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Local War Hero Dies at
Age 81
Kittleson served in WW
II, Korea and Vietnam
by Jan Horgen
For the Press-News
May 10, 2006, page 1A
 TOETERVILLE—The
final battle of a
distinguished soldier is
finished. Retired
Command Sgt. Maj. Galen
Kittleson, died of
cancer late on Thursday
night. He was 81.
Funeral services were
held on Monday at the
St. Peter Lutheran
church in Toeterville.
He was buried in the
First Lutheran Cemetery
in St. Ansgar.
“We won’t
see another like
Sergeant-Major,”
36-year-old Jon Henaman
of St. Ansgar, a veteran
of the Army Airborne
Infantry, said of his
mentor. “He was an
incredible man who
touched many lives, a
legend in the military
Special Forces.” And
among civilians of all
ages who knew the man.
“Gay’s life was about
core values—family,
faith, love of country
and respect for his
fellow human beings,”
41-year-old Bob Collier
of Austin, Minnesota
said. “His was a life of
service and sacrifice.”
Kittleson’s
distinguished military
career spanned four
decades, several
continents and three
wars—World War II, Korea
and Vietnam. One of the
elite Alamo Scouts in
World War II, a Green
Beret in Vietnam,
Kittleson rose through
the ranks to become
command sergeant major
of the 1st Special
Forces and the U.S. Army
Garrison in Okinawa. His
age and affection for
the thousands of young
troops he trained at
Fort Bragg, North
Carolina earned
Kittleson the nickname
“Pappy.”
There are
medals—Silver Star,
Bronze Star, Purple
Heart and more—of which
he seldom spoke. There
is a
book—“Raider”—chronicling
Kittleson’s remarkable
life of service.
Former
Green Beret and military
journalist Charles
Sasser said of
Kittleson, “He is a
hero. Everyone in
Special Forces knew him.
Yet almost no one
outside the military
knows, because true
heroes, like Galen, do
not draw attention to
themselves. They just
live.”
As a
19-year-old in 1943, he
carried a mortally
wounded comrade out of
the dense New Guinea
jungle. He was awarded
the Silver Star. Even
the span of 56 years
could not erase the deep
sadness in his dark
eyes. “He didn’t make
it,” Kittleson said in a
1999 interview. At a
tender age, Kittleson
learned to face and
overcome his deepest
fears. He was in
Cabanatuan on January
30, 1945—part of the
daring raid when the 6th
Ranger Battalion and a
handful of Alamo Scouts
liberated some 500
American prisoners who
survived the Bataan
Death March. He was
there in the fall of
1957—when the now famous
“Little Rock Nine” took
their first tentative
steps into history,
integrating the Little
Rock High School. He was
there in 1970—part of
the POW raid on Son Tay
near Hanoi in North
Vietnam. More than 30
years later, in a 2002
interview, frustration
still lingered as
Kittleson shook his
head, saying “That one
didn’t work out.”
When he
retired in 1979, his
beloved troops bronzed
his beret before
Kittleson returned to
his rural Mitchell
County roots with his
wife, Darlene. And once
again, he was there for
another generation—the
teenagers of the Alamo
Scout Troop he founded
in 1982. Collier and
Army Sgt. 1st Class
Elisa Feldt, now a
decorated member of the
elite Golden Knights
Parachute Team, were
among the first Alamo
Scout alumni.
Kittleson, they say, was
a commanding figure: His
manner straightforward,
His expectations high,
and His lessons of
honesty,
self-discipline,
self-reliance and
respect shaped the
adults they would
become.
“Yet he
was such a humble man,
certainly never one to
brag,” Collier said.
“Not until I read the
book, did I fully
understand his
accomplishments, his
self-sacrifice.”
“Sergeant Major has been
an inspiration in my
life, the person behind
my career in the
military,” 41-year-old
Feldt said. “He taught
me discipline. From him
I learned about honor;
about courage. I will
always remember him in
that uniform, standing
tall.”
A poor
farmer’s son from Iowa,
Kittleson traveled far
from his roots, finding
courage and faith, his
son, Lance Kittleson, an
ordained minister and
chaplain in the Army
Reserve said. “And in
doing so he earned the
love of his family and
the respect and
gratitude of a nation.”
For Galen
Kittleson—the soldier
and the man—even in
death, there is victory.
© 2006 Mitchell County
Press
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Command Sgt. Major (Ret) Galen
C. Kittleson
May 10, 2006
Galen C. Kittleson, 81 of
Toeterville, Iowa, died on
Thursday, May 4, 2006, in
Rochester, Minnesota.
Funeral services were held on
Monday, May 8, at the St. Peter
Lutheran Church, Toeterville,
Iowa, with Rev. Dean Hess
officiating. Burial was in the
First Lutheran Cemetery, St.
Ansgar, with military honors by
the Walter T. Enneberg Post #358
of the American Legion.
Galen C.
Kittleson, was born on August
14, 1924 near St. Ansgar, Iowa.
He grew up on various farms
until after high school and a
year of college, entered
military service in World War
II. He became Airborne qualified
and was assigned to the 503rd
Regimental Combat Team in the
Pacific Theater and later being
selected for the Alamo Scouts,
an elite reconnaissance unit.
