Ann Bawek Mahlmann

December 7, 2005, page 2A

Ann Bawek Mahlmann, 98, of Stacyville, Iowa, died on Sunday, December 4, 2005, at the Stacyville Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, December 7, at the Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville, with Rev. John Moser officiating. Burial will be in the Visitation Church Cemetery.

Ann, daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Schillinger) Bawek, was born in Stacyville, Iowa on January 8, 1907. She was one of 10 children whose family had a home in town and later, a farm that the boys worked. Her family owned and operated the Bawek Store, whose main business at that time was harness and shoe repair. The Bawek Store remains to this day on Main Street. Ann met Roy Mahlmann at the Martin Hotel in Rochester, Minnesota, where she was employed as a hostess. They married in November 1960, after which she moved to Roy's home in Chicago, Illinois. They moved back to Rochester, where Ann lived until the age of 96.

She saw 18 presidents starting with Theodore Roosevelt. Her father, Joseph immigrated to the United States from Germany and settled in Wisconsin, moving to Adams, then Stacyville. Ann was a vagabond at heart, as she loved to travel and staying in touch with relatives was very important to her.

She is survived by her daughter, Dolly of Stacyville; step-son, Lewis Mahlmann of Oakland, California; eight grandchildren, Judy Retterath of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Larry and his wife, Maggie of Fairbanks, Alaska, Linda of Stacyville, Tim and his wife, Denise of Waterloo, Sue and her partner, Mary Locke of Houston, Texas, Kent and his wife, Janis of Grafton, Kevin and his wife, Lori of Eagan, Minnesota and Amy Kleinwort and her husband, Steve of Madrid, Iowa; 20 great-grandchildren, Paul, Heidi and Charles Retterath, Cary, Matthew, Jason and Sarena, Gretchen, Nikki, Cassie and Chad, Sommer, Tessa, Josh and Kory, Kaitlin and Ellie, Seth, Sarah and Zachary Kleinwort: 11 great-great-grandchildren, Ashley Mueller, Cameron, Peyton, Mackenzie, Braeden and Carter Retterath, Logan and Keegan Schmitt, Parker Austinson, Teagan Hackenmiller and Aspen Falk; also nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; parents, Joseph and Theresa; 5 brothers, Joe, Frank (Kelly), Math, Ben and Tony; 4 sisters, Mary Dubrall, Katie Goetzinger, Bobbie Greteman and Christine Schilling.

The Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, was in charge of the arrangements.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

Florence Margarite Flynn

December 21, 2005, page 2A

Florence M. Flynn, 84, of Payson, Arizona, died on Thursday, December 15, 2005, in Payson.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 29, at the St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Payson, Arizona. Family requests donations to the RTA Hospice, Payson, Arizona.

Florence was born on September 25, 1921 in Osage, Iowa. She and her former husband were 40-year residents of Scottsdale, Arizona. They were business owners for over 20 years prior to retirement in the mid 1970's. Florence was the CFO. Florence relocated to the Payson area in 2002, where she enjoyed fishing, travel, her dog and pal Muff and her love of flower gardening. She will be greatly missed by all who were touched by her gentle spirit.

She is survived by her daughter, Diane Wolfe of Payson, Arizona; brother, George Taets of Osage; sister, Mary Halverson of Osage; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Jack; and her brother, Russell.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

John Jay Allen

December 21, 2005, page 2A

John Jay Allen, 84, of St. Ansgar, died on Friday, December 16, 2005, at the Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Osage, Iowa, with Rev. John Moser officiating. Burial will be in the St. Ansgar Cemetery, St. Ansgar, with military honors by the Walter T. Enneberg Post #358 of the American Legion. Visitation is on Tuesday, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

John was born on October 24, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Hiram and Maybelle (Shelrue) Allen. He graduated from high school in Brainard, Minnesota. After which he joined the U.S. Army serving in the 194th Tank Regiment during WW II in the South Pacific Theater. John was a POW for 3½ years, being on the Bataan Death March. After the service he lived in San Diego, California. John married Penny Wiggington on December 7, 1946, at the St. Francis Church, Brainard, Minnesota. They moved to St. Ansgar in 1955. John was a postal worker for 30 years, retiring as Postmaster in 1976.

He was a member of the American Legion and served as the service officer. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, gardening, traveling and obtaining information on WW II.

John is survived by his wife, Penny of St. Ansgar; three sons, John J. Allen, Jr. of California City, California, Thomas Allen of St. Ansgar and Rob Allen of Apple Valley, Minnesota; two daughters, Linda Israel of Wichita, Kansas and Jean Moore of Rochester, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers; and 3 sisters.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, Iowa.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

Gloria M. Moore

December 21, 2005, page 2A

Gloria Moore, age 90, of Osage, died on Sunday, December 18, 2005, at the Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, December 21, at the First United Methodist Church in Osage, with Rev. Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery. Visitation is from 4-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and will continue one hour before the services at the church on Wednesday.

