Obituaries are presented as a community service of Fullerton Funeral Homes. Information is submitted by families or provided by funeral homes for publication in the Globe-Gazette and Globe Online.

NORMAN CONRAD BLAKESTAD

ST. ANSGAR - Norman Conrad Blakestad, 90, of St. Ansgar, died Friday (April 23, 1999) at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona, Iowa.

Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Norman was born on Dec. 8, 1908, to Otto and Bessie (Hanson) Blakestad, in Otranto, Iowa. He graduated from the Otranto High School in 1926. Norman married Carol Pacey on Sept. 25, 1939, at her parent's home east of Otranto. They were the fifth generation to live and farm on the family farm near Otranto. Norman was a member of the First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. He held various church offices at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lyle, Minn., and also at the First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. For many years, Norman was a 4-H leader and also on the County Conservation Board. He enjoyed entertaining family and friends, and boating and fishing at home on the Cedar River.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Karen; brother, Sophus; three sisters, Grace, Beatrice and Loreen.

Norman is survived by his wife, Carol, of St. Ansgar; a daughter, Sheryl Adams of Denver, Iowa; two sons, Alan of Avoca, Iowa, and Dale of St. Ansgar; and seven grandchildren, Brian, Cynthia and Lora Adams, and Troy, Jerod, Ryan and Mandy Blakestad.

LILLIAN D. NICHOLS

WHITTEMORE - Lillian D. Nichols, 79, died Sunday (April 25, 1999) in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, Fenton. Burial will be in the Plainview Cemetery, Whittemore.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home.

WILLIAM 'BILL' HELD

MASON CITY - William "Bill" Held, 67, formerly of Mason City, died Sunday (April 25, 1999) at the Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Mo.

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

VERNIE WIRTH

FOREST CITY - Vernie Wirth, 85, died Sunday (April 25, 1999) at the Good Samaritan Center.

A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church with the Rev. Craig Steimel officiating. Burial will be in St. James Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Vernie Irene Wirth was born in Boone County, Iowa, on Jan. 31, 1914, the daughter of Max and Callie (Knight) Weigel. She grew up in the Jordan, Iowa, area, and received her education there. She was united in marriage to Joseph Wirth on June 26, 1933, at St. Peters & Pauls Catholic Church in Gilbert, Iowa. They resided in that area until 1946, when they moved to Thompson. They farmed there until retiring and moved to Forest City in 1994.

Vernie was a member of St. James Catholic Church and took part in many church activities. After raising 10 children she enjoyed bowling and quilting. She gave many quilts away including one to each child and grandchild. She will be remembered fondly for her generosity, enthusiasm and expertise at quilting. She entered the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City in 1997, and died there on April 25, 1999.

She is survived by six sons and their spouses, Garald and Phyllis Wirth of Gilbert, LeRoy Wirth of Chariton, Cecil and JoAnn Wirth of Forest City, Keith and Barb Wirth of Scarville, Dennis and Linda Wirth of Bentonville, Ark., and John and Deb Wirth of Thompson. Also, four daughters, Mary Jo Gulick of Platteville, Wis., Juanita Faust of Kanawha, Faye and Don Krueger of Blairstown, and Judy and Travis Peterson of Jewell; 44 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a brother, Lester Weigel of Boone; and two sisters, Ardyce Peterson of Estherville, and Teresa Barker of Boone.

Vernie is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph; two brothers, Leonard and Raymond Weigel; two sisters, Beatrice Irving and Marie Toms; two sons-in-law, Don Faust and Bill Gulick; a daughter-in-law, Ellen Wirth; and a great-granddaughter.

CORA LURA

THOMPSON - Cora Lura, 87, died Saturday (April 24, 1999) at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, with the Rev. Dan Christensen officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson.

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

Cora Lura was born on a farm south of Thompson on Nov. 7, 1911, the daughter of Albert and Martha (Myre) Dahl. She was baptized and confirmed at the Linden Lutheran Church. She received her education in rural schools and graduated from Thompson High School in 1929. She received her teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teachers College and went on to teach in rural schools for seven years.