While an Alamo Scout, he helped
free 511 prisoners of war of the
infamous Bataan Death March from
the Cabanatuan Prison, as
portrayed in the movie 'The
Great Raid.'
Following his discharge in 1946,
he returned to St. Ansgar, where
he married the former Darlene
Bruggeman and worked as a farmer
and International Harvester
Implement dealer. But the Army
had become his love and could
not be ignored so he reenlisted
and was a member of the 101st
Airborne Division serving also
in the 3rd Infantry Division and
the 10th Special Forces Group in
Germany. In 1967, he was
assigned to the 5th Special
Forces in Vietnam and returned
to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina,
where he was selected in 1970
for the SON TAY raid into North
Vietnam to rescue American POWs.
In 1973 he was promoted to
Command Sergeant Major of the
1st Special Forces Group in
Okinawa and later of the 7th
Special Forces Group in Ft.
Bragg until retirement in July
1978.
Back in Iowa, he raised Hereford
cattle which became his pride
and joy while also directing a
Scout Troop, known as the Alamo
Scouts in which he passionately
sought to challenge young men
and women to tackle life's
obstacles with integrity,
courage and determination. In
July 2002 a book called RAIDER
was released depicting his life
as a soldier and POW raider. A
loving husband, father and
grandfather, he mentored all
with encouragement and example
and where humor and support were
the order of the day. He was
married to the former Darlene
Bruggemann of Toeterville, Iowa
for 59 years and has two sons.
He is survived by
his loving wife, Darlene; his
sons, Bruce (Judy) of Virginia
Beach, Virginia and Lance (Gail)
of St. Ansgar; five
grandchildren, 2LT Scott
Kittleson of Ft. Huachuca,
Arizona, Jonathan and Emily
Kittleson of Virginia Beach,
Virginia, Katie (Tim) Heeter of
St. Ansgar and Andy Kittleson of
Ashford, Washington; and two
great-grandchildren, Eli and
Cora Heeter of St. Ansgar.
He was preceded
in death by his parents, Floyd
and Caroline Kittleson; a
brother, Leroy (Stub); a sister,
Charlotte Kittleson; and two
infant brothers.
He lived a life
that a poor farmer's son from
Iowa could only dream of, but
never expect to realize and
found within that life, courage,
faith and the love of his God
and Savior, the abiding love of
his family and the respect and
gratitude of a thankful nation.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home,
St. Ansgar.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Marian L. Smalley
May 10, 2006, page 2A
 Marian
Lydia Smalley, 87, formerly of
Osage, died on Friday, May 5,
2006, at the Good Samaritan
Center in St. Ansgar.
Funeral services will be held at
1:30 p.m., on Friday, May 12, at
the Our Savior's Lutheran Church
in Osage, with Rev. Dennis
Hanson and Rev. Roy Ott
officiating. Interment will be
in the Osage Cemetery.
Visitation is from 5-7:00 p.m.,
on Thursday, at the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage and will continue one hour
before the services at the
church.
Marian Halverson,
was born on the family farm near
St. Ansgar, on June 9, 1918, the
daughter of Carl and Sedsel
(Evenson) Halverson. She was
baptized and confirmed at the
First Lutheran church in St.
Ansgar. Marian graduated from
the St. Ansgar High School in
1935. She was united in marriage
to Maurice Smalley on August 29,
1937 in St. Ansgar. They lived
and farmed in Mitchell County.
They moved to Osage in 1972. She
was a member of the Our Savior's
Lutheran Church in Osage, where
all 8 of her children were
baptized and confirmed.
Marian is
survived by four daughters,
Marilyn (Darrell) Fischer of
Fresno, California, Suzanne
(Carroll) Erickson of Owatonna,
Minnesota, Beverly Hamby of Sun
City, Arizona and Barbara
(George) Victor of Topeka,
Kansas; four sons, Darrell (Sue)
Smalley of Edina, Minnesota,
Robert (Marjorie) Smalley of
Osage, Ted (Dianna) Smalley of
Gretna, Nebraska and Russell
(Sue) Smalley of Riceville; two
sisters, Evelyn (Perry) Brown of
Apple Valley, Minnesota and
Jeannette (Kermit) Halvorson of
Arlington, Wisconsin; two
sisters-in-law, Helen Halverson
of Osage and Irene Smalley of
Clive; 18 grandchildren; and 14
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; her
husband, Maurice in 1998; three
brothers, Ben, Conrad and Harold
Halverson; and two sisters, Olga
Halverson and Millie Neuberger.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Lylith V. Arnold
May 10, 2006
Lylith Virginia
Arnold, age 77, of Riceville,
passed away at the Mitchell
County Regional Hospital in
Osage, Iowa, on Saturday, May 6,
2006.
Funeral services were held on
Tuesday May 9, at the Church of
God in Christ Mennonite Church
in McIntire. Burial was in the
Wayne Cemetery, McIntire.
