Frank W. Arnold, 80

June 10, 2008

Frank W. Arnold, 80, of Garner, died on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 12, at the United Methodist Church in Garner, with Rev. David Wagner officiating. Inurnment will be at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, at Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City, with military rites by the Forest City American Legion Post No. 121. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 11, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.   

Frank William Arnold, the son of Frank and Laura (Makin) Arnold, was born on June 25, 1927 at Forest City. He grew up in Forest City and attained the rank of Eagle Scout with two palms in Boy Scout Troop 18. He graduated from the Forest City High School in 1945 and enlisted in the Army Air Force Cadet Program. He served in the European Theater of Operations with the 51st Air Troop Carrier Wing, 9th Air Force, as a crew chief. Frank was also a member of the 508th AAF Band. After his honorable discharge, Frank returned to Forest City and attended Waldorf College.

On December 31, 1947, he married Betty Ann Schulz at the United Methodist Church in Forest City. To this union, three children were born, Jean Ann, Frank Gustav and John Michael. Frank began his employment in the Postal Service on June 1, 1947, serving as a city carrier until 1951. He was then transferred to Rural Route No. 3, where he served until 1972. Upon his retirement from the USPS on June 27, 1972, he worked at Winnebago and Waldorf College as a security officer. In the fall of 1973, Frank moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he worked for Continental Security.

Upon returning to Forest City, he served as Chief of Police at Buffalo Center during the summer of 1974. Frank then worked at Bill's Red Owl for 14 months before joining Winnebago as a security officer in November of 1975. He remained there until December of 1977, at which time he and Betty moved to Reno, Nevada. He went to work for the MGM Grand-Reno, on January 27 as  mailroom supervisor. He started alone setting up the system and later the mailroom and 8 employees. On July 11, 1978, he resigned as supervisor and became an armed MGM security officer in the largest casino in the world. He left MGM security on January 28, 1984, retiring at that time on medical leave due to illness.

While living in the Reno area, they were fortunate to travel extensively. In August of 1994, Frank and Betty returned to the Garner-Forest City area. Frank and Betty were able to enjoy 60 years of marriage.

Frank was very active and held offices in many organizations. He was a member of the Garner United Methodist Church, participated in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and taught First Aid for 14 years. He was a member of the County ARC Board for many years, was a member of the Forest City Fire Dept. for 18 years, Winnebago County Emergency Radio Net, Methodist Church Board and was Sunday School Superintendent. He held county and district offices in the Iowa Rural Letter Carrier Assoc. and was named Outstanding Carrier of the 6th District of Iowa in 1969. He was a member of the Forest City American Legion Post 121 for 50 years and also held positions of Vice Commander, Commander and Honor Guard. Frank was also a member of the Garner VFW Post 5515.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Garner; daughter, Jean Ann of North Miami, Florida; sons, Frank Gustav Arnold of Garner and John Michael Arnold of Forest City; a former daughter-in-law, Brenda; four grandchildren, Chuck, Teresa, Maia and Michael; seven great-grandchildren, Miranda, Mitchel, Magan, Nathaniel, Dustin, Alexis and Zander; and sisters-in-law, Winona Schulz of Garner and Lois (Merlyn) Schmoll of West Liberty.

He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Gus and Anna Schulz; brothers-in-law, Glen Schulz in infancy and Donald Schulz; and a sister-in-law, Darlene (Schulz) Adams.
© 2008 Forest City Summit

Opal A. Solomonson, 96

June 24, 2008

Opal A. Solomonson, 96, of Lake Mills, died on Thursday, June 19, 2008, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 23, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, with Pastor W. Paul Weeg officiating. Burial was in the North Prairie Cemetery in rural Scarville.
© 2008 Forest City Summit

John E. Nieman, 72

June 24, 2008

John E. Nieman, 72, of Kamrar, died on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at his home.

A Memorial Gathering was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 25, at the Lions Community Building in Kamrar. Burial will be held at a later date.