On Aug. 15, 1940, she was married to Lester B. Lura at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple made their home in Thompson their entire married lives. Cora worked in the Thompson school kitchen for 17 years. She was a long-time member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, and very active in circle. She enjoyed cooking and caring for her family.

Cora is survived by her children and their spouses: Sharon Erickson and husband, David, Appleton, Wis.; two sons, Charles Lura and wife, Mary, of Bottineau, N.D., and Dennis Lura and wife, Cheryl, of Plymouth. Also, two brothers, Arnold Dahl and wife, Lillian of Thompson, and Carold Dahl and wife, Marguerite, of Sioux City; seven grandchildren; and one step-great-granddaughter.

Cora is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lester; and a sister, Myrtle Dahl.

RUSSELL LEROY WINKOWITSCH

DUMONT - Russell Leroy Winkowitsch, 61, died Saturday (April 24, 1999) at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home with the Rev. Carl Gearhart officiating. Burial will be in the Dumont Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

BERNIE L. CASE

CLARION - Bernie L. Case, 78, died Saturday (April 24, 1999) at the Clarion Health Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church with the Rev. Curt Miner officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Willim Funeral Home.

KENNETH E. BLAKE

STACYVILLE - Kenneth E. Blake, 62, of Stacyville, died Saturday (April 24, 1999) at his home in Stacyville of a heart attack. Kenneth was born July 23, 1935, at Meyer, Iowa, the son of Corbin and Theresa (Weber) Blake. He attended Meyer schools. Kenneth served four years in the United States Marine Corps. Following service, he returned to Stacyville and worked on various farms. He also worked for many years in Kenosha, Wis., and Denver, Colo. Kenneth enjoyed bowling and playing cards.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville, with the Rev. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites at the grave by the Stacyville American Legion Post 569.

Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. today at the church in Stacyville with a Rosary at 3 p.m. and a wake service at 7 p.m. Champion Funeral Home in Osage is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his mother, Theresa Blake of Stacyville; two brothers, Larry Blake and his wife, Joanne, of Meyer, and Jerry Blake and his wife, Jennie, of San Diego, Calif.; three sisters, Betty Brumm and her husband, Othmar, of Stacyville, Gladys Boges and her husband, Lennie, of Winter Park, Fla., and Judy Hage and her husband, Leo, of Bakeelia, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his father; one brother, Duvane Blake; one sister, Diane Blake; and two infant brothers.

ANNA FRANCES BUKACEK

MASON CITY - Anna Frances Bukacek, 94, of Mason City, died Saturday (April 24, 1999) at the Good Shepherd Health Care Center.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Michael Schueller officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at St. John's Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. S.E., Mason City, with a scriptural prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Anna Frances Bukacek was born Feb. 1, 1905, in Johnson County, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Sedlacek) Zeman. She married Frank Bukacek on April 16, 1925, in Mankato, Minn.

Anna worked at Collins Radio at Cedar Rapids during the war. She lived in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, and moved to Mason City in 1983.

She enjoyed quilting, reading, doing handcrafts and raising flowers. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include two children, Bobbie Meggers and her husband, Jack, Mason City, and Richard Bukacek and his wife, Paula, Chicago, Ill.; 14 grandchildren, Jackie Nelson, Greensboro, N.C., Larry Meggers and his wife, Tammy, Mason City, Robert Meggers and his wife, Linda, Lewiston, Mont., Becky Meggers, Chattanooga, Tenn., Shelley Lambert and her husband, David, White Bear Lake, Minn., Tom Meggers and his wife, Tammy, Mason City, Jim Meggers and his wife, Mary, Mason City, John Bukacek, Chicago, Mary Howell and her husband, Paul, Chicago, Martin Bukacek and his wife, Sharon, Chicago, Anne Bukacek, Montana, Urban Djin, Chicago, Jane Bukacek and her husband, Steve Kaufman, Prescott, Wis., and Sara Bukacek and her husband, Marcus Lopez, California; 25 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1975; three brothers; and three sisters.