Survivors include
her husband, Ellis; sons, Milton
and his wife, Gloria, Stanley
and his wife, Violet, Kenneth
and his wife, Lola and Gerald
and his wife, Judy; daughter,
Lynette and her husband, Kevin
May; 13 grandchildren; 8
great-grandchildren; and a
brother, Eugene and his wife,
Bette.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Connie Peter
May 17, 2006, Page 2A
 Connie
Peter, age 52, of Osage, died on
Monday, May 8, 2006, at the
Mitchell County Regional Health
Center-Hospice Unit in Osage.
Funeral services were held at
2:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 11,
at the Our Savior's Lutheran
Church in Osage, with Rev.
Dennis Hanson and Rev. Roy Ott
officiating. Interment was in
the Osage Cemetery.
Connie Strum, was
born on May 2, 1954 at Nevada,
Iowa, the daughter of Richard
and Bette (Sesker) Strum. She
graduated from the Roland-Story
High School in 1972 and attended
cosmetology school in Ames.
Connie was united in marriage to
Calvin Peter on February 24,
1973 in Roland. They lived in
Story City, where she practiced
cosmetology for two years. They
then moved to Melcher, Iowa. In
1981, they moved to Osage, where
Connie was a daycare provider
for 26 years. She was most
recently employed as a cook at
the Osage Community Schools.
Connie was an active member of
the Our Savior's Lutheran
Church. She was an avid
supporter of her husband's
coaching career, her children
and their activities, and of
Osage athletics. Connie greatly
loved her family, and her
extended family of daycare
children.
Connie is
survived by her husband, Calvin
Peter of Osage; her daughter,
Melissa (Andy) Curry of
Mitchell, South Dakota and their
children, Kenna and Josie; her
son, Ben (Jen) Peter of Elgin,
Minnesota and their daughter,
Kaylee; her mother, Bette Strum
of Mason City; her brothers,
Dennis (Marge) Strum of New
Hampton and Lonnie (Sandy) Strum
of Roland; and several nieces
and nephews.
She was preceded
in death by her father, Richard
Strum in 1985.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Nelda Eastman
May 17, 2006, Page 2A
 Nelda
Mae Eastman, 74, of Cedar Falls,
Iowa, and formerly of Finchford,
Iowa, died on Monday, May 8,
2006, at the Cedar Falls
Lutheran Home, Cedar Falls,
Iowa.
Funeral services were held on
Thursday, May 11, 2006, at 10:30
a.m., at the Finchford Community
Bible Church, Finchford. Burial
was in the Finchford Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the
Finchford Community Bible Church
or the Cedar Valley Hospice.
Nelda Betts, was
born on March 13, 1932 in
McIntire, Iowa, the daughter of
Roy Furlis and Velma (Lewis)
Betts. Nelda was baptized in
Riceville and attended school in
McIntire, graduating from the
McIntire High School in 1949. On
October 30, 1949, she was united
in marriage to Homer M. Eastman
at LeRoy, Minnesota. After their
marriage they lived in McIntire,
Iowa, and in 1956 they moved to
the Waverly area where they
lived until 1960 when they moved
to Finchford.
Nelda worked at the University
of Northern Iowa as a cook from
1968 until her retirement in May
of 1991. Homer died on November
17, 1993 and Nelda continued to
live in her home until October
of 2004, when she became a
resident of the Cedar Falls
Lutheran Home. Nelda enjoyed her
friends, reading and playing
cards.
Nelda is survived
by her eight children and their
spouses, Leslie and Douglas
Smith of Finchford, Duane and
Phyllis Eastman of Cedar Falls,
Larry and Patty Eastman of
Waterloo, Mel and John Warburton
of Janesville, Melissa and David
Sorter of Terril, Kyle and Cathy
Eastman of La Porte City, Mary
Alice and Gary Anthony and Vel
and Gene Lay all of Nashua; 19
grandchildren; 11
great-grandchildren; and four
brothers, Leon (Muriel) Betts of
Clarion, Neil (Mary) Betts of
Osage, Keith Betts and Kaye
(Pat) Betts, all of Mason City.
She was preceded
in death by one daughter,
Denise; her husband, Homer; her
mother, Velma Betts; her father,
Roy Betts; four brothers,
Wallace, Eugene, Eldon and
Gordon; and one sister, Bedola
Walters.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Mary E. McGovern
May 17, 2006, Page 2A
 Mary
E. McGovern, age 91, of
Stacyville, died on Monday, May
8, 2006 at the Mitchell County
Regional Health Center in Osage.
There will be private family
services.
Mary Palmer, was
born on May 4, 1915 in
Stacyville, the daughter of Paul
and Mary (Egan) Palmer. Mary
married Lawler McGovern of
Rochester, Minnesota on November
25, 1943.
She was preceded
in death by her husband, Lawler
in 1959; brothers, James and
Paul Palmer; and a sister,
Norine Belnap.
Mary is survived
by two sisters, Catherine Blaser
of Charles City and Louise
Halbach of Osage; and many
nieces and nephews.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Jerry R. Karwac
June 7, 2006
YORKTOWN-Funeral
services for Jerry Raymond
Karwac, 77 who passed away
Tuesday, May 9, 2006, were held
Saturday, May 13, at the Grafton
Christian Church. Rev. David
Wilson officiated.
