John Paul Norby, age 82, of rural Osage, died Monday, October 1, 2012, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2012, at Rock Creek Lutheran Church, 3269 Foothill Avenue, Osage, Iowa, with Pastor Joel Dahlen and Pastor John Gannett officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

John was born February 19, 1930, at the family home in rural Rudd, Iowa, the son of Tillman and Gea (Field) Norby. He graduated from Rudd High School in 1949. On November 5, 1949, he married Bonnie Schmidt at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. John was first and foremost a farmer, and was also a John Deere dealer. He was a lifelong member of Rock Creek Lutheran Church in Meroa.

John enjoyed spending time with his family and was so proud of each of them. He also enjoyed Black Morgan horses, Twins baseball and Iowa Hawkeyes basketball.

John is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Osage; his children, Pam Johnson and husband, Maurice, of Floyd, Dana Norby and wife, Marlene, of Osage, Steve Norby and wife, Jolene, of Osage, Randy Norby and wife, Sandy, of Osage; ten grandchildren, Ben Johnson and wife, Amy, Andy Johnson and wife, Abbie, Kathryn Norby and friend, Michael Fox, Audrey Norby and husband, Andrew Sprung, Adam Norby and wife, Melissa, Johanna Norby and fiancé, Greg Smalley, Rachel Norby and friend, Alec Amundson, Erin Wilson and husband, Rich, Amy Norby, Anna Okrah and husband, Osei; five great-grandchildren, Jackson and Riley Johnson, Reese, Sasha and Brooklyn Wilson; and one cousin, Selma Klemesrud of Osage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Robert, Harold and Raymond.

Information available and condolences accepted at www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com.
 
Champion - Bucheit Funeral Home 641-732-3706

Orray M. Knutson

Orray M. Knutson, 88, of St. Ansgar, died on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, Iowa.

Funeral service was on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, with Rev. Paul Weeg and Rev. Lance Kittleson officiating. Burial was on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the First Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation was scheduled for Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be conducted by the Walter T. Enneberg Post No. 358 of the American Legion, St. Ansgar.

Orray M. Knutson was born May 22, 1924, in St. Ansgar Township to Otto Knutson and Myra Ruth (Warrington) Knutson. He had three brothers: Harold, Avery, and Otto Jr., and four sisters: Beaula, Minerva, Shirley and Genevieve.

Orray grew up on “Meadowbrook Farm” which had been bought and traded for a pair of Morgan horses in payment of a debt owed to his grandfather in 1864. Orray served in the Army Air Corps for three years. After boot camp he was qualified as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 flying fortress. He had orders to deploy to Europe when the war ended and he was discharged shortly after the war ended.

Before leaving the air base in Rapid City, South Dakota, he met Lucille Grebner. They were married on June 14, 1946. To this union were born six children: Mary (Randy) Navratil of Story City, IA, Ruth (Scott) Ulland, of Austin, MN, Carol (Mark) Callahan, of Center Point, IA, Lee Ann (Ken) Soma, of Mason City, IA, Ken (Dawn) Knutson of Albuquerque NM, and Lois (Ross) Whitlock of Hampton, VA. Orray worked at the butcher shop for several years after the war. He was then offered the chance to move back to the family farm where he and Lucille raised their family.

Orray greatly enjoyed music. He joined the Forte Milers barbershop chorus, Leroy, MN, and also sang with a quartet for several years. He passed on this love of music to his children. Every child in the family played at least one instrument and most sang as well. In 1964 Orray went to work as a carpenter in addition to farming, which influenced the rest of his life. With the assistance of the guys in the neighborhood and his kids, Orray built a camper and later created a campground out of a corner of the farm which provided family entertainment for the neighborhood for many years.

Orray became involved in the American Legion during the post “great war era”. WWII vets dominated the hall and were present at all the events: 4th of July celebrations, memorial day, funerals, weekly meetings, etc. Orray always felt a camaraderie at the Legion that can only be understood by other veterans. This continued into his retirement when he was the secretary for many years. He always provided a yearly Legion membership to the many members of his family who had served in the military.

Orray passed away on October 2nd, 2012, following an extended illness.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and five siblings.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy, six children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, many step-great grandchildren, one sister, Minerva, and one brother, Otto.

Monica “Mike” Faas

Monica “Mike” Faas, age 80, of Stacyville, died Wednesday, October 17, 2012, north of Osage of natural causes. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 22, 2012, at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville with Msgr. John Hemann officiating. Burial was in Visitation Catholic Cemetery.

Monica was born June 7, 1932, in Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Mabel (Weinberger) Rogers. She graduated from Osage High School.

On November 16, 1954, Monica married John Faas at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. This union was blessed with nine children, often referred to as “The Nine D’s”. They lived in Osage until 1969, when they moved to an acreage near Stacyville. In 2001, they moved in to Stacyville.

Monica was an Avon representative and was the bar manager at the American Legion in Stacyville for several years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was a Gold Star Mother. She was also a member of Christian Mothers and was a 4-H leader. Monica enjoyed gardening, flowers, quilting, weaving, baking, jigsaw puzzles, and playing cards, especially solitaire. She especially enjoyed entertaining her family.

Monica is survived by her children, David (Cathy) Faas of Racine, Minnesota, Diane (Mark) Beckman of New Hampton, Daniel (Robin) Faas of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Denise (Bruce) Mayer of Stacyville, Donald Faas of San Francisco, California, Debra (Warren) Davis of Fort Dodge, Darrell Faas of Owatonna, Minnesota, Doreen (Rodney) Bries of Monona; a daughter-in-law, Julie Faas of Salinas, California; honorary daughter, Sabine (Florian) Franke of Germany; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; five sisters, Marie Boerjan of St. Ansgar, Eileen Kleckner of Osage, Lorraine (Joe) Prokopec and Kathleen (Jim) Prokopec, all of Owatonna, Minnesota, Marilyn (Bob) Doyle of Melrose, Minnesota; three brothers, Galen Rogers of Austin, Minnesota, Gerald Rogers of Osage, Brother Damian Rogers, O.S.B., of Collegeville, Minnesota; and four sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John in 2008; her son, Douglas Faas, in 1996;and three brothers, Clair, Maurice and Marvin Rogers. 

