Richard Pelleymounter

August 7, 2002

Richard Pelleymounter, age 84, of Osage, died on Thursday, August 1, 2002, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, August 5, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. Father John Purtell and Father Marvin Salz officiated. Interment was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage, with military rites by the Osage American Legion Post 278. Sunday evening a Scripture Service and a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Service were held at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage.

Richard was born on November 5, 1917 in Manly, Iowa, the son of Robin and Mary (Popp) Pelleymounter. He moved with his family to Osage and graduated from the Osage High School. He served in the U.S. Army, with the 34th Infantry Division as a medic in World War II. Richard married Dorothy Weber on August 1, 1953 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They lived in Osage where he was the manager of the state liquor store for many years.

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a former Grand Knight. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Pelleymounter was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Kenneth and Robert Pelleymounter.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Osage; three daughters, Mary Ann Pelleymounter of Lambertville, New Jersey, Jean Pelleymounter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and Linda Pelleymounter of Iowa City, Iowa; two sisters, Austie Smith and husband, Robert of Osage and Kay Elliot of Osage; two brothers, Roman Pelleymounter and wife, Marge of Osage and Bernard Pelleymounter and wife, Merna of Ackley, Iowa.

The Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Ruth C. Sams

August 7, 2002

Ruth Catherine Sams, age 89, of Osage, died on Saturday, August 3, 2002, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, August 10, at the United Church of Christ in Osage. The Rev. Karen Dungan will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Ruth C. Sams, was born and raised in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Wilbur and Minnie (Schwalm) Demorest. She attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. While in college Ruth met and then married Joseph H. Sams on June 18, 1939 in Muscatine. They moved to Des Moines while Joe attended law school. In 1941 after his graduation, they moved to Osage. At that time Ruth began working for the ration board. After the war they became parents of four children. Eventually, Ruth began work as a secretary at the Lincoln Elementary School in Osage. She retired in 1983.

Ruth was a member of the United Church of Christ, PEO, Eastern Star, as well as a lifelong member at the Sunny Brae Country Club. She enjoyed playing golf, bridge and bowling.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe in 1966; and one infant grandchild.

Survivors include two daughters, Deborah (Marc) Usatin of Walnut Creek, California and Jane (Kent) Osboe of Austin, Minnesota; two sons, Joe (Cindy) Sams of Sugarland, Texas and John (Beth) Sams of Savage, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren; and one sister, Ellamae Ratcliff of Muscatine, Iowa.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Weyman Chitwood

August 14, 2002

Weyman Chitwood, age 65, of Bahlonega, Georgia, died on Saturday, August 3, 2002, at Atlanta, Georgia, following a short illness.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 31, in Bahlonega, Georgia. The body was cremated.

Weyman was born on January 27, 1937 in Habersham City, Georgia. He lived for a short time when he was a young adult in Osage, Iowa.

Those that survive him include his wife of 31 years, Nancy (Gauger) Chitwood of Bahlonega, Georgia; three children, Steven, Brent and Brenda all of Zleburne, Texas; 8 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his mother-in-law, Irene Gauger of Osage.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Leo Foxen

August 7, 2002

Leo Foxen, age 65, of New Haven, died suddenly on Sunday, August 4, 2002, of a cardiac event at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, August 9, at the St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Haven. Rev. Ray E. Atwood will officiate. Interment will be in the St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in New Haven, with graveside services by the Osage American Legion #278. Visitation is from 5-8:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, with a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary. Visitation will also be for one hour before the services at the church.

Leo Foxen, was born on April 15, 1937 in Burr Oak Township, Mitchell County, the son of John "Jack" and Luella (McCann) Foxen. He graduated from the St. Mary's Academy in New Haven in 1955. Leo served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Thome on June 27, 1959 in Meyer, Iowa. They lived in Osage for three years, moving to the family farm near New Haven in 1962. In 1962 he graduated from tool and die making school. Leo farmed and was employed by White Farm Equipment in Charles City for 33 years. In 1992 he started "L & M Machine Shop" in Riceville, retiring in 1999.

He was an avid race car fan, enjoying NASCAR, tractor pulls, working in his shop and being with his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Francis Foxen and John Robert Foxen.

Leo is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Foxen of New Haven; one son, Gene Foxen and his son, Cody of Emporia, Kansas; four daughters, Ann (John) Maas and their children, Ben and Pete of Kasson, Minnesota, Joan (Brad) Butterfield and their children, Alison, Rhiannon and Sara of Charles City, Jane Foxen of West Des Moines and Lisa Foxen of Stewartville, Minnesota; four sisters, Mary Lucena (Don) Eden of Titonka, Alice Wilkins of Nora Springs, Delores (Urban) Hemann of Austin, Minnesota and Mary Coleman of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; and one brother, Don Foxen of rural Osage.

The Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, was in charge of the arrangements.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Keith F. Francis

August 14, 2002

Keith F. Francis, age 82, of Osage, died on Thursday, August 8, 2002, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, August 11, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. The Reverend Christian F. Gugel officiated. Interment was in the Osage Cemetery.

Keith Franklin Francis, was born on August 16, 1919, at the family home in Clear Lake, Iowa, the son of Otha and Wanda (Lundy) Francis. He attended grade school in the Little Cedar Schools until moving to Orchard, where he graduated from high school in 1937. Keith enjoyed playing basketball and baseball in his younger days.

Keith was united in marriage to Lucille Eilers of Osage on February 25, 1940, at the St. John's Lutheran Church rural Osage. He was baptized and confirmed at that church shortly after they were married. They farmed in the New Haven and Mitchell areas for 49 years. They moved to Osage in May of 1982, retiring after Keith suffered a stroke in 1989. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before Lucille passed away in November, 2001.

Keith was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage, was a director on the CO-OP Oil Board for 30 years, serving as President for five years. He served on the Mitchell County Fair Board for many years. He was a long-time Farm Bureau member. He also served on the Mitchell School Board and was President for several years. Keith enjoyed farming and often commented it wasn't work, he enjoyed it. He was extremely proud that his son and grandson are farming the family farm, and liked to take rides to see the livestock and activity on the farm. He rode a few rounds in the combine every fall. Keith and Lucille spent their winter months in Texas and Arizona for many years. His favorite activities included playing cards and cribbage.

Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille on November 13, 2001; and a brother, Melvin Francis.

His survivors include a son, Donald Francis and his wife, Janelle of Mitchell; a daughter, Shirley Rake and her husband, Elwood of Osage; four grandchildren, Doug Rake of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jennifer Kisley and her husband, John of St. Ansgar, Beth Steffensen and her husband, Tony of Des Moines and Jeffrey Francis of St. Ansgar; six great-grandchildren, Andrea, Morgan and Steven Kisley, Mercedes, Elijah and Grace Steffensen; three sisters, Maxine Dostart, Betty Kleckner and Juanita Halvorson of Osage; and a brother, Gerald Francis of Osage.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Frederick Lewis Schmidt

August 28, 2002

Frederick Lewis Schmidt, 67, died at his home in Warsaw, Missouri, on Monday, August 12, 2002, of complications of lung cancer and heart disease.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 16, in North Platte, Nebraska. Rev. Steve Jergensen officiated at the funeral service. Graveside military honors were provided by the North Platte Veterans Organization.

Fred was born on August 11, 1935 in Osage, to Earl C. and Doris (Cole) Schmidt. He attended rural school at the Cedar #10 and the Osage High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957 as a paratrooper. He married Joann Lathrop in Marion, Iowa in 1958. They had three children. They divorced in 1968. Fred moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, working as a USDA meat inspector. He married Emily Spanjer in 1973. They moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he went to school for diesel mechanics. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he worked for a John Deere dealership. He was a USDA meat inspector in Fort Collins for some time before moving to Brush, Colorado, where he retired. He moved to Warsaw, Missouri in May 2001.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Paul; and a step-granddaughter, LeAnn Spanjer.

Survivors include one daughter, Michelle Krouse of Fairfield, Iowa; two sons, Fredrick L. (Kahla) Schmidt, II of Batavia, Iowa and Christopher C. (Linda) Schmidt of Fairfield, Iowa; three step-daughters, Patricia (Tony) Schaffer of Thornton, Colorado, Linda (Cliff) Smith of North Platte and Connie (John) Deines of Fort Collins, Colorado; one step-son, Leland (Elaine) Spanjer of Cozad, Nebraska; one sister, Gaye Younker of Osage; one brother, Robert (Helen) Schmidt of Moline, Illinois; seven grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and 16 step-great-grandchildren.

The Adams and Swanson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Jane Annis Hartwig

September 11, 2002

Jane Annis Hartwig, of Azle, Texas, died at her home on Monday, August 12, 2002.

Graveside services were held on Friday, August 23, 2002. Jane was the wife of Russell Hartwig. Russell is the son of Mary Hartwig of Osage. His address is Azle, Texas.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Carmen Harris

August 21, 2002

Carmen M. Harris, age 66, of Osage, died on Sunday, August 18, 2002, at her home of Leukemia.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 22, at the First Methodist Church in Osage. Rev. Karen Nichols Dungan will officiate. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Carmen was born on July 17, 1936 in Dow City, Iowa, the daughter of Maxwell and Leone (Coleman) Smith. She graduated from the Dow City High School in 1955. She was united in marriage to Ward S. Harris on June 15, 1955 in Dow City. They moved to Osage in April of 1961, when Ward was hired as the Gas Superintendent of the Osage Municipal Utilities. In 1973, they purchased the Staff Motel which they owned and operated until 1979. They then purchased Art's Shoe Store operating it until their retirement in 1999.