Interment was in the church
cemetery.
Jerry is survived by his wife of
53 years, Dolores R. Karwac;
sister, Mary Schallock and son,
Jerry R. Karwac, Jr. and his
wife, Bonnie; daughter, Deborah
Housden and her husband, Bill.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Lorraine Armstrong
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
Lorraine F.
Armstrong, age 79, of Cornell,
died on Friday, May 12, 2006, at
her home. She was a life-long
resident of Tomahawk. Memorial
services were held. Rev. William
Grevatch officiated.
Lorraine
O'Rourke, was born on December
19, 1926 in Osage, Iowa, the
daughter of the late Matthew and
Winifred O'Rourke.
Survivors include
her husband, Merlyn Armstrong of
Cornell; son, Kevin (Jane)
Armstrong of Barron; two
daughters, Julie Ann (Steve)
Armstrong of Cornell and Karen
(Eliot) Lewitt of Greensboro,
North Carolina.
The
Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home,
Wausau was in charge of the
arrangements.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Mabel Hackbart
May 17, 2006, Page 2A
Mabel Hackbart,
age 92, of Osage, died on
Monday, May 15, 2006, at the
Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
Funeral services will be held at
1:30 p.m., on Friday, May 19, at
the Our Savior's Lutheran Church
in Osage, with Rev. Dennis
Hanson and Rev. Roy Ott
officiating. Interment will be
in the Osage Cemetery.
Visitation is from 4-7:00 p.m.,
on Thursday, at the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage and will continue one hour
before the services at the
church on Friday.
Mabel
Kristiansen, was born on January
1, 1914 at Clear Lake, Iowa, the
daughter of Niels and Laura
(Sorensen) Kristiansen. Mabel
married Roy Hackbart on June 1,
1941, at her parents' home. She
taught school for 45 years; 10
years in the rural schools of
Mitchell County, and 35 years at
Little Cedar, Mitchell, and
Osage. Roy and Mabel farmed near
Osage, and moved to Osage in
1966.
She was a member of the Our
Savior's Lutheran Church, the
Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher's
Sorority and the Cedar Valley
Retired School Personnel. In
later years, Mabel and Roy
became very active in the
buying, selling, and restoration
of antiques.
Mabel is survived
by two sisters, Virginia (Earl)
Grace of Riceville and Ruby
Nolte of Osage; and many nieces
and nephews.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; her
husband, Roy Hackbart in 1999; a
sister, Connie Schofield; and a
nephew, Kenneth Sprung.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Shirley R. Fitzgerald
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
Shirley Ruth (Rehm) Fitzgerald,
age 81, of Osage, and formerly
of Iowa Falls, passed away
peacefully in her sleep on
Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at the
Osage Rehabilitation and Health
Care Center.
Memorial services were held at
10:00 a.m., on Friday, May 19,
at the Osage Rehabilitation and
Health Care Center, with Rev.
John Moser officiating. Per her
wishes, her body was donated to
the University of Iowa.
Shirley was born
on September 13, 1924, at
Hebron, North Dakota, the
daughter of Martha (Heifner) and
Harry C. Rehm, Sr. She spent a
40 year career in nursing,
working in doctor's offices,
hospital OB-Gyn and psych
departments, and finally in
geriatric care. Her last three
years were spent in the facility
from which she retired, and
where her own late mother had
lived, where she was wonderfully
cared for.
She is survived
by a sister, Maryella Menely of
Portland, Oregon; her only son,
Michael K. Fitzgerald of San
Francisco, California; and
numerous cousins, co-workers,
and friends throughout the
United States.
Shirley was
preceded in death by her
parents, Martha and Harry C.
Rehm, Sr.; two older brothers,
Fred Rehm and Harry Rehm, Jr.;
and her ex-husband, Robert
Lowell Fitzgerald.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home,
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Thomas M. Mayer
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
 Thomas
Mayer, 8, of Greene, Iowa, died
on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at
his home after a valiant battle
with cancer.
A funeral Mass was held at 10:30
a.m., on Saturday, May 20, 2006,
at the Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church in Charles City
with the Reverend Carl Ries as
celebrant of the Mass. Burial
was in the Calvary Cemetery in
Charles City.
Thomas Mitchell
Mayer, was born July 2, 1997, at
Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Brian
and Tamela (Rodamaker) Mayer. He
was in the second grade at The
Immaculate Conception School.
His hobbies included Power
Rangers, and watching cartoons,
especially Digimon. Thomas also
enjoyed playing Game Boy,
T-ball, soccer, golfing, and
spending time with his friends.
Living family
members include his parents,
Brian and Tamela (Rodamaker)
Mayer of Greene; a sister, Gina
Mayer and a brother, Dylan
Mayer, both at home; paternal
grandparents, John and Darlene
Mayer of Osage; maternal
grandparents, Duane and Linda
Rodamaker of Clarksville;
maternal great-grandfather,
David Rodamaker of Nashua; nine
aunts and uncles, Lonnie (Mae)
Richardson, Michael (Sonia)
Mayer, James (Kelly) Mayer,
Carol Mayer, Kevin Mayer,
Russell (Susan) Mayer, Katherine
Mayer, Tabatha (Jessy) Willadsen
and Teona (Matt) Foster; and
many cousins.
He was preceded
in death by his paternal
great-grandparents, Herbert and
Agnus Mayer, Thomas and Sophie
Jensen; maternal
great-grandparents, Mitchell and
Lilah Trowbridge and Leila
Rodamaker.
The Hauser
Funeral Home in Charles City,
was in charge of the
arrangements.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Laretha Buttolph
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
Laretha Buttolph,
age 68, of Osage, died on
Friday, May 19, 2006, at the
Mitchell County Regional Health
Center in Osage.
Memorial services were held at
1:00 p.m., on Monday, May 22, at
the United Church of Christ in
Osage, with Rev. Robert Melhorn
officiating. Inurnment was in
the Riverside Cemetery in
Riceville.
Laretha Buttolph,
was born on April 8, 1938 at
home, in McIntire, Iowa, the
daughter of Clinton and Purley
(Betts) Buttolph. She attended
school in Riceville. Laretha
worked as a waitress in Charles
City and Osage. She also worked
as a nurse's aide, for 14 years
at the Osage Rehabilitation and
Health Care Center, and for 17
years at the Faith Home. Laretha
was very devoted to her parents,
and was their main caregiver.
Left to cherish
her memory are her two sisters,
LeAngell Hickle of Manly and
Leota (Joe) Jensen of Albert
Lea, Minnesota; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; three
sisters; and three brothers.
The
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home
was in charge of the
arrangements.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Mary Morse
June 28, 2006
Eclectic,
Adventurous Spirit-- Mary Morse,
a former resident of Osage,
Iowa, crossed to the other side
on Friday, May 19, 2006, at her
home in Chicago.
Her mother, Frances Morse, her
brother, Charles Morse, her life
partner, Joanne Bristol, her
minister and close friends were
with her. A memorial service was
held in Chicago at the Grace
United Methodist Church of Logan
Square on Saturday, May 27.
There will be a celebration of
Mary's life on Wednesday, July
5, at 2:00 p.m., at the Osage
United Methodist Church, which
all are welcome to attend. Mary
is greatly missed by all who
knew her.
Born on May 24, 1948, Mary grew
up on a dairy farm near Osage
and graduated from the Osage
Community High School in 1966.
While she was a student at OCHS,
Mary was busy after school with
work on the family dairy farm.
She took time for one club, GRA
(Girl's Recreation Association),
which elected her President her
senior year. Members recognized
her quiet leadership abilities,
her modesty, and her unfailing
sense of humor (traits that
remained with her throughout her
life). Mary enjoyed attending
her high school class reunions,
where her classmates enjoyed
humorous stories, particularly
about her experiences as a
beekeeper. At the time of her
passing, she had already
purchased tickets to attend her
40th class reunion in July.
As a student in Medical
Technology at the University of
Iowa, Mary made new friends but
remained close to her family and
hometown friends. Her first job
after becoming a medical
technologist was in Great Falls,
Montana, where she developed a
love of the mountains and the
west. Even her trip moving to
Montana was an adventure, as the
gas pedal broke on her 1964
Valiant, and she had to lie on
the floor and push the gas pedal
while her mother drove.
Mary returned to Iowa City to
work at the VA hospital,
quitting to attend graduate
school, but changed plans to
travel around the United States
with a friend. This was the
first of many long trips Mary
was to take.
Looking for more
meaningful employment after this
trip, Mary next found a job at a
government hospital in Fort
Defiance, Arizona, working with
the Navajo Nation. She had a
great deal of respect for her
Navajo co-workers, but
eventually the workload (90
minutes of work every hour by
U.S. Government standards), the
isolation, and an opportunity to
travel to China in 1974 led her
to leave the reservation and
move to Iowa City, Iowa. Mary
traveled to China, right after
President Nixon's visit opened
China to the West, and there she
took over 800 slides,
documenting a pre-westernized
China that no longer exists.
In 1975, Mary settled in Chicago
and worked for over 20 years as
a Medical Technologist at
several hospitals, including the
Cook County Hospital,
Northwestern Hospital and the
Illinois Masonic Hospital. She
was active in her field,
attending national conferences
and even organizing a union
including med techs at one
hospital. Between her various
jobs at hospitals, Mary was
co-owner of a gym for women and
traveled all over the USA, with
additional visits to Mexico,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In her
life, she was a political
activist, a beekeeper, a
bicyclist, a country dancer, an
avid birder, a hiker and nature
lover, an impassioned traveler,
and a stamp collector.
For years, she kept her bees in
Wisconsin, but when it became
too difficult to travel there to
care for them, she moved the
hive to her 2nd floor back porch
in Chicago, becoming an urban
beekeeper. She charmed friends
and neighbors with gifts of
honey and hand made beeswax
candles.
When cancer struck her eight
years ago, she never conceded to
her illness. Her drive to
establish support from all
medical modalities, be it
western, eastern, or in between,
was remarkable. She was active
in her local church and helped
in their fundraisers, even when
she was too ill to work at her
job.