Information available and condolences accepted at www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com.

Ernest “Ernie” Hackenmiller

St. Ansgar, Iowa- Ernest “Ernie” Hackenmiller, 86, of St. Ansgar, died on Sunday, October 21, 2012, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, October 25, 2012, at 10:30 AM, at Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville, Iowa, with Msgr. John Hemann officiating. Burial will be in the Visitation Cemetery, Stacyville, Iowa. Military Honors conducted by the Hale Penney Fuller Post #569 of the American Legion. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Visitation Catholic Church , Stacyville, with a Scripture Service at 6:00 PM. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements.

Ernest was born September 19, 1926 to Math and Olivia (Durben) Hackenmiller, in Meyer, Iowa. Ernie married Shirley Mayer on June 22, 1955 at Visitation Catholic Church, Stacyville, Iowa. This union was blessed with eight children. Ernie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War stationed in Japan.

After being honorably discharged from the service he worked at John Deere in Waterloo prior to farming. He farmed the Hackenmiller family farm and then moved and farmed Shirley’s family farm, retiring in 1996 moving to St. Ansgar in 1997. Ernie was a member of the Hale Penney Fuller Post #569 of the American Legion serving as commander in 1966.

He was on the Mayer baseball town team, with the New York Yankees being his favorite professional team. Ernie loved to play golf and read westerns. He enjoyed the programming of cable T.V. and as he was always learning became involved with the computer. Most recently he had been enjoying woodworking. Ernie enjoyed the time he spent with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley; daughter, Debbie; brothers, Bill, Sylvian, Jerry and Melvin: sister, Jenny LeMay.

Ernie is survived by two sons; Randy (Nancy) Hackenmiller of Osage and John (Sue) Hackenmiller of Burlington, Iowa; five daughters, Wanda Hackenmiller of Cedar Falls, Ia, Brenda Hackenmiller of Cedar Falls, Mic of Elk Run Heights, Iowa, Audrey (Terry)Milks of Melbourne, Florida and Denise (Jeff) Hageman of Monona, Ia; grandchildren, Molly, Joe and Maria Hackenmiller; Cassandra, Trey and Cam Milks; Kylie and Dylan Adams; Tyler, Rachel and Claire Hackenmiller; Amber, Chelsy, Vanessa and Cody Hageman: great grandchildren, Kimberly, Kenya and Joey Hackenmiller; sisters, Imelda Neis of Rodgers, Minn. And Lorene (Darrell) Mayer of Lockport, N.Y.; sister- in-laws, Mary Hackenmiller, Bernice Hackenmiller, Dolly Hackenmiller, Janice Hackenmiller and Donna (Cliff) Mueske; brother-in-law John (Darlene) Mayer; and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy Marie Brasch

Dorothy Marie Brasch, a long-time resident of St. Ansgar, IA, died Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at age 91. Born in 1921 in Mt. Vernon, New York, she was the daughter of Robert and Harriet Emerson.

The family later moved to Pleasantville and New Rochelle, New York, where she graduated from high school in 1940. It was in Pleasantville at the community pool that she was first introduced to her long-time love, swimming.

When the war broke out, she joined the Navy Waves in 1943 to serve her country. With hopes of becoming a control tower operator and moving to California, she was instead sent to Yeoman School in Cedar Falls, IA. It must have been fated because it was there she met her husband of 66 years, Claire Brasch.

After a whirlwind courtship, Claire sent her an engagement ring through the mail and she took a cross-country train to San Diego, where he was stationed in the Marines. They were married in San Diego in 1945 before he was shipped overseas again. With the war’s end, they would make their home first in New Hampton, IA, and in 1950, St. Ansgar.

One of the first things they did after buying a house in St. Ansgar was to break ground on a swimming pool. Over the next 30 years, Dorothy would teach countless children to swim in that backyard pool.

She would also stage elaborate synchronized swimming shows each year. She would later become a Red Cross Instructor Trainer and traveled the state teaching swimming instructors. She also spent several years volunteering with handicapped children, introducing them to the joys of water.

She was active in volunteer activities in St. Ansgar throughout her life, an avid reader, and a gardener, and a lifelong devotee to fitness and athletics. She will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her daughter Sally Emerson- Brasch, son Bob Brasch (Susan); daughter Barbara Ray (Rex); her sister Bette Bonnet; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well loving inlaws, nieces, nephews, and a host of long-time friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Claire Brasch, her daughter Susan Kline, her son-in-law Jerry Kline, her brother Robert Emerson, and her sister Ruth Backus.

A private service will be held. Cards and donations to a memorium can be sent to Bob Brasch, 309 E. Third St., St. Ansgar, IA, 50472.

Charles Whitesides

Charles Whitesides, age 94, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

He was born May 4, 1918 in Griffin, Georgia, the son of Walter and Nora (Pye) Whitesides.

Charles married De Lone Bronner on March 15, 1978, in Reno, Nevada. Charles served in the U.S. Air Force for 32 years, retiring with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

He served in WWII, two tours of duty in Vietnam, and his last deployment was with the Strategic Air Command. Charles enjoyed fishing and his pets.

Charles is survived by his wife, De Lone of Mitchell; daughter, Caila (Ray) Blandford of London, England; son, David Whitesides of Rhode Island; and five grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters and one brother. Services will be private.