LeAnn M. Nordskog

May 16, 2012

LeAnn M. Nordskog, age 62, of Leland, died on Monday, May 7, 2012, at her home in Leland.

Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 10, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City. Burial will be at a later date in the Vinjie Cemetery in Vinjie. In lieu of flowers, the family directs memorials to the Leann Nordskog Memorial Fund which will be donated to charity.

LeAnn Marie (Johnson) Nordskog, was born on December 10, 1949, to John and Luella (Sperring) Johnson. She was baptized at the Winnebago Lutheran Church on January 10, 1950. She attended the Scarville School for three years in elementary and the rest in Forest City. She enjoyed horseback riding and camping. She belonged to 4-H, Home Economics and loved pretty much any outdoor activity. She did a lot of babysitting for nieces and nephews and various other families. In 1965, she was married and had two children, a son Chad and a daughter Kristi and later was divorced.

Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She had five, three boys and two girls; Ben, Sarah, Colton, Carlie and Isaac. Ben would say "Grandma you're my buddy." Sarah would say "Hey Granny what you doing?" Colton would always tell her "to do fish lips" while she was rocking him, Carlie always wanted her hair fixed by grandma and Isaac would have her tell him as many "tories" as he could get her to tell at bedtime. She loved her family more than life itself.

LeAnn is survived by her children, Chad (Jodi) Nordskog and Kristi (Todd) Knutson; five grandchildren, Ben, Sarah, Colton, Carlie and Isaac; two sisters, Helen Throntveit of Webster City and Donna Anderson of Thompson; two brothers, Richard of Mason City and Paul Halverson of Garner.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Donald and John; a sister Lois; three nephews, Larry, Dean and Todd Michael; and aunts and uncles.

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

Florence V. Nye

May 16, 2012

Florence V. Nye, 91, of Fertile, died on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 12, at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, with Pastor Robert Snitzer officiating. Burial was in the Brush Point Cemetery in Hanlontown. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, May 11, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City.

Florence, the daughter of Ole and Martha (Thompson) Larson was born on May 29, 1920 in Bode. She was baptized and confirmed in the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode and she graduated from the Bode High School. She graduated from Waldorf College and continued her studies at the University in Cedar Falls. She taught school for 23 years in Fertile, Albert City, Coon Rapids and Forest City. She was married to Max Nye on July 28, 1945, when he was in the U.S. Navy.

Florence enjoyed reading, sewing, quilting and working crossword puzzles. She was a member of the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church and was involved in circle and Woman of Life.

Florence is survived by her husband, Max; three sons, Roger (Johanna) Nye of Graham, Washington, Jerry Nye of Fertile and Brian (Cynthia) Nye of Longmont, Colorado; sister-in-law, Rita Larson of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Elmer, Ernest, Donald, Maurice, Vilas, Gordon, Charles and Ralph; and sisters, Lillian (in infancy), Alice and Evelyn.

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

LaMont E. Koppen

May 16, 2012

LaMont E. Koppen, 78, of Crystal Lake, died on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, May 11, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City with Pastor Jon Rollefson officiating. Burial was in the Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 10, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City. The family requests memorials go to the LaMont Koppen Burial Fund.

LaMont Earl Koppen was born in Bancroft, on May 23, 1933, to Andrew and Zada (Cayler) Koppen. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Leland. He lived most of his life in north Iowa and was in the U.S. Army. He was married on December 23, 1974, to Vicki Jo Brown in South Dakota and they made their home in Crystal Lake. He worked for the railroad and then started farming. He worked for Winnebago from 1970 to 1993, when he retired to be with his wife through her illness. He loved to fish with his kids and to work on old cars.

LaMont is survived by his wife, Vickie; his children, Cheri Lynn (Tom) Larson of Titonka, Randy Koppen of Leland and Larry (Sylvia) Koppen of Arizona; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Alvena (LeRoy) Ennen of Lone Rock, Gloria Lampe of Hubbard and Carmala of California; one brother, Dick Koppen of California; one half-brother, Albert Koppen of West Port, Minnesota; and two foster brothers, Morris (Alice) Ruby of Clear Lake and Todd (Bonnie) Ruby of Leland.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his foster parents; a brother, Bob Koppen; and a foster brother, Kenny Ruby.

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

Charles D. Bird

May 23, 2012

Charles D. Bird, 82, of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, died on Sunday, May 13, 2012, at the Spring House Estates.

Visitation was held at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 17, with a memorial service at 11:30 a.m., at the Reformed Church of Willow Grove, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, with the Rev. Christopher Heitkamp officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Reformed Church of Willow Grove, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Charles was born on March 17, 1930 in Woden, to Clarence Albert Bird and Mina Elizabeth Sophia (Ward) Bird. Charlie was born, raised and educated in Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He was certified as an electrical engineer in Pennsylvania and was employed at the Westinghouse Electric Company for 38 years where he worked as an electrical engineer and retired as a district sales manager.