She was a vital
member of her community in the
Logan Square neighborhood in
Chicago. Her farm background
served her well there, as she
was known to be able to fix
anything. She completed many
home renovation projects
herself, including stripping
woodwork, installing insulation,
removing basement flooring and
replacing the roofing on her
garage.
When her medical costs became a
burden, Mary's friends organized
a well-attended fundraising
event to celebrate Mary and to
help defray expenses that were
not covered by insurance. This
spring, when Mary's body was
becoming weaker with her
illness, her spirit remained
strong, inspiring friends to
organize a healing service in
March. In her final days, Mary
realized that, though the
healing service didn't stop the
ravages of cancer, it allowed
her to be present at a
celebration for her life and to
share this celebration with her
loved ones.
Throughout Mary's illness, her
life partner Joanne Bristol
remained steadfast in her
commitment to Mary. Without the
love, support and dedication of
Joanne and many friends, Mary
would not have been able to
continue living at home. From
February until her passing, her
mother Frances Morse stayed with
Mary and Joanne, nourishing them
with her home-cooked food. Her
sister Penney was there on
weekends to visit Mary and to
help with the upkeep of the
household. In Mary's final week,
her brother Charles joined
Frances, Joanne, and numerous
friend at her side, easing her
passing.
Mary was preceded in death by
her father, Beverly Morse in
1998.
She is survived by her life
partner, Joanne Bristol; mother,
Frances Morse; brother, Charles
Morse and his partner, Jere
Smith (St. Ansgar, Iowa);
sister, Penney Morse (David
Miller) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
nieces, nephews, and great
nieces and nephews, Melissa
Morse of Mason City, Dan, Pam,
Lexus, Anthony, and Aurora Morse
of St. Ansgar, Mandy and Corey
Mullenbach of Stacyville, Casey
Payne and I-Ping Yang of Taipei,
Taiwan and Elliott Payne and
Lindsay Labahn of Minneapolis,
Minnesota; and her dog, Smokey.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Edna Bailey
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
 Edna
Irene Bailey, 101, of Osage,
died on Saturday, May 20, 2006,
at the Stacyville Community
Nursing Home.
Memorial services were held at
2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 23,
at the First United Methodist
Church in Osage, with the Rev.
Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian
officiating. Inurnment was in
the Osage Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made
in Edna's name to the First
United Methodist Church, Osage.
Edna Mauser, was
born on January 10, 1905 near La
Porte City, the daughter of
Gotlieb and Elizabeth (Fell)
Mauser. She moved with her
family to New Haven, where she
graduated from the 8th grade.
Edna then attended the West
Waterloo High School and
graduated from the Osage High
School in 1923. Edna took Normal
Training and later attended Iowa
State Teacher's College (UNI) in
Cedar Falls. She taught in Ute,
Iowa, for two years, and then
for two years in Osage.
Edna married her high school
sweetheart, Charlie Bailey in
1930, on the family farm near
New Haven. Edna was in charge of
the school lunch program for the
Osage Schools until she retired.
She was then the site manager
for the Senior Center in Osage.
Edna enjoyed doing decoupage,
knitting, crocheting, bridge,
and taking walks. She also
enjoyed her sons' football and
wrestling activities. Edna was a
member of the First United
Methodist Church in Osage and
was a charter member of WSCS
(UMW).
Edna is survived
by three sons, Don (Jan) Bailey
of Denton, Texas and children,
Chuck and Cliff; Alan
(Charlotte) Bailey of Redding,
California and children, Alan
and Craig; Michael (Terri)
Bailey of Northridge, California
and children, Jennifer Sterling
and Glen; eight
great-grandchildren; and a
sister, Helen Halverson of
Osage.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; her
husband, Charlie; four brothers;
and one sister.
The
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home
was in charge of the
arrangements.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Dean K. Brooker
May 24, 2006, Page 2A
Dean K. Brooker,
age 82, of Osage, died on
Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at the
Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.
Funeral services will be held at
10:30 a.m., on Friday, May 26,
at the First United Methodist
Church in Osage, with Rev. Dr.
J. Samuel Subramanian
officiating. Burial will be in
the Osage Cemetery, with
Military Honors at the Grave by
the Osage American Legion Post
278. Visitation will be from
5-8:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage and will continue one hour
before the services at the
church on Friday.
Dean was born on
September 5, 1923 in Mason City,
Iowa, the son of Jesse and
Loreta (Koto) Brooker. Loreta
died three days after Dean's
birth. His father then married
Marjorie Hixson and together
they raised Dean. Dean graduated
from the Osage High School in
1941. He served in the US Army
during World War II, and
participated in the invasion of
Normandy. He later assisted in
setting up basic services in
Germany. During this time, he
lived in Hitler's house.
Dean married Maureen Comisky on
May 2, 1949, at the St. Peter's
Catholic Church in New Haven.
They were the first couple to be
married in the present church.
Dean worked as a Maytag service
repairman, and was a bus driver
for the Osage Community Schools
for 33 years. He enjoyed
camping, and was a member of the
Wigwam-N-Wagon Campers.
