Dennis Valley

January 18, 2012

Dennis Valley, 59, of Jefferson, formerly of Forest City, died on Sunday, January 1, 2012, in Jefferson.

Memorial services were held on Friday, January 6, at the Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson. Visitation was on Friday, from1-3:00 p.m., prior to the services. Burial will take place at a later date in the Memorial Park, Mason City.

Alice M. Pitkin-Jacobson

January 18, 2012

Alice May Pitkin-Jacobson, of Benson, North Carolina, died on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, in Benson North Carolina. She was born on October 11,1927 at home in Hancock County, to Barney T. and Anna C. Pitkin.

Services are pending for the spring in Forest City. Donations may be made in Alice's name to the American Heart Association. Arrangements were handled by the Capital Funeral Home in Benson, North Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her parents; ten siblings, Russell, Carl, Francis (Sonny), Barney (Jr.), Elinor Thompson, Cora Allie, Beulah, Martha Johnson, Virginia Willert; and ex-husband, Marvin Jacobson.

She is survived by her daughter, Peggy and husband, John; three grandchildren, Darren, Jason and Sabrina Embree; six great-grandchildren, Isabell, Abigail, Tyler, Jacob and Nicole Embree and Katherine Davis. She is also survived by one brother, George Pitkin of Grasston, Minnesota and a sister, Naomi Holmes of Pasadena, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vernon Osheim

January 18, 2012

Vernon Osheim, age 89, of Thompson, died on Friday, January 6, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, January 11, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 10, at the Petersen-Lund Funeral Home in Forest City and continued an hour prior to the services at the church. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson.

Vernon Osheim, was born on April 9, 1922, the thirteenth of fourteen children of Hans and Annie (Quam) Osheim and was the last remaining child living. Vernon spent his boyhood days on the family farm three miles southeast of Thompson, until 1941 when he spent six weeks at a sheet metal job in Des Moines. After completion he went to San Diego, California and worked in a defense plant until entering the armed forces on July 1, 1943. He took basic training at Lincoln Air Base, Lincoln, Nebraska. After completing this training, he was sent to New York City for a three month course at the Radio-Television Institute Inc., and from there to Fresno, California, for assignment which ended in a return trip back to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for overseas training. He spent 1944 overseas in New Guinea and Australia. After some time in the hospital in Australia, he was discharged on August 7, 1945. He enrolled in Waldorf College, in Forest City, for two years. On June 11, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lorraine Maron Hagenson and to this union four children were born. They have made their home in Thompson their entire lives. He accepted a job in the Post Office in 1950 and retired in 1987. He also operated a Laundromat in town.

Vernon was an excellent carpenter and enjoyed helping on the family farm, which is an Iowa Century Farm. His hobbies also included fishing, gardening, small appliance repair, coin collecting, stamp collecting and playing cards. He and Lorraine enjoyed many years of camping in their motor home and attending bluegrass festivals. He was very fond of lighthouses and enjoyed creating them out of various scraps and object, as well as seeking them out while traveling. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who set a great example for his family and was his happiest when surrounded by them all. He will be dearly missed.

Vernon is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lorraine; his four children, Mary Ann (Irven) Olsen of Thompson, Colleen (Russell) Haugen of Thompson, Charles (Kristi) Osheim of Thompson and Donna (Randy) Miller of Leland; his 12 grandchildren, Michael (Amy) Olsen of North Mankato, Minnesota, Steven Olsen of Thompson, Kristine (Brian) Schwartz of Rosemount, Minnesota, Kathy (Brandon) Zender of West Des Moines, James (Tuesday) Haugen of Woodbury, Minnesota, Jason (Laura) Haugen of Farmington, Minnesota, Jill (Blake) Jones of North Mankato, Minnesota, Lisa (Matthew) Brozik of Mankato, Minnesota, Amy (Ross) Long of Waverly, Lorissa Rollefson of West Des Moines, Justin Rollefson of Iowa City and Jeremy Rollefson of Fresno, California; as well as twelve great-grandchildren and one more soon to arrive.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Annie Osheim; and his five brothers and eight sisters, Galena Orstad, Josie Johnson, John Osheim, Alma Griggs, Bertha Wermersen, Gunnar Osheim, Helmer Osheim, Clara Rossiter, Kenneth Osheim, Myrtle Sorbo, Julane Carolus, Thelma Harang and Merle Osheim.

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred L. Doty Morrison

February 1, 2012

Mildred L. Doty Morrison, of Burlington, left earth on Sunday, January 8, 2012.

A celebration of life service will be held at the United Church of Christ in Burlington, on April 13. A time of fellowship at 10:30 a.m., will precede the 11:00 a.m. service. The family request no flowers and that memorials be made to the First United Church of Christ. Burial will be in the Aspen Grove Cemetery.

