Maxine Philipps

NORTHWOOD — Maxine Gayle Philipps, 95, affectionately called "Auntie," formerly of Marshalltown, died Friday (May 6, 2005), at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Lane Memorial Chapel in Marshalltown with the Rev. Robert W. Luebbert of Northwood Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown.

Visitation will be from 4  to 6 p.m. Sunday at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S, Northwood, and one hour prior to service time on Monday at Lane Memorial Chapel.

The family of Maxine Gayle Philipps has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, in her memory.

Maxine Gayle Philipps was born May 5, 1910, in Marshall-town, the daughter of John and Jessie (Raber) Robb. Maxine graduated from Marshalltown High School, the class of 1929. She was united in marriage to Henry M. Philipps on May 28, 1944, at First Baptist Church in Marshalltown. He preceded her in death in 1984.

Maxine and her husband owned and operated the Philipps Food Market in  Marshalltown, and before and after their ownership she was employed by several offices including Western Grocery Co., Freers Ice Cream Co., Lennox Industries, and the Coca-Cola Co., all in Marshalltown. Maxine was employed for 18 years as office secretary for Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown until her retirement in 1982. Maxine had been a resident of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood since 1997.

She enjoyed office work and had an excellent memory with mathematical figures. Maxine also enjoyed reading, needle work, loved animals and loved to visit with family and friends.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Marshalltown, Northwood Baptist Church, Central Chapter No. 67 Order of the Eastern Star, a 50-year member of the Rebecca Lodge, Business and Professional Women, Ladies of the Moose, and the White Shrine.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Lois Welsh of Northwood, two stepsons: Theodore Philipps and his   wife, Laura, of North Bend, Ohio, and Donald Philipps and his wife, Sue, of Milwaukee, Wis.; five nieces: Audrey Robinson and her husband, Bill, of Marshalltown, Katherine Audley, of Lemon Grove, Calif., Cris Wells and her husband, Dr. Laurence Wells, of Peoria, Ariz., Dr. Gayle King and her husband, Dr. Robert King, of Green Valley, Ariz., and Jean Marie Robb, of  Marshalltown; three nephews: Gene Robb and his wife, Eleanor, of Marshalltown, Dr. James Welsh and his special friend, Margie Rosch, of Northwood, and Dr. John Welsh and his wife, Carol, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., as well as other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband, her parents, a stepson and stepdaughter, and a brother, Jess Robb in 1991, also preceded her in death.

Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, (641) 324-1543.

www.colonialchapels.com

Martin J. Kroeze

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Martin J. Kroeze, 74, of Sedalia, Mo., and formerly of Mason City, passed away Wednesday (May 4, 2005) at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, Mo.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City, Iowa, with the Rev. Joel Andrus of Martensdale Community Church, Martensdale, Iowa, and Dr. Dave Ullom of First Presbyterian Church, Algona, officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Britt.

Visitation for Martin will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.

Memorials may be directed to the Martin J. Kroeze Memorial Fund.

Martin J. Kroeze was born April 22, 1931, in rural Forest City to Martin L. Kroeze and Juanita (Lamoreux) Kroeze. He grew up on a farm north of Britt and attended country school. Martin lettered in wrestling at Britt High School. He graduated in 1948 and joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. After serving his country, Martin was honorably discharged from the Navy in February 1950.

On Aug. 20, 1954, he married Marilynne M. Olson of Ventura and to that union three daughters were born. Martin lived the majority of his life in Mason City and was employed by the Interstate Power Co. Martin attended St. James Lutheran Church for many years and was president of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Association. Martin enjoyed serving his Lord and studying the Bible.

On June 21, 1986, Martin was married to Nancy Basener of Meservey and they lived in Mason City and rural Thornton. Martin enjoyed helping his father-in-law on the farm and retired from Interstate Power in 1993. He was a member of the Mason City Garden Club and enjoyed raising unusual animals.

In 2001, Martin and Nancy moved to an acreage in Sedalia, Mo., and enjoyed gardening and raising livestock and anything to do with nature.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Sedalia, Mo.; three daughters and their husbands: Marcay and Mike Hansen of Norwalk, Iowa, Manita and Bryan Murphy of Algona, and Melinda and Don Zeimet, also of Algona; his brother, Gary Kroeze of Switzerland; his father-in-law, Herb Basener of Clarion; two uncles: Daryl Lamoreux of Mason City and Dennis Lamoreux of Britt; two sisters-in-law: Velma Durbin and husband, Al, and Evelyn Dailey and husband, Tom; two brothers-in-law: Lawrence Basener and wife, Wanda, and David Basener and wife, Donna; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents and mothers-in-law, Francis Basener and Luella Olson.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Mason City (641) 423-0924.

Debra C. Barker

THORNTON — Debra C. "Deb" Barker, 45, of 3463 150th St., Thornton, died early Saturday morning (May 7, 2005) at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

A graveside memorial service and inurnment will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Hillside Cemetery, rural Sheffield, with Gerald "Red" Haugland officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends at that time.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Debra C. Barker Memorial Fund.

Debra Colleen Barker was born July 6, 1959, in Webster City to Donald F. and Ruth M. (White) Dutcher. "Deb," as she was lovingly known by her family and friends, was an only child to her parents.

During her youth, Deb was fond of her pets and traveled extensively with her parents. She was a member of the Sheffield United Methodist Church where she was confirmed in 1973 and later taught Sunday school.

Deb graduated in 1977 from Sheffield-Chapin High School. Following her graduation, she attended North Iowa Area Community College in the nursing program.

Deb was employed at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home as a nurse aide for a span of time and later as a courier for Priority Express, a company based in Des Moines.

Deb was united in marriage to Robert Barker and the couple became the parents of two sons, Heath and Tim.

The marriage dissolved in 1986, however, the couple remained committed at keeping their sons' best interests in mind.

While in Hampton one evening, Deb met Harlan Banwell and they married in Clear Lake on May 28, 1988. Together they shared companionship, motorcycle rides, many great adventures and their own inside jokes. They became the parents of a daughter, Katie.

Deb's husband and children were her highest priority. She was known to be extremely protective and took great pride in being a great listener and making herself available to her family when needed. Deb seemed to always offer her children good advice.

Deb will be remembered as a woman with great courage, a wonderful sense of humor and her ability to make and maintain many friendships. Some of Deb's favorite leisure activities and interests included attending the Iowa State Fair yearly and fishing with her family, vegetable and flower gardening, especially her fondness of wild-flowers and daisies and creating craft projects. Her family recall special thoughts of her love of cooking and baking. She prepared great Thanksgiving dinners, always serving her specialty, homemade butter horn rolls.

Deb will be missed dearly by family and friends who have shared in her life.

She is survived by her husband, Harlan (Banwell) Barker of Thornton; her children, Heath Barker of Alexander, Tim (Pauline) Barker of St. Cloud, Minn. and Katie Barker at home with her Dad in Thornton.

Preceding Deb in death are her parents, Donald and Ruth Dutcher, and her maternal and paternal grandparents.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Service (641) 423-8676.

www.fullertonfh.com.

LeRoy Baugh

CLIFTON, Colo. — (Earl) LeRoy Baugh died Monday (May 9, 2005) at his home in Clifton, Colo., from lung cancer. He was 72 years old.

LeRoy was born May 20, 1932, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Earl and Lucille (Matthews) Baugh. He joined the United States Army in 1949, serving four years. He was wounded in the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

In 1950, he married Darlene Byington. She survives. During their years in Mason City, he worked at Deckers, Andrews Cement, and as a route salesman for Coca-Cola, delivering to merchants in the surrounding area towns.

In 1964, LeRoy trained as a dispensing optician for Pearle Optical. He was transferred to Grand Junction, Colo., in 1966 to manage the Zales Optical Store located in Zales Jewelers downtown. He worked for Pearle seven years before leaving to work with Dr. Burns in Montrose, and later Dr. Rigg and Dr. Carl Lepisto in Grand Junction.

In 1977, LeRoy began working for the Mesa County Sheriff's Department as a deputy, having spent many years prior being a volunteer for Search and Rescue and also as a reserve deputy. He graduated from the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1977.

The next year, he sustained a severe bullet wound while on duty. It took many months to heal. He eventually transferred to the Civil Department of the Sheriff's Office, retiring in 1984.

LeRoy enjoyed his family, working in his yard, the Denver Broncos and bowling.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Allen (Kris) Baugh and Douglas Baugh; two daughters, Lynn (Chet) Baker and Carol (Bud) Hurst; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Neff and Marjorie Baugh, and one brother, Clifford (Lorraine) Baugh, all of Grand Junction, Colo.; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

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

Cremation has taken place. A private prayer service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 2754 Compass Dr., Suite 377, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506.

Snell-McLean Funeral Home, (970) 464-5983.

                   Posted by Gene Manning