Dean is survived
by his wife of 57 years, Maureen
Brooker of Osage; his children,
Denny (Bev) Brooker of Osage,
Deke (Bev) Brooker of Buffalo
Center, Sandi (Roger) Osheim of
Emmons, Minnesota, Linda (Dave)
Wetter of Floyd, Betty (Tom)
Smith of Osage and Nancy (Mark)
Milbrandt of Osage; 16
grandchildren; 13
great-grandchildren; two
brothers, Donald (Joan) Brooker
of Santa Monica, California and
Alan (Barbara) Brooker of Eagan,
Minnesota; brothers-in-law,
Marlow (Kay) Comisky of Melrose
Park, Illinois and Gary "Mick"
Comisky of Osage;
sisters-in-law, Dorothy
(Clarence) Kruse of Osage,
Kathleen (Jerry) Laker of
Nokomis, Florida, Leone Shepherd
of Norwalk, Della (Gene) Cordle
of Osage and Janice (Elmer)
Schonrock of Winnebago,
Minnesota; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; a
granddaughter, Jackie Johanns in
2002; a grandson, Matt Milbrandt
in 2003; two sisters-in-law,
Mary Larson and Ann Comisky;
five brothers-in-law, Gary
Shepherd, Melbourne Larson,
Maurice Comisky, "Irish" Comisky
and "Hites" Comisky.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home,
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Alice A. Schultz
May 31, 2006
Alice Axtell
(Pruessner) Schultz, age 79, of
Osage, died on Tuesday, May 23,
2006, at the Mitchell County
Regional Health Center in Osage.
Funeral services were held at
10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 27,
at the Our Savior's Lutheran
Church in Osage, with Rev.
Dennis Hanson and Rev. Roy Ott
officiating. Interment was in
the Osage Cemetery in Osage.
Alice A.
Pruessner, was born on October
26, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri,
the daughter of the Rev. George
and Dorothy (Benedict)
Pruessner. Alice was baptized,
and confirmed in the Christian
faith. Alice's confirmation
Bible verse Revelation 2:10 'Be
thou faithful unto death and I
will give thee a crown of life'.
She attended and graduated from
high school in Kewanee,
Illinois. Alice then attended
Elmhurst College, and completed
her nurses' training, Registered
Nurse, at the Evangelical
Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis,
Missouri.
She was a psychiatric nurse at
the St. Michael's Hospital in
Grand Forks, North Dakota, an OB
nurse in Bad Cannstatt, Germany
and a neonatal nurse at Henry
Ford Hospital in Detroit,
Michigan. Alice also worked at
various nursing homes.
On September 6, 1948, Alice was
united in marriage to Max
Schultz at Kewanee, Illinois, at
the St. Peter's Evangelical
Church. Alice was very involved
in the work of the church,
compiling church bulletins,
leading various organizations,
leading children's choir, and
teaching Sunday School, Bible
study, Bible School and
Confirmation classes. Reverend
Max and Alice Schultz served
churches in Geneseo, Illinois,
Chicago, Illinois, Hebron, North
Dakota, Detroit, Michigan,
Roseville, Minnesota and Akron,
Ohio. The Schultz's moved to
Osage, Iowa in 1986.
Alice's chief interest and love
was her family. She enjoyed the
many trips she and her husband,
Max, took to Germany.
Alice is survived
by her husband, the Rev. Max C.
Schultz of Osage; three sons,
Dr. George Schultz and his wife,
Elizabeth of St. Joseph,
Michigan, Rev. James Schultz and
his wife, LeeAnna of Cape
Girardeau, Missouri and Rev.
Paul Schultz and his wife, Dr.
Denise Schultz of Baltimore,
Maryland; two daughters,
Dorothea Hanson and her husband,
Rev. Dennis Hanson of Osage and
Elizabeth Kappler and her
husband, John Kappler of
Shoreview, Minnesota; her
grandchildren, Dr. Sarah, James
and Stephen Schultz, Katherine,
Kristen and Daniel Hanson,
Christopher and Andrew Schultz,
Paul and his wife, Elizabeth
Kappler, and Gretchen Kappler;
and a great-grandchild, Alan
Kappler.
She was preceded
in death by her parents; and her
sister, Ruth Pruessner.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
|
David Spitz
May 31, 2006
David A. Spitz,
age 59, of Peoria, Illinois, and
formerly of Osage, passed away
on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at the
Proctor Hospital in Peoria.
A Mass of Christian Burial will
be held at 10:30 a.m., on
Wednesday, May 31, at the Sacred
Heart Catholic Church in Osage,
with Rev. John Moser
officiating. Burial will be in
Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery,
with military honors at the
grave by the Orchard American
Legion Post #641. Memorial
contributions may be made to the
Orchard American Legion Post
#641, Orchard.
David was born on
May 18, 1947 in Osage, the son
of Donald A. and Elizabeth
(Juenger) Spitz. He graduated
from the Osage High School in
1965. David married Marilyn
Mayer on November 2, 1968 in
Osage. He was employed at White
Farm and Winnebago, before
moving to Peoria in 1989. He
graduated from the University of
Illinois in 2005, with a
Bachelor's Degree in Business,
and was employed as an engineer
at Caterpillar, Inc. in
Mossville, Illinois. He was a
U.S. Air Force Veteran in the
Vietnam Era, serving from 1968
to 1972. David was a member of
the Orchard American Legion.