He was a long time member of Manufacturers' Golf and Country Club and the Reformed Church of Willow Grove. He was a resident of Spring House Estates, formerly of Fort Washington.

Beloved husband of Shirley for nearly 57 years; father of Amy Bird and David Bird, his wife, Katherine; grandfather of Nicholas, Anne, Robert, Caroline, Elizabeth, Margaret and Charles; brother of Robert Bird of Woden, Dale Bird, his wife Glenys of McHenry, Illinois and the late Irma McVey.

The Wetzel and Son Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
www.wetzelandson.com

Jessie L. Nelson

May 23, 2012

Jessie L. Nelson, 87, of Forest City, died on Monday, May 14, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 19, at the Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City, with Pastor Douglas Farrell officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, May 18, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Jessie L. Nelson, was born on May 21, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, to Frederick and Jessie (Stewart) Packman. Her mother died in childbirth and she was raised by her maternal aunt and uncle; Lillian and Tobias Tobiason of Forest City. She attended several country schools and the Forest City High School, but graduated from the Von Steuben High School in Chicago. On May 7, 1943, Jessie was united in marriage to Vernon C. Nelson in the First Baptist Church Parsonage in Van Nuys, California. After World War II they made their home in Forest City, where Vernon worked as a carpenter and contractor until retirement. Their first child, Jean Louise died at birth, but they were blessed with three more daughters; Carol, Nancy and Annette.

Jessie was saved in her early twenties and loved the Lord. She taught Sunday School for many years at the Calvary Baptist Church. She loved music and had a song for every occasion. She was always cheerful and optimistic. She was a member of the Happy Hour Birthday Club and the Ladies Mission Circle at Calvary Baptist Church.

Jessie is survived by her daughters, Carol (Don) Collings of Washington, Nancy (James Gabriel) Nelson of Forest City and Annette (John) Nissen of Audubon; six grandsons, Jon (Marda) Collings, Jay (Erin) Collings, Darren (Denise) Collings, CJ (Becky) Nissen, Ben (Lisa) Nissen and Brady Nissen; thirteen great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ralph (Adrienne) Tobiason.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; her daughter, Jean; her parents; brother, Tom and sister, Betty.

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

Robert M. O'Dell

June 13, 2012

Robert M. O'Dell, 57, of Forest City, died peacefully on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at home with his family by his side after a valiant battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Upon his wishes he was cremated. Graveside committal services in Memorial Park Cemetery, were held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 5. Military honors were conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Robert M. O'Dell memorial fund in care of the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.

Robert M. O'Dell, was born on August 5, 1954 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of William and Donna (Hall) O'Dell. He graduated from the Mason City High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1972, serving in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1978. He was married to Linda Lance on June 12, 1971 in Bethany, Missouri.

Robert enjoyed the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also loved his dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of Forest City; daughter, Valerie O'Dell (Brooklynn, Audrey and Jakob) of Forest City; sons, Robert O'Dell and wife, Christine (Colby and Sidney) of Cedar Rapids and Patrick O'Dell and wife, Jill (Jennifer); mother, Donna O'Dell of Mason City; brother, William O'Dell and wife, Kathy of Alaska; and mother and father-in-law, DeLoss and Marie Lance.

Robert was preceded in death by his father, William O'Dell in 2008; and sister-in-law, Brenda Tresian in 2010.

Arrangements are with the Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, Mason City.

Edmund Davis

June 13, 2012

Edmund E. Davis, 67, of Forest City, died on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, June 4, at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, southeast of Forest City, with Rev. Robert Snitzer officiating. Burial was in the Ellington Township Cemetery, 5 miles south of the church. Visitation was held from 4-6:00 p.m., on Sunday, June 3, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Edmund, the son of Ernest and Thelma (Benson) Davis, was born on March 24, 1945 in Forest City. He graduated from the Forest City High School in 1963 and Waldorf College in 1965. Ed continued his education at Iowa State University in Ag studies while farming east of Forest City on the family farm. On June 20, 1971, he married Kathryn Boyum in Greenbush, Minnesota. The couple made their home on the family farm where they raised their four children. After farming, Ed continued operating his own grain business and later worked for a John Deere implement and Winnebago Industries.

He was an active member of the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church and in the 1970s and 1980s, continued his father's seat on the Winnebago County Fair Board. Ed will be remembered by family and friends for working with his hands as he served the needs of others.

Ed is survived by his wife, Kathryn; four children, Karolyn (Steve) Olson, Kent (Amy) Davis, Jason (Carrie Doyle) Davis and Janelle Davis; six grandchildren; a brother, Douglas (Noreen) Davis; and an aunt, Frances Benson.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

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