Duane Bublitz

Funeral services for Duane Dean Bublitz, 67, of St. Ansgar, who died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, were held on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at Immanuel Lutheran Church here with Rev. Byron Northwick officiating. Burial was in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Duane Dean Bublitz was born on November 2, 1936 in Newburg Township, Mitchell County, son of Arnold and Wilrna (Lange) Bublitz. He was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. He worked as a mechanic for John Deere in Lawler and Corydon, Iowa, before starting his own business.

Duane is survived by his son, Dennis Oakland and wife Heather of Northwood; daughter, Deborah Anderson of Mankato, Minnesota; father, Arnold Bublitz who is at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center; brother, Robert Bublitz and wife Pat of St. Ansgar; sister, Shirley Sheets and husband Curtis of Iowa City; sister Delores Trettin and husband Richard of St. Ansgar; aunt, Eleanor Boerjan of St. Ansgar; nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Wilma, and nephew, Curtis Bublitz.

Harold Hulshizer

Funeral services for Harold William Hulshizer, 85, of Oregon, Illinois, who died on Friday, December 5, 2003, in Oregon, Illinois, were held on Tuesday, December 9 at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Richard Bonney officiating. Burial was in the Woodbury Cemetery in Lyle, Minnesota.

Harold was born on May 18, 1918, in Thornton, Iowa, to Fred and Ross Hulshizer. He married Dorothy L. Greiner in 1940. Two children were born to this union, Fred and Carolyn. He served his country in the United States Army from March 1943 to March 1946. He was in the Military Police serving in the South Pacific Campaign. He resided his adult life in Wisconsin. He worked 40 years in the auto body business.

Harold is survived by his children, Fred of Madison, Wisconsin, and Carolyn L. Welsh and husband Donald of Ghana, Illinois; a brother, Dale Hulshizer and wife Lots of St. Charles, Minnesota; four grandchildren, four great grandsons; many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Dorothy in 2002, a grandson, Craig Welsh, six brothers and one sister.

Mabel E. Schultz

Funeral services for Mabel E. Schultz, 95, who died on Monday, December 8, 2003, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner where she had been a resident since March of 1996, were held on Thursday, December 11, 2003, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sumner, with Rev. George Volkert officiating. Burial was in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Mabel was born August 29, 1908, the daughter of Emil and Anna Nick Beyer, in St. Ansgar. She was baptized September 29, 1908 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, by the Rev. Paul Brammer and confirmed June 7, 1925 at Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Casselton, North Dakota, by the Rev. I.E. Graepp. She received her education in the country schools near Buffalo, North Dakota.

Mabel is survived by a son, Allyn Schultz of Sumner; three daughters, Joyce Holtz of Mankato, Minnesota; Lila (Richard) Kastens of Burnsville, Minnesota; and Delia (Delbert) Kary of Payson, Arizona; three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, a sister, Laura Beyer of Stacyville.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin in 1994; her parents; six brothers, Lawrence, Clarence, Herman, Alvin, Ernest, and Walter.

Wilmer Kuntz

Funeral services for Wilmer Kuntz, 85, who died on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, were held on Saturday, December 13, 2003, at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter, with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Burial was in Deer Creek Cemetery, Carpenter.

Wilmer Kuntz was born on October 12, 1918, in Hayfield, Minnesota, the son of William and Lilly Kuntz. He married Mildred Larson on December 17, 1944, in Northwood. They farmed around Northwood, Austin, Minnesota, Swaledale and Carpenter. When they retired from farming they moved into St. Ansgar. He then worked for the St. Ansgar Elevator. When he retired, he kept busy doing yard work for neighbors. They moved into the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood in 1999. Wilbur's hobbies included horseshoes, fishing, bowling, playing cards, camping, and watching sports. He was Luther League sponsor and Deacon at Deer Creek Lutheran Church.

Wilmer is survived by two sons, Alan Kuntz and wife Diana of Mason City, and Dennis Kuntz of Northwood; two daughters, Joan Adams and husband Joe of Sheffield, and Marilyn Skellenger and husband Ron of Northwood; grandchildren, Bradley Kuntz of Forest City; Brenda Bilharz and husband Brian of Charles City and their children, Bryce and Brooklyn; Tony Kuntz and wife Juanita of Hampton, Arkansas and their children, Autumn and Jesse; Riva Dodson and husband, Bubba of Camden, Arkansas and their child Seth; Jason Adams of Joice and his children, Jadyn and Emily; Joey Adams and wife Sarah of Sheffield; Julie Peitier and husband Bill of Nashua and their children, Melisa, Nicole and Jonathan; Mike Skellenger, Mark Skellinger and Rodney Skellenger, all of Northwood; a brother, Les Kuntz of St. Paul, Minnesota; two sisters, Gladuce Finch of California and Alvera Link of Maxwell Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Orville Kuntz, his beloved wife of 57 years, Mildred.