She was born on October 12, 1924, as the only child of Robert and Mary Doty. She lived in Burlington until she was an adult, returning in 1958. She married her high school sweetheart and life long best friend, Dick Morrison on February 19, 1942. He passed away in 1980. They became parents of Robert, Vicki (Jahr) and Richard Junior.

Mil continued her academic career at the Burlington Junior College in 1954 while caring for her husband and children. After completing a two-year Associate of Arts Degree in 1956, she began her teaching career in the first grade classroom in Wapello. She continued attending college at Iowa Wesleyan in the summers until obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1965. She taught 25 years in the Danville first grade, retiring in 1985.

Mil spent many hours in her yard, mowing, caring for flowers or sitting to enjoy the birds. Retirement activities included bowling, Tripoli, following politics and sports. She was a member of the First United Church of Christ, Iowa State Education Association and the National Education Association.

Survivors include her three children, Robert (Jill) of Forest City, Vicki of Ames and Richard (June) of Cedar Rapids; 7 grandchildren, Mark (Angie) Morrison, Shelley (Tim) Hanna, Todd (Doreen) Jahr, Kathy (John) Hill, Michael (Alyson) Morrison, Wendy (John) Sheehy, Emily Jahr; and 15 great-grandchildren. Special ladies that brought great joy to Mil are Bev Lundy and Pauline Takleson.

Those waiting to greet her in heaven are her parents, Mary and Bob Doty; her beloved husband, Dick; and son-in-law, Fred.

Viola E. Brown

February 1, 2012

Viola E. Brown, age 83, of Forest City, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at the Hancock Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, January 27, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City, with Pastor Jon Rollefson of the First Congregational Church officiating. Visitation was held from 4-6:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 26, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City and continued one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Viola E. Brown, was born on April 28, 1928, on a farm near Buffalo Center, the daughter of William and Tena (Janssen) Miller. She attended rural school near her home. On December 12, 1946, she was united in marriage to Kenneth W. Brown. To this union, four daughters were born. Viola was a dedicated volunteer in many areas of her life.

She was always willing to help out, whenever necessary. For 12 years, she volunteered at the Community Kitchen in Mason City. She loved to cook and bake and was always sharing with friends and family. She enjoyed gardening and loved to dance, especially the polka. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Forest City.

Survivors include Vicki J. and husband, LaMont Koppen of Crystal Lake and Shirlee K. and husband, Alan Peterson of Britt; grandchildren, Cary (Jennifer) Crosby, Scott (Tabitha) Peterson, Daniel (Andrea) Peterson and Steve Peterson; step-grandchildren, Cheri (Tom) Larson, Randy Koppen and Larry (Sylvia) Koppen; and several great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; close friends, Cletis Schneider and Craig and Val Monson.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth in 1984; and two daughters, Bonnie J. Crosby and Pammy D. Brown; and son-in-law, Bill Crosby.

Jeremiah P. Cobb

February 1, 2012

Jeremiah P. Cobb, 31, of Forest City, died on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, January 31, at 2:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Visitation was held on Tuesday, at the church beginning at 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services.

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Sandra L. (Morse Burke) Gjerdahl

March 21, 2012

Sandra L. (Morse Burke) Gjerdahl, 65, of Quartzsite, Arizona and formerly of Fertile, died on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the Palo Verde Hospital, Blythe, California.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 8, at the Church of Christ in Fertile, with the Rev. Rob Perry and the Rev. Dennis Ganz officiating. Interment was in the Ventura Cemetery, Ventura. Visitation was one hour before the services on Wednesday, at the church. Family suggests memorials to Sandra L. Gjerdahl memorial fund.

Sandra was born on November 26, 1946 in Mason City, the daughter of Harry E. and Ida (Cooley) Morse. She grew up in the Fertile area. Sandra graduated from the Forest City High School in 1965. She later attended and graduated from the Capri Cosmetology School. She worked many jobs in her life as cosmetology instructor, Forester Beauty Salon, delivered Winnebagos, cooked at the Grand Café and managed several convenience stores in Minnesota. Sandra married David Gjerdahl October 1, 1994 in Rake. They moved to Arizona in 2006.

She enjoyed doing crafts, cooking, decorating, watching movies, spending time with her family and playing farmtown on facebook. She was a wonderful mother and her grandchildren meant the world to her.

Sandra is survived by her husband, David Gjerdahl of Quartzsite, Arizona; three children, Tracy Burke of Mason City, Tara Dahn of Forest City and Travis (Stacy) Burke of Forest City; thirteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four brothers, Steve (Geri) Morse of St. Paul Park, Minnesota, Tim (Kathy) Morse, Scott Morse and Jon (Debbie) Morse, all of Anchorage, Alaska; and one sister, Elin (Harold) Miner of Fertile; sister-in-law, Elida Morse of Clear Lake; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Pat Morse; and son, Troy Burke.

The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements.