wife Ella, he was also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Gerald Ralph Gratias, and Ralph Gratias Jr.; one brother, Walter Gratias; and one sister, Dorothy Gratias.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Calvary Baptist Church, Belmond, with the Rev. John Murray officiating. Interment will be in the Immanuel Reformed Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, Belmond, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Andrew Kaduce was born May 5, 1906, in Meservey.

Survivors include a son, Richard Kaduce, of Kissee Mills, Mo.; one brother, Joe Kaduce, of Belmond; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, 11 brothers and four sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church, Forest City, with the Rev. Gary Marzolf officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

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

Hazel Bowen was born Oct. 18, 1905, in Mason City.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas Bowen, Forest City, and Jerry Bowen, Irvine, Calif.; four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters and one brother.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Champion Funeral Home, Osage.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Mittelstadt Funeral Home.

A Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City.

There will be no visitation. Other arrangements are incomplete at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., with the Rev. Douglas Anderson officiating.

There will be no visitation. Memorials may be sent to KCMR Radio Station in memory of Jerry Dolter. Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., is in charge of arrangements.

Jerald LeRoy "Jerry" Dolter was born April 21, 1933, in Mason City, the son of Harry and Luella (Shinn) Dolter. Jerry attended and graduated from Mason City High School in 1951. Jerry then attended NIACC and graduated with an Associate Degree in Business. Jerry then graduated from Mankato State University with a full degree in business and sociology.

Jerry served in the Korean War and received a Purple Heart. Jerry had a vast knowledge and love of music and played the trumpet for many years. He also volunteered for eight years at KCMR Radio as an announcer. Jerry loved music, cooking, reading, playing games and enjoyed talking to people and being helpful. Jerry was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Dolter, Mason City; parents, Harry and Luella Dolter, Mason City; two sons, Michael Dolter and wife, Cathie Ann, Albuquerque, N.M., Erich Dolter and wife, Debbie, Albuquerque, N.M; one daughter, Jeanette Wilson and husband, Jim, Spokane, Wash.; four step-children, Steven Frank, Eau Claire, Wis., Susan Fedders, Mason City, Debbie Frank, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kathie Frank, Los Angeles, Calif.; grandchildren, Tyler Wilson, Hannah Wilson and Amanda Rose; step-grandchildren, Jennifer Skahen and husband, Sean, St. Cloud, Minn., Jessie, Christy, Rebecca and Brittany Fedders, Mason City; two step-great grandchildren, Alexa Wasicek and Thomas Skahen.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert J. Dolter.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ken Fineran officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.

Visitation was held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Tenold Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services today at the church.

Tillie Priscilla (Henn) Meints, the daughter of Jacob and Grace (Schuler) Henn was born April 14, 1908, in rural Belmond. She attended country school.

On April 22, 1925, Tillie was united in marriage to William Meints at the Parsonage of the Immanuel Reformed Church, Belmond. To this union eight children were born: four sons and four daughters.

Together, Tillie and William farmed until 1930, when they moved into Belmond. Tillie helped her husband in the gas station and with the tank wagon for 35 years.

Tillie was a longtime member of the Home Builders Club, was in the Navy Mothers, was a member of the United Methodist Women and she was active in the Senior Citizens where she enjoyed the congregate meals.

Her survivors include two sons, Glenn Meints and his wife, Jan, of Belmond, and Bill Meints and his wife, Ayoka, of Kansas City, Mo.; three daughters, Grace Haugen of Dows, Marion Carpenter and her husband, Merrell, of Alexander, and Karen Ofstethun and her husband, John, of Clarion; a daughter-in-law, Naomi (Mrs. Conrad) Meints, of Duluth, Minn.; son-in-law, Gus Halverson, of Kanawha, Iowa; a brother, William Henn of Terrell; 22 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Meints; three brothers, John, Elmer and Harley; one son in infancy; daughter, Esther Halverson; one son, Conrad Meints; and grandson, Bill.

Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the John C. Mulry Funeral Home, 2 King St. (at 1700 Dorchester Ave.), Dorchester, Mass.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the St. Mark's Church. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the John C. Mulry Funeral Home.

Donations in Mrs. MacEachern's memory may be made to the Christian Childrens Fund.

Jill was born on Jan. 29, 1969, in Mason City, the daughter of Jon and Lois Finlayson, of Mason City. She attended Mason City Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1987.

Jill came to Hopkinton in 1989 to work as a private care nanny.

On Dec. 30, 1995, she was united in marriage to Brian MacEachern in Dorchester, Mass. Together they lived in Dorchester, prior to purchasing a home in Plymouth in 1997. Mrs. MacEachern continued to work as a nanny and was also a volunteer at the Town of Plymouth Animal Shelter.

She enjoyed spoiling her nieces and nephew, getting involved in ceramics, crafts and needlework.

