Anna V. Burke

July 25, 2012

Anna Vivian Burke, of Forest City, passed from this life on Sunday, July 15, 2012, at the age of 100, while at the Hospice of North Iowa, surrounded by her family.

Visitation was on Friday, July 20, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Winter Funeral Home in Buffalo Center. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, July 21, at the Reformed Church in Buffalo Center, with Pastor Bill Peake officiating.

Anna was born on March 14, 1912, to Jake and Tena Alphs Alberts of Buffalo Center. She was married to Melvin Burke and from this union are three daughters, Beverly Sunde, Patricia (Joseph) Neesen and Cheryl Burke. Anna and Melvin lived their entire married lives on their farm near Thompson. Melvin passed away in 1985 and six years later Anna moved to Forest City, where she remained until her death.

Anna was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved the Lord and her family. She grew beautiful vegetable and flower gardens and loved watching and feeding birds. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker. She will live in our hearts forever.

Anna is survived by daughters, Beverly Sunde and her son, Larry, Patricia (Joseph) Neesen and their daughters, Amy (Kevin) Woolf and Stephanie (Jim) Carter and Cheryl Burke; four great-grandchildren, Anna, Leo and Lillian Woolf and Cordelia Carter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sisters, Frances and Ida; and son-in-law, Eldon Sunde; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Milo J. Pitkin, Jr.

August 1, 2012

Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on May 20, 2012, Milo James Pitkin, of Poplar Grove, Illinois, announced that he was looking forward to joining a heavenly choir and singing in a men’s quartet. He then began using the last two months of his life as he’d lived the previous 76 years, contacting family and friends, making plans for the future welfare of his family and generally organizing his earthly affairs. He had no doubt that his eternal affairs were in order. He passed into that eternal life the afternoon of Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at home, surrounded by family and friends and assisted by the OSF Hospice.

Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday, August 4, in the fellowship hall of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, Illinois.　Visitation will be from 10-11:00 a.m., with a Celebration of Life service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Local memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 25, in the Calvary Baptist Church, Forest City,  with Rev. Doug Farrell, pastor officiating. Memorials to the Immanuel Lutheran Church North. 1045 E. Belvidere Rd., Belvidere, IL 61008. Arrangements by the Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home, Belvidere.

Milo was born in Forest City, on January 16, 1936, to a family whose history is that of pioneer homesteaders—predeceased by father, Milo James Pitkin, Sr., mother, Lucille Marie (Bonar) Pitkin and sister, Beverly (Dean) Krieger. With a BA in Business from Drake University, Milo excelled as an entrepreneur, founding the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Int’l, (FMA); published the trade journal, The Fabricator; was a founder of FABTECH, North America's largest metal fabricating event and pioneered new technologies in ergonomic office equipment, welding automation and meat processing equipment.

His life motto was "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself." This motto influenced his actions in business and in his community. One of the accomplishment of which he was most proud was his groundwork in prisoner rehabilitation, conducting the first jobs training seminar at Attica state prison following the historic prison riot in 1971.

During his years in Illinois, he worshiped and developed many friendships at Temple Baptist Church, Rockford; Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rockford; and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere. Having studied vocal music, singing tenor in the Waldorf College Choir, Forest City, he continued to sing in church choirs.　He also served his church and community as a Stephen Minister; served on the task force to develop the Immanuel Lutheran North congregation; past member of Cherry Valley Rotary; president of Knolls of Boone Home Association; and held various leadership roles in the Poplar Grove community.

He is survived by his wife, Deloris (Dahle) Shipman Pitkin and her son, R.A.E. Shipman (Stephanie); son, Stephen Milo (Susan) Pitkin; daughters, Susan Pitkin Contrady and Shelly Pitkin (Mike) Ford; and their mother, Carol (Kline) Pitkin Ford; grandchildren, Jennifer Nethery (Jason) Zachary, Joe Nethery, David (Stephanie) Nethery, Jack (Theresa) Nethery, Kathryn Foster, Annette and Sam Contrady, Sophia and Roland Shipman; great-grandchildren, Parker Zachary and Connor Nethery; sister, Sheryl (Ralph) Johnson of Forest City; and many nieces and nephews.

Steven Thompson

July 25, 2012

Steven Thompson, 40, of Britt, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m., at the Christian Reformed Church in Britt, with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. Visitation was held on Monday, July 23, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Steve was born on November 16, 1971, to Darwin and Jean (Kamp) Thompson in Forest City. He was raised around the Forest City area and finished his education at West Hancock Schools in 1990. In July 1995, he married his wife, Tammy and welcomed her daughter, Briana as his own. They were blessed with their daughter, Paige on his birthday of that same year. Adding more blessings to the family was their angel, Alexis in October of 1997. In 2000, they were overjoyed with the birth of their one and only son, Hunter. His children were his world.