Carmen was an active member of the First United Methodist Church. She was a Past Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, a member of Royal Neighbors, American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary. Harris was a bridge player, enjoyed bowling and spending time with friends and family.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a niece, Greta Smith and Greta's infant twins.

Carmen is survived by her husband, Ward of Osage; four children, Kim and Jim Larson of Osage, Jim and Debra Harris of Loxahatchee, Florida, Lynne and Brian Wright of Osage and Jon Harris and Hollie of Osage; grandchildren, Nicholas and Jenny Larson of Iowa City, Todd Larson of Ames, Latisha Horning of Gainesville, Florida, Joshua and Jamie Harris of Loxahatchee, Florida, Shannon and John Beyer of Stacyville, Dwayne, Tyler, Amanda and Robbie Wright of Osage and Karmen Kristine Harris of Osage; a brother, Bob Smith of Omaha, Nebraska; sister, Glenda and Charlie Benjamin of Dunlap, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

The Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Connie D. (Fjetland) Adams

August 28, 2002

Connie D. (Fjetland) Adams, age 39, of Mason City, formerly of Osage and Riceville, died on Thursday, August 22, 2002, at her home in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, August 26, at the New Covenant Fellowship, rural Osage. Reverend Jim Shelton officiated.

Connie was born on June 6, 1963 in Osage, the daughter of Donald and Illalee (Johnson) Fjetland. She attended schools in Riceville graduating from the Riceville High School in 1981. Connie attended Hamilton Business College and NIACC and received her teaching degree from Buena Vista College in 2000. She currently had been substitute teaching in Mason City and the surrounding area.

Connie enjoyed the outdoors and horseback riding and she loved spending time with her daughter, Tara and with her many friends. She liked working with computers.

She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents; two uncles; and one cousin.

Survivors include her parents, Donald And Ilalee Fjetland of Riceville; one daughter, Tara Rose Adams of Mason City; and her father, Jim Adams of Little Cedar; one sister, Beverly Kaufman and her husband, Dan of Fountain Hills, Arizona; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage had charge of the arrangements.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Laura M. Buechele

August 28, 2002

Laura M. Buechele, age 92, of Grafton, died on Friday, August 23, 2002, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, August 27, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiated. Interment was in the Grafton Cemetery.

Laura Buechele, was born on April 11, 1910 in Grafton, Iowa, to Edmund and Emilie (Erdman) Schmidt. Rev. John Landdeck baptized her on May 6, 1920 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton. Rev. Carl Landdeck confirmed her in faith on April 13, 1924 at Emmanuel Lutheran. She graduated from the Osage High School in 1928 and worked for one year at the Christian Brothers Store in Grafton. She taught school for four years in a country school. On October 15, 1933, Laura married Alvin Buechele and they were blessed with two daughters, Ruth Anderson and Marie Blom.

Laura was an active member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Grafton all her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin on January 18, 1970.

Survivors include her daughters and their spouses, Harvey and Ruth Anderson of Plano, Texas and Paul and Marie Blom of Spring, Texas; five grandchildren including, Joel Anderson, Matthew Anderson, Nicole Anderson, Sara (Blom) Slaughter and Nathan Blom; as well as six great-grandchildren.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press

Irene E. Peterson

August 28, 2002

Irene Elaine Peterson, age 77, of Riceville, passed away from cancer at the Riceville Community Rest Home, on Sunday, August 25, 2002. She entered the rest home on August 19th.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, August 28, at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville. Rev. Michael Parris will officiate with burial to be in the St. Peter's Cemetery, rural Riceville. Friends may call at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville, on Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and one hour before the services on Wednesday at the church.

Irene was born the daughter of Swen and Hilma (Strand) Lovik, on September 19, 1924 in rural Ventura, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville. She attended Ventura Schools graduating in 1943 from the Ventura High School. Irene was united in marriage to Robert Oettchen on June 2, 1951 and they resided on the family farm south of Clear Lake. Her three children, Russell, Verlyn and Elaine were born while they lived there.

In 1971, the family moved to a farm at Riceville, Iowa. Her husband, Robert passed away in 1972 and she remarried on February 14, 1973 to Carl Peterson. They remained on the farm. Carl passed away in 1992.

Irene worked in various nursing homes and loved to sew and work in the garden. She was a devoted mother and grandmother.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her two husbands; one daughter, Elaine Oettchen in the year 2000; a sister, Edythe Otis; five brothers, Roy, Harry, Norman, Roy and Duane Lovick; and five sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law.

She is survived by two sons, Russell Oettchen of Riceville and Verlyn Oettchen of Chester, Iowa; two grandsons, Brandon and Avery Oettchen; three brothers, Orville and his wife of Gulfport, Mississippi, Lloyd and his wife of Bullhead, Arizona and Virgil and his wife of Fertile, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
© 2002 Mitchell County Press