Mary Hemann

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, December 22 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer for Mary M. "Mim" Hemann, 69, formerly of Meyer. She died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on December 19, 2003, at the Riceville Community Rest Home in Riceville, where she had resided since October of 1991. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mary was born on October 5, 1934 in New Haven to Leon and Catherine (Elgas) Dostart. She graduated from St. Peter's Catholic School in New Haven. After graduation she worked as a telephone operator for the New Hampton Telephone Company. On June 1, 1954, she married Arnold Hemann at St. Peter's Catholic Church in rural Meyer. Mary was a cake decorator for many years. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer where she as active in starting the religious education program and was also a member of the church choir.

Mary is survived by her children: Elaine (Tim) Felton of Decorah; Myron (Monica) Hemann of Mayer; Lori (Lloyd) Turner of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and formerly of Rochester, Minnesota; Theresa (Keith) Speltz of rural Altura, Minnesota; grandchildren: Brendon (Allison) Hemann; Jacob (Hess) Hemann; Holly Hemann; Myron "Sonny" Hemann; Heather (Todd) Womack; Lloyd Turner III; John Turner; Daniel Herman; Tyler Speltz; Erin Speltz; and Caleb Speltz; great grandchildren: Raelei and Austin Hemann and Jacob Womack; sisters and brother-in-law, Irene (Vincent) Hemann and Delores Hemann, all of Osage; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Rosemary Hemann of Osage; also by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Arnold on July 5, 1983.

Margaret Jordahl 

Funeral services for Margaret Serina Jordahl, 96, who died Thursday, December 18, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, were held on Saturday, December 20 at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial was in the First Lutheran Cemetery.

Margaret was born August 2, 1907, at McCallsburg, Iowa to Pamelie (Knudtson) and Martin Olson. She graduated from Lake Preston, South Dakota and attended Eastern-State Teachers College in Madison, North Dakota. She taught in rural schools for several years and at Rake for three years. While teaching at Rake, she met and married Joseph S. Jordahl on April 21, 1935. She taught in Mitchell for four years and then in St. Ansgar for 20 years, retiring in 1972. Margaret was an avid reader. Her greatest joy was sharing her love for reading with her students and grandchildren. Crafting and knitting were her favorite pastimes. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren remember her for her story telling and her poetry. Margaret belonged to the Circle at First Lutheran and IC Club and was a longtime member of the Iowa State Teachers Association and after retiring, the Cedar Valley Retired Teachers.

Margaret is survived by her daughter-in-law, Gloria Jordahl of St. Ansgar; granddaughter Kari and husband David Fomon of Coralville; grandson Erik of Bettendorf; great grandchildren, Joshua and Kristin Fomon; Taylor and Nicholas Jordahl; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph, her son, Jerry, three brothers, one sister and one niece.

Pernnie Cowell

Funeral services for Pernnie Ethel Cowell, 99, who died on Saturday, December 20, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, were held on Tuesday, December 23 at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home here with Rev. Jay Amundson officiating. Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Pernnie was born on August 21, 1904, in the Oklahoma Territory, the daughter of Peter and Mattie Belle (Lowe) Jones. She married Vern Cowell on July 29, 1922. She wore many hats as she worked for the McKinleys in the cabbage and potato fields, the St. Ansgar Produce, Tillie's Cafe, Bernstein (later Duenow) Hardware, Al Jordan's Skogmo and Gamble Store. She retired at the age of 80. Pernnie loved to crochet and made many Afghans for the family. She was also an avid reader.

Pernnie is survived by four sons: Lee (Margaret) of St. Ansgar; Donald (Mickie) of Hawaii; Alien (Joan) of Charles City; Russell (Diane) New Hampton; three daughters: Iva Bruesewitz of St. Ansgar; Betty (Dale) Van-Horn of Fort Collins, Colorado; Karen (Larry) Crilly of Austin, Minnesota; 30 grandchildren; many great and great, great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, two sons, a stepson, a stepdaughter and one granddaughter.

Updated by Chuck Prickett 03/28/2004