Gloria was born on November 16, 1915, on the family farm near Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Ward and Alma (Runge) Coonradt. Her early education was in the country school system and later at the Osage High School. Gloria worked as a telephone operator in Osage before her marriage to John W. Moore on December 10, 1941, at the First United Methodist Church in Osage. They made their home in Osage, where John worked as a realtor. John died on November 15, 1966. Gloria then worked in the kitchen at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital until her retirement.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Sunny Brae Golf and Country Club, Osage American Legion Auxiliary and was a great supporter of her husband's American Legion activities. In her early years, she enjoyed golfing with her husband and was an avid bowler. In later years, Gloria played bridge and was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying watching the Iowa Hawkeyes. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren. Gloria was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family.

Gloria is survived by two daughters, Patricia (Landis) Hepner of Osage and their children, Haley Rowley and son, Caleb Rowley of Stewartville, Minnesota and John W. Hepner and fiancée, Rachel Berndt of Rochester, Minnesota; and Jane (Ronald) Gast of Monticello and their children, Tracy (Angie) Gast and children, Madison and Connor Gast of Iowa City, Trevor Gast and children, Gavin and Teagan Gast of Dubuque; a sister, Bonnie Church of Osage; a sister-in-law, Mildred Coonradt of Osage; and a brother-in-law, Richard May of Norfolk, Virginia.

She was preceded by her parents; her husband, John W. Moore; six brothers, Robert, Clair, Richard, Irving (in infancy), Warren "Pete" and Dean Coonradt; and one sister, June May.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

Gene Mayer

December 28, 2005, Page 2A

Eugene "Gene" Mayer, age 79, of Osage, died on Wednesday, December 21, 2005, at the Mitchell Country Regional Health Center Hospice Unit in Osage.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, December 23, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, with the Rev. John Moser officiating. Burial was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Osage.

Gene was born on September 9, 1926, on a farm near New Haven, Iowa, the son of Joe and Mary (Theobald) Mayer. He married Darlene Jordan on September 16, 1947, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. Gene owned a corn shelling business and in 1957, he and his wife started Mayer's Digging. He was a volunteer fireman for 20 years and served as a Mitchell County Supervisor for eight years. Gene managed the Floyd-Mitchell County Landfill. He also was the maintenance man at the Evergreen Senior Living Center.

Gene loved to garden and enjoyed the process of canning his garden produce. He enjoyed collecting antiques. He was an excellent cribbage player and always had a good joke to tell. Gene loved his children and grandchildren. He was a friend to everyone. Blessed be his memory!

Gene is survived by his wife of 58 years, Darlene Mayer of Osage; a daughter, Lynda (Dave) Innes of Lumberton, North Carolina; two sons, Dave (Judy) Mayer of Osage and Roger (Carrie) Mayer of Osage; two sisters, Marge (Paul) Weis of Stacyville and Yvonne (Bill) Yezek of Peoria, Illinois; two sisters-in-law, Melba (Paul) Leidall of Osage and Margaret Mayer of Osage; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and six sisters.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

Carleton LeRoy Harms

January 4, 2006, Page 2A

Carleton LeRoy Harms, age 64, of Scott City, Kansas, passed away at his home in Scott City, on Friday, December 23, 2005.

Funeral services were held at the Price & Sons Funeral Home, Scott City, on Tuesday, December 27, with the Rev. Robert Nuckolls officiating. Interment was in the Scott County Cemetery, Scott City, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the Carleton Harms Memorial Fund for the Wounded Soldiers Fund, Price & Sons Funeral Home, Scott City, Kansas.

Carleton was born on January 23, 1941 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Harry and Mary Barger Harms. On October 21, 1961, he married Karen Kay Hatch in Nashua, Iowa. A resident of Scott City, Kansas, since 1989, moving from Osage, Iowa, he was a mechanic and a truck driver for Roto Mix in Scott City, Kansas. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Gladbrook, Iowa and the VFW.

Carleton is survived by his wife, Karen Kay Harms of Scott City, Kansas; three sons, Christian Harms of Lakin, Kansas, Wayne Harms of Wamego, Kansas and Roy Harms of Scott City, Kansas; two daughters, Renee Nerad and Renata Rogers, both of Osage; his mother, Mary Dahms of Gladbrook, Iowa; a sister, Sharon Hatch of Beaman; 11 grandchildren; and one great- grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a grandson, Lane Harms.
© 2006 Mitchell County Press

Marjorie Mark

December 28, 2005, Page 2A

Marjorie June (Saline) Mark, age 81, of Osage, died on Sunday, December 25, 2005, at the Rochester Methodist Hospital, from pneumonia following surgery.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 31, at the First Baptist Church in Osage, Iowa, with Rev. Doug Brown officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery. There will be visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the church before the services on Saturday.