Elmer John Nieman, son of Casper and Tillie Freerksen Nieman, was born on July 5, 1935 in Kanawha, Iowa. He received his education and graduated from the Crystal Lake High School in 1953. From September 30, 1954 until being honorably discharged on March 29, 1958, John proudly served in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Guam. On October 17, 1964 he married Mavis Irene Irvin in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The couple has resided in Kamrar since August of 1965. His main vocation was as a self employed truck driver. From 1990 thru 1994, he and Mavis owned and operated the Silver Dollar Lounge in Blairsburg.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kamrar and the American Legion Post #191 of Webster City.

In addition to his wife Mavis, he is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Jane Binder of Forest City, Cynthia Hinojosa of Webster City, Terry and Robert Wagner of Kamrar, Barbara and Michael Van Hooser of Russelville, Missouri; sons and daughter-in-law, James George of Muscatine, Scott and Daisy Nieman of Kanawha; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Edith Nieman of Brownsdale, Minnesota, Richard Nieman of Kanawha, Roger and Renee Nieman of Crystal Lake, Gary and Judy Nieman of Garner; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George Nieman.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Foster Funeral & Cremation Center in Webster City.
© 2008 Forest City Summit

Gertrude Riggle, 92

June 24, 2008

Gertrude Riggle, age 92, of Forest City, died on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m., at the Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Douglas Farrell officiating. Burial was in the Madison Township Cemetery in rural Forest City. Visitation was from 6-8:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 24 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City and continued an hour prior to the service at the church. The Petersen Lund Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Gertrude Riggle, was born on November 5, 1915 on a farm in Hancock County, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas and Mertie (Pannkuk) Hinders. She received her education in a rural school near her home.

She was united in marriage to Milo Holcomb on May 28, 1938. The couple made their home in Forest City. Milo was killed in action during WW II. Gertrude remained in Forest City and began working at Forest City Produce. On June 28, 1946 she married Clifford Riggle. The couple farmed in the Forest City area for many years.

In 1966 Gertrude opened “Gert's Fabric Shop” in Forest City. She owned and operated the store until selling to Doris Nordskog in the mid 1970's. She and Clifford retired from farming and moved into Forest City in 1981.

Gert was an active member of the Calvary Baptist Church, involved in AWANAS, Mission Circle and Sewing Circle. She loved to sew and made numerous quilts for family and friends and people all over the world. Gert enjoyed gardening and raising flowers.

She is survived by her daughters, Bonna Rae (Gerald) Ruby of Leland and Norma (Don) Gaulke of Apache Junction, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Brad Ruby and wife, Teresa of Leland, Cal Ruby and wife, Lisa of Leland, Bruce Smidt and wife, Mindy of Phoenix, Arizona, Carmen Cook and husband, Bob of Britt, Susan Yaunk and husband, John of Rancho Cucamonga, California, Mark Redman and wife, Mary of Sarcoxie, Missouri and Jim Redman of Idaho; two step-grandchildren, Kim Ott and husband, Bob of Clarion and Kurt Gaulke and wife, Kelli of Kansas City, Kansas; eleven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter; sister, Mertie George of Algona; two brothers, Herman (Marion) Hinders of Worthington, Minnesota and Alvin (Joann) Hinders of Chimney Rock, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews.

Gert was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Milo and Clifford; daughter, Yvonne Redman; and five brothers, Martin, Ben, Tommy, Ted and Milton.
© 2008 Forest City Summit

Everett Brock, 51

July 1, 2008

Everett Brock, age 51, of Forest City, died on Sunday, June 29, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Wednesday, July 2, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. James Catholic Church in Forest City, with Fr. Henry Huber officiating. Burial will be in the St. James Catholic Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation was held from 4-8:00 p.m., on Tuesday, July 1, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City and an hour prior to the services at the church.

Everett Eugene Brock, was born on May 24, 1957 in Britt, the son of Clifton and Violet (King) Brock. He attended and graduated from the Forest City High School. He was united in marriage to Laura Lee Nemmers on April 9, 1988. The couple was blessed with three wonderful children, Tara, 18 of Clear Lake, Tim, 16 and Tyler, 13.