Steve enjoyed watching many sports: football (including the Vikings), Twins baseball, Nascar (especially when Jimmie Johnson was winning), and college basketball. He loved the outdoors, spending time playing frisbee golf, swimming, and camping. Steve was a friend to almost everyone he met. He always had a smile on his face to cheer you up. He would do anything for a friend or family if it was within his power.

For the past five years, Steve has been doing what he loves, being an engineer for the railroad. Prior to that, he was a painter at IMT and Winnebago. Steve was an awesome guy who could always make people smile and laugh! He was such a great friend, wonderful husband and dad! He will be missed by all who knew him.

Steve is survived by his wife, Tammy of Britt; four children, Briana, Paige, Alexis, and Hunter, all of Britt; mother, Jean Thompson of Forest City; sister, Valorie Thompson-Nielsen of Forest City; brothers, Daniel (Mary) Thompson of Forest City and Duane Thompson of Arizona; father-in law, Don Dakin of Moravia; mother-in-law, Shari Dakin of Klemme; brothers-in-law, Matt Dakin of Moravia and Keith (Billy Jo) Dakin of Forest City; and many special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Darwin; brother, Jim; grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.

The Ewing Funeral Chapel, Britt, was in charge of the arrangements.

JoAnn S. Golbuff

August 1, 2012

JoAnn S. Golbuff, 69, of Norwalk, formerly of Forest City, died on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at the Regency Care Center in Norwalk.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date in the Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. There will be no visitation. Her body was cremated. The Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner, is in charge of the arrangements.

JoAnn S. Golbuff, the daughter of John and Pearl (Nielsen) Golbuff, was born on January 13, 1943 in Forest City. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Congregational Church in Forest City. JoAnn graduated from the Forest City High School and Waldorf College. She also attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She did office work at Waldorf College before moving to Des Moines.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Jim Golbuff.

Loran D. Aukes
July 27, 1936 - July 26, 2012

Loran D. Aukes, age 75, of Forest City, died on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at his home in rural Forest City.

As per his wishes, his body has been cremated. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 4, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City, with Jim Mantel of the Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leland officiating. A "Celebration of Life" gathering and luncheon will be held at Loran's home immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Hospice of North Iowa

Loran D Aukes, was born on July 27, 1936 in Buffalo Center, Iowa, to Reinder (RE) and Anna (Onken) Aukes. He attended the 1st Congregational Church in Buffalo Center. He grew up in rural Iowa and quit high school to help his father farm. Over the years, Loran was a successful entrepreneur. He had a fertilizer plant, a lawn spraying business and finally a campground. He was extremely proud of the last twenty years that he worked to develop and grow what is known as the Three Fingers Campground. His campers became great friends to him. He will always be remembered as the "Park Ranger" who drove many laps around the campground grinning, waving and shaking his finger at his campers!

In January of 1955, Loran was united in marriage with Carol Egesdal. They had four children, Craig (Marcia) Aukes of Buffalo Center, Paula (David Heyes) of Forest City, Pam (Joe Akkermann) of Buffalo Center and Scott (Jo Anne) Aukes of Ankeny, Iowa. There are also eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Donald, Ervin, Robert and Merle; his sisters, Lily, Maxine and Ruby; and his grandson, Cody.

Survivors include his sisters, Mildred Dontje of Forest City and Mary Khowassah of Iowa City; and also his brothers, Ray of Buffalo Center and Rollin of Kiester.

Dorothy M. Haugen

August 1, 2012

Dorothy M. Haugen, age 82, of Forest City, died on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 5, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City. There will be no formal funeral service. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, August 6, in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Dorothy was born on April 1, 1930 near Clear Lake, the daughter of Albert and Elsie (Humphrey) Juhl. She was baptized on April 5, 1931 and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 18, 1944. She attended grade school in Clear Lake and graduated from the Fertile High School in May 1948. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Lemke on September 10, 1948 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Kenneth died on September 10, 1958 due to a farm accident. Dorothy later married Ernest Haugen of Forest City.

Dorothy was an avid volunteer for her community with Hospice, Good Samaritan Society and Immanuel Lutheran Church. She enjoyed cards with friends. Dorothy loved doing crafts and surprised everyone with the talent for making things.

Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Randy (Mary) Lemke of Brandon, South Dakota and Craig (Debra) Lemke of Sahuarita, Arizona; eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Nancy (Ron) Schroeder of Clear Lake; brother, Delbert (Viola) Juhl of Osceola; special family, Ellyn and Theresa Charlson and their two children; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother; and husbands, Kenneth Lemke and Ernest Haugen.

The Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City, is in charge of the arrangements.