David is survived
by his wife, Marilyn Spitz of
Peoria, Illinois; a daughter,
Marea (Steve) Tribble of
Covington, Kentucky; a son,
Darin (Adrienne) Spitz of
Newport News, Virginia; four
grandchildren; his mother,
Elizabeth Spitz of Osage; a
brother, Richard Spitz of
Rockford, Illinois; and several
nieces and nephews.
He was preceded
in death by his father, Donald
in 1988.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home,
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Austin "Austie" Loden
May 31, 2006
Austin "Austie"
Loden, age 68, of Osage, died on
Friday, May 26, 2006, at the
Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient
Unit in Mason City.
A Mass of Christian Burial was
held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday,
May 30, at the Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Osage, with
Rev. John Moser officiating.
Burial was in the Sacred Heart
Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be given
to the American Cancer Society
or the American Heart
Association.
Austin was born
on March 9, 1938 in Osage, Iowa,
the son of Svein "Sam" Loden and
LaVerne (Kindschuh) Loden. He
graduated from the Osage High
School in 1957. He married
Shirley Adams on November 4,
1961, in the Sacred Heart
Catholic Church at Osage.
From a young age, Austin was
fond of working on cars. In
1960, he went to work for
Floyd's Service in Clear Lake,
Iowa, as an auto-mechanic. In
1968, he became a small business
owner, opening up the Osage Auto
Electric on March 27. Doors were
open until his retirement in
January, 2003.
Austin also enjoyed spending
time building and fixing old gas
engines. This was a hobby he
truly loved. He enjoyed
attending gas engine shows all
around the Midwest. Austin
enjoyed spending time with his
family and friends, and drinking
tea at Hardee's.
Austin is
survived by his wife of 44
years, Shirley Loden of Osage;
his mother, LaVerne Loden of
Osage; his children, Dean Loden
and his wife, Marilyn of Osage,
Mary Christeson and her husband,
Roy of Clear Lake, Mark Loden
and his wife, Mary of Plymouth
and Michael Loden and his wife,
Denise of Osage; three
granddaughters, Brittany Loden,
Alexandra Loden and Emily Loden;
four step-grandchildren, Beth
Walker, Brian Walker,
Christopher Gerk and his wife,
Lindy and Nikki Roll; two
step-great-grandchildren,
Tristen Gerk and Ashten Gerk;
one bother, Roger Loden and his
wife, Sandy of Osage; two
sisters, Kira Weber of Osage and
Sagda Flowers and her husband,
Richard of Omaha, Nebraska;
along with numerous nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded
in death by his father, Svein
Loden; and a sister, Marie
Elizabeth Loden.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home,
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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Greg "Krafty" Kraft
May 31, 2006
Greg "Krafty"
Kraft, age 35, of Osage, died on
Friday, May 26, 2006, at his
home in Osage.
Funeral services will be held at
8:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 1,
at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral
Home in Osage, with Rev. R.
Dawson Tornes officiating.
Burial will be in the Allison
Cemetery at 1:00 p.m., on
Friday. Visitation is from
5-8:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the
Funeral Home in Osage.
Greg was born on
September 3, 1970 in Charles
City, the son of Gary and Wanda
(Thompson) Kraft of Rockford. He
attended school in Nashua and
Nora Springs-Rock Falls. Greg
was a very devoted father to his
two girls and lived for his
daughters, family, and friends.
Learning his trade at his
father's knee, Greg was a self
taught mechanic that could fix
or build anything. Everyone
benefited from his knowledge
when they visited "Krafty" at
Bree's Tire Service where he was
employed. He had a passion for
anything with a motor and
wheels, and started driving cars
before he could barely see over
the steering wheel. He was very
proud of his "big boy toys", and
in conversation his favorite
saying was "Purrfect".
Greg was an awesome friend who
was well known and highly
respected. He was always willing
to lend a hand and you only had
to meet him once to know what a
truly special individual he was.
Greg will always be remembered
for his incredibly quick wit and
sense of humor, and his loving
soul. Even though he took a
piece of those who knew him when
he left us, we want Greg to know
that we will always think of him
when we see a Pro-Street S-10
Chevy flying down the highway.
Greg is survived
by his daughters, Britny and
Billi Jo Kraft of Osage; his
parents, Gary and Wanda Kraft of
Rockford; one sister, Pam Kraft
of Osage; one brother, Brian
(Tabitha) Kraft of Colwell; and
numerous other loving family
members.
He was preceded
in death by his maternal and
paternal grandparents; and his
step-grandfather.
Funeral
arrangements were made by the
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home,
Osage.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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John Appel
June 7, 2006
Rock Rapids,
Iowa- John Appel, age 84, of
Rock Rapids, Iowa, died on
Monday, May 29, 2006, at the
Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.
Funeral services were held at
9:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 3,
at the Christian Church
Disciples in Rock Rapids, with
Rev. Greg Pudwill officiating.
Burial was in the Riverview
Cemetery at Rock Rapids. In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be
directed to the Christian Church
Disciples or the Lyon County
Fair Foundation.
©
2006 Mitchell County Press
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