Marjorie was born on June 5, 1924, on a farm near Spencer, Iowa, the daughter of Isadore Henry and June Mary (Roose) Saline. Her family moved to Osage in 1937 and operated the Sani-Dairy. Marjorie was a graduate of the Osage High School. In 1947, she married Robert Mark and together with their family, they owned a Century Farm.

She was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star and was a member of the First Baptist Church for over 60 years, where her favorite position was nursery school teacher. Marjorie enjoyed china painting, gardening, friends and family, especially playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marjorie is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bob Mark of Osage; two daughters, Mary Brelsford of Kellogg, Minnesota and Ann (Robert) Heise of Rochester, Minnesota; two sons, William (Mary Kay) Mark of Faribault, Minnesota and John Mark of Osage; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Allen Saline.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home.
© 2005 Mitchell County Press

Merrill Franklin "Skip" Kelley, Sr.

February 15, 2006, Page 2A

Merrill Franklin "Skip" Kelley, Sr., age 65, of San Diego, California, died on Sunday, December 25, 2005, after courageously battling cancer during the last five years.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, January 3, 2006, at the Point Loma National Cemetery, overlooking San Diego Harbor. Like his father, Skip donated his body to medical research.

Skip was born in Osage on September 26, 1940, the son of S. Merrill and Helene (Tyrrell) Kelley. He graduated from the Osage High School and served in the Navy. He married Jane Dennis of Osage in 1958. They were the parents of two sons, Merrill F. Kelley, Jr. and Dennis E. Kelley. Skip and Jane's marriage ended in divorce. Later Skip married Diana Sanchez of San Diego, California. They were parents of two daughters, Anna and Sara.

Skip was stationed with the Navy in San Diego, the city that was his home for nearly 50 years. After the service he worked in the offices of the San Diego Gas and Electric. He earned a degree in accounting from San Diego State University. For many years Skip owned his own business. He enjoyed jogging, sports and was an avid reader.

He is survived by his wife, Diana and daughters, Anna and Sara of San Diego, California; sons, Merrill F. Kelley, Jr. of San Diego, California and Dennis E. Kelley of Donald, Oregon; a step-son, Daniel Winters of San Diego, California; four grandchildren; and a sister, Margery (Richard) Johnsten of Great Falls, Montana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his step-mother, Bernice Kelley.
© 2006 Mitchell County Press

Ardene L. Dockum

January 4, 2006, page 2A

Ardene L. Dockum, 78, of Carpenter, Iowa, died on Monday, December 26, 2005, at the North Iowa Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, Iowa.

A memorial service was held on Friday, December 30, at the Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter, Iowa. Rev. Lance Kittleson officiated. Burial will be in the Deer Creek Cemetery.

Ardene was born on February 17, 1927 in Otranto, Iowa, to John "Fritz" and Mamie (Nelson) Ogden. She attended school in Otranto and graduated from the Carpenter High School in 1945. On December 30, 1945, she married Harry Dockum at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, Osage, with this year being their 60th wedding anniversary. After marriage she became a member of the Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter. Ardene helped on the farm and then worked for 30 years at Dockum TV and Appliance. She devoted countless hours to the Carpenter Commercial Club and the Carpenter Athletic Club.

She enjoyed fishing, having taught many kids to fish and she enjoyed the fellowship of bowling. Ardene truly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ardene is survived by her husband, Harry of Carpenter; son, Gary of Rock Falls, Iowa; son-in-law, Wayne McNealy of Osage; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Gloria; son, David; two brothers, Leo and Nolan Ogden; and sister, Joyce Buehrer.
© 2006 Mitchell County Press

Michael Kenneth Blaser

January 11. 2006

Michael Kenneth Blaser, 31, of Downing, Wisconsin, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, as a result of a traffic accident.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 31, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Glenwood City, with Deacon Wesley Tuttle officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Michael was born on April 9, 1974 in Osage, Iowa, to Wayne and Mary (Moen) Blaser. He graduated from the Glenwood City High School in 1992. He worked on a family owned farm in Downing.

Mike enjoyed spending time with his three brothers, nieces, nephew and other relatives and friends. To everyone who knew him, they enjoyed his humor, wit, and his ability to make everyone smile. He will be truly missed by everyone.

Mike is survived by his parents, Wayne and Mary Blaser of Boyceville; three brothers, Bryan Blaser and wife, Christa of Boyceville, Rick Blaser and wife, Tiffany of Downing and Jon Blaser and wife, Molly of Glenwood City; special friend, Paula Streit; nephew, Brett Blaser; nieces, Emily, Elizabeth and Brooklynn Blaser; maternal grandmother, Senora Moen of Lake Mills, Iowa; paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Lucille Blaser of Osage, Iowa; godson, Hunter Bonte; and aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Orville Moen.
© 2006 Mitchell County Press