She enjoyed collecting angels and miniature china animals, as well as Disney figurines, and caring for and loving her many pets.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Brian; parents, Jon and Lois Finlayson, of Mason City; sisters, Shelley Vining and her husband, Dan, of Clear Lake; Kris Brass and her husband, Mike, of Rudd; nephew, Matthew Seifert; and nieces, Kaci and Nicole Shafer; her father-in-law, Hugh MacEachern, of Dorchester; her brother-in-law, Robert MacEachern, of Dorchester; a special cousin, Marie Perkins, of Mason City; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was also a very dear friend of Adeline and Robert Stevens, of Hopkinton; and Nancy and Martin Aaron, of Hopkinton.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Osage, with Pastors Dennis Hanson, Roy Ott and Kathy Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Champion Funeral Home, Osage, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Myrtle was born March 25, 1903, near Carpenter, Iowa, to Andrew and Ella (Gordon) Lee, and baptized and confirmed at Deer Creek Lutheran Church. Hers was the last class to be confirmed in Norwegian. She spent most of her formative years with her aunt, Carrie Lee, a pioneer farmer.

She graduated as valedictorian from Carpenter High School in 1922 and in 1926 from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.

She then returned to Mitchell County and secured her first teaching position in the Stacyville School and then at Little Cedar, where she also coached. One year her team placed second in the Girls State Basketball Tournament. In later years she taught at Mitchell, Orchard and St. Ansgar.

On May 12, 1928, she married Ren John Anderson at the Lutheran parsonage in Charles City.

Soon after their marriage, Ren, who was a Stacyville rural mail carrier, was transferred to the Osage Post Office. They became the parents of three children, Audrey Joan, Paul Gerhart and Dale Lee.

Myrtle was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and served as Ladies Aid president, a member of the Martha Circle, director of the cherub choir and caretaker of plants and floral arrangements. Her many years of work with the cherub choir and children's Christmas programs left an appreciation for the old hymns and a life-long influence on many people in the Osage community.

She enjoyed her garden, particularly tending her flowers and raspberry patch, and fishing with her family in Northern Minnesota.

She was an active member of the Rural Mail Carriers Auxiliary, Shakespeare Club, and Sons of Norway.

An example of her service to others would be the year she provided a home for Linda, Diane and Doris Marreel, after the loss of their parents.

She was an active member of Our Saviors until becoming a resident of Good Samaritan Care Facility in September of 1994.

Myrtle and Ren had three children who survive her; daughter, Audrey and her husband, Milton Monicken, of Duluth, Minn.; and sons, Paul and his wife, Carol, St. Ansgar; and Dale and wife, Sharon, of Ames; 13 grandchildren, Andrea Monicken, Milwaukee, Wis.; Lyssa (Scott) Cummings, Roseville, Minn.; Mary (Billy) Winner, Janesville, Wis.; David (Mami) Monicken, Fairbanks, Alaska; Thomas Monicken, Fairbanks, Alaska; Kari Anderson and her husband, Paul Witalison, Egg Harbor, Wis.; Lori (Mark) Jungck, Onalaska, Wis.; Christopher Anderson, Grafton; Jonathon (Carrie) Anderson, Evansville, Wis.; Marla (Troy) Eagen, Rochester, Minn.; Paul Scott Anderson, Ames; James (Ivy) Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn., and Holly Anderson, Cedar Falls; 16 great-grandchildren, Sarah and Katie Stollenwerk, David and Karli Cummings, Ajni and Logan Winner, Skyler and Erik Witalison; Ajna, Hans and Ren Jungck; Megan, Molly, Brian and Laura Eagen; and John Tenner Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ren; Aunt Carrie Lee; brothers, Russell Lee and Arnold Lee.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the First Christian Church in Sac City with the Rev. Dana Keener officiating. Burial will be at the Oakland Cemetery.

Visitation was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Farber and Otteman Funeral Home, 813 W. Main St., Sac City.

Frances Eloise Jarnagin, from Sac City, was born Oct. 18, 1917, in Clinton Township, Sac County, to Frank and Alta (Canady) Irwin.

Eloise attended Sac City schools and after graduating from Sac City High School she taught country school.

On July 17, 1937, she was married to Max LeRoy Jarnagin at Fort Dodge. The couple lived on a farm near Lohrville before moving to Sac City. Eloise had worked at Empress Stationery and at the VanHorn nursing home.

Eloise was a member of the First Christian Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. Hobbies and interests that she enjoyed were doing crossword puzzles and watching Hawkeye basketball.

She is survived by three children, JoAnn Underberg and her husband, Tom, Carroll, Nancy Johnson and her husband, Owen, Green River, Wyo., and James Jarnagin and his wife, Susan, Mason City; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; two sisters and their husbands, Ruth and George Kolbe, Lake View, and Lois and Kermit Chapman, Sac City.

Eloise is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Alta Irwin, and her husband, Max.