Everett was a wonderful and kind man. He was a loving father and husband. He enjoyed farming, attending his sons wrestling meets, of which his daughter was also a manager, and talking with people. He also enjoyed watching his cousins in demolition derbies and going to stock car races.

Everett loved the wrestling family gatherings. He had a very kind, loving and giving heart. He was always there to help anyone who needed him.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laura; a daughter, Tara; two sons, Tim and Tyler; a sister, Connie (Clyde) Holecek of Klemme; brother, Dennis (Beverly) Brock of Charles City; sister, Patricia Peterson of Madison, Wisconsin; two nieces, Tabitha (Chad) Sterrenberg and Kendall Peterson; and a nephew, Dallas (Deanna) Christensen.

Everett was preceded in death by his mother, Violet Jean (Brock) Ohm; his father, Clifton Dallas Brock; step-father, Martin Herman August Ohm; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Jean and Curtis Lee Christensen; and step-brother, Dennis Ohm.
© 2008 Forest City Summit

Myron A. Teague, 84

July 1, 2008

Myron A. Teague, age 84, formerly of Thompson, passed away at the home of his son, Graham Teague in Adrian, Michigan on Monday, June 30, 2008.

A memorial service for Myron will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 2, at the Wagley Funeral Home in Adrian with full military honors conducted by the VFW Annis Fint Post #1584. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday, July 2, from 11:00 a.m. until the service time. Iowa friends are invited to visit with the family on Saturday, July 5, from noon to 2:00 p.m., at Myron's home in Thompson. Contributions in memory of Myron may be made to the Hospice of Northwest Iowa.

Mryon was born on March 21, 1924 in Lake Mills, the son of Charley and Inez (Abbott) Teague. He grew up and graduated from high school in Thompson. During World War II, Mryon proudly served his country in the US Navy in the Pacific theatre. On November 23, 1941, Myron married Betty Graham of Forest City. Betty passed away in 2001 at their home in Thompson shortly before they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Myron attended Waldorf College in Forest City and later received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Luther College in Decorah. He continued his education at Western State University in Colorado, where he attained his Master of Arts in music.

Myron pursued a career as the band director in several Iowa towns, including Scarville, Meservey, Fonda-Varina and Rembrandt. While in Rembrandt, Myron's bands and small group ensembles consistently achieved first ratings every year at high school music contests the entire seven years he taught there. In 2001, at the age of 77, Myron returned to Rembrandt to direct a band made up of former students. Some forty years after leaving that school, about twenty or so of his 'kids' came back, warmed up their instruments and put on a concert for the Rembrandt Centennial. It was a moving tribute to a much-beloved teacher and mentor to these fifty-plus year old former students. This continues to be an annual event in Rembrandt even though Myron was unable to attend the last few concerts due to health reasons.

After leaving Rembrandt in 1961, Mryon and his family moved to Adrian, Michigan, where he continued directing music at the Adrian Public Schools from which he retired in 1987. He continued to teach in Panama for the next two years working for the Department of Defense. Myron and Betty then returned to Thompson to live in the same home where he was raised. He spent the last 5 winters in Sebring, Florida with his daughter-in-law, Jeannie, where he enjoyed the sun and pool. He was a prolific writer of letters and stayed in contact over the years with many of his Iowa friends.

He was a member of the American School Band Directors Association, the Order of the Beaded Belt, the American Legion, and a life-member of the VFW Annis Fint Post #1584 and the Masons. He was also active with the Adrian City Band.

Myron is survived by his three children, Graham Teague and his wife, Jeannie of Adrian, Michigan, Patrick Teague and his wife, Mary of Columbia, South Carolina and Cynthia Hoover and her husband, Ken of Jacksonville, Florida; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Bernard (Muriel) Teague of Freemont, California and Lyle (Dora) Teague of Adrian, Michigan.
© 2008 Forest City Summit