Theresa Black

May 3, 2006, page 9

Theresa Bertha (Nagle) Black, 91, of Phoenix, Arizona and formerly of Northwood, died on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Gardiner Home, Phoenix, Arizona, of natural causes.

Funeral services were held in Raymond, Illinois, at the St. Raymond Catholic Church, on Saturday, April 8, 2006, with Fr. Geo Morelock, officiating. Burial took place in the St. Raymond Catholic Cemetery, Raymond.

Theresa Bertha Nagle, was born on October 4, 1914 in Raymond, Illinois, the daughter of John Thomas and Bertha (Minnis) Nagle. She married William Doane Black on April 22, 1935, in Raymond, Illinois. In this marriage two sons were born. Theresa was a homemaker and was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manly.

Her survivors include her husband, William Doane Black of Phoenix, Arizona; two sons, Wayne Black of Phoenix and Allan Black of Little Canada, Minnesota; brother, William Nagle of Kankakee, Illinois; three sisters, Florence Curvey of Taylorville, Illinois, Lorretta Hocking of Virden, Illinois and Alice Daugherty of Springfield, Illinois; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bertha; brothers, Merle, Francis, Bernard; and sisters, Mary Morrissey and Melba Diehi.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Velma Diedrich

April 12, 2006, page 9

Velma H. Diedrich, 92, of Grafton, died on Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with Rev. Wayne Ellingson and Aim Irmgard Ellingson officiating. Burial will be in the Grafton Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Velma Helen Seeger, the daughter of Carl and Ella (Wolff) Seeger, was born on May 11, 1913 in Freeborn County, Minnesota. She was baptized on June 1, 1913, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Myrtle, Minnesota, by Rev. J. O. Staehling. At the age of two, she moved with her parents and sister and brother to Ottertail County near Perham, Minnesota, where she received her education in a country school.

Velma talked frequently of her happy childhood days in northern Minnesota. She was confirmed at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Perm, on May 22, 1927, by Rev. Carl Mundinger. After attending one year of high school, the family moved back to the Myrtle, Minnesota area.

Velma was united in marriage to Harry Diedrich of Grafton, Iowa, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She and her husband farmed in the Grafton and Carpenter areas, with Velma also working at Carroll George in Northwood for 10 years. She especially enjoyed her employment at Carroll George but decided to quit to become a caregiver for her mother-in-law. Following their retirement in 1975, the couple then moved to Grafton.

Velma was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Grafton. She was a member in various circles, altar guild, maintained communion records for 27 years, and enjoyed helping with quilting days. She served on the Northwood Retirement Home Auxiliary and was active in Senior Citizens.

Velma was a hard worker and enjoyed many hobbies including quilting, needlework, sewing flower and vegetable gardening, visiting with relatives and friends, dancing, fishing trips to northern Minnesota and sightseeing trips to western states. She was a good cook and especially enjoyed baking and playing “500” with her Grafton friends. In 2005, Velma became a resident of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, where she renewed friendships with co-workers from Carroll George and made many new friends.

Velma is survived by her son, David Diedrich and wife, Darlene of Grafton; daughters, Janice Morrison of Albert Lea, Minnesota and Julie Braun and special friend, David Ward of Mason City; brother-in-law, John Diedrich of St. Ansgar; and several special cousins and friends.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry of 65 years in 2004; sister, Lillian and her husband, Eric Buntrock; and her brother, Herbert Seeger and his wife, Nadine.

Velma will be dearly missed by all who have shared in her life.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Claude Alan Thayer

April 19, 2006, page 9

Claude Alan Thayer, 65, of West Plains, Missouri and formerly of Northwood, died at 8:30 a.m., on Monday, April 10, 2006, at the Ozarks Medical Center.

Memorial services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, April 14, 2006, at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Hwy 65 South, Northwood, with Rev. Wendi Gillan of the Northwood United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the South Shell Rock Cemetery, Northwood.

Claude Thayer, was born on January 11, 1941, to Oscar and Lila Thayer in Belmond, Iowa. He was a mechanic and of the Methodist faith. Claude was married to Linda Hanson of Belmond on March 22, 1975.

Claude is survived by one son and two daughters of the union of Claude Thayer and Linda Hanson, Bret Thayer of West Plains, Missouri, Julia Thayer of St. Louis, Missouri and MSgt. Melissa Abbott of Minot AFB, North Dakota. He is also survived by a son and daughter of the union of Claude Thayer and Judy Luttrell, Tammy Bogue of New Richland, Minnesota and Claude Thayer, Jr. of Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Also surviving are two brothers, Larry Thayer of Northwood and Richard Thayer of Jewel, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents of Northwood; and his sister, Marilyn Rowson of Swaledale.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Rose Bliton Tyrhoim

May 10, 2006, page 9

Rose Bliton Tyrhoim, 99, of Austin, Minnesota, died on Thursday, April 20, 2006, at the Emerald Crest in Victoria, Minnesota, where she had lived since December, 2005.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 3, at the United Methodist Church in Glenville, with Rev. Patricia Toschak officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the charity of the donor’s choice are preferred.

Rose Bliton, was born in Worth County, Iowa, the first daughter of Ralph and Jewel (Bragg) Bliton on Christmas Day, 1906. She attended grade school in Gordonsville, high school in Glenville and graduated from the Albert Lea High School in 1924. In 1925 she graduated from Normal Training School in Albert Lea and began teaching at Freeborn County’s rural school District #60. After attending many classes on and off campus, she completed her senior year at Mankato State College, graduating with honors in 1956.

On April 11, 1926, she married Albert H. Schuhmacher in Northwood, Iowa. He died on August 13, 1947 in Albert Lea. On August 17, 1954, she married LeRoy Tryholm in Mankato. They later divorced. Rose was a third generation member of the United Methodist Church in Gordonsville until the congregation was disbanded in the 1990s.

After being a homemaker for thirteen years, Rose returned to teaching in rural Freeborn County one-room schools in 1939. From 1949 to 1954 she taught fourth and fifth grades in the Mankato Public Schools. From 1958 until retirement in 1972, hundreds of fifth graders at Sheridan Elementary School in Richfield, Minnesota, benefited from her instructional skills.

Rose was extremely proud of her Scottish and English heritage and her Yankee ancestors who migrated to Minnesota Territory in the mid 1850s. She was a life member of the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers and served on its Board of Directors for many years. Rose was an avid reader, especially of history, until she lost her sight. She enjoyed music and danced into her dotage.

Rose is survived by her daughter, Shirley Schuhmacher Hoium of Red Wing; a step-daughter, Irene Schuhmacher Hollatz of Joplin, Missouri; four grandchildren, Bruce Hoium of Des Moines, Victoria (Cameron) Stein of Red Wing, Suzanne Million of Eyota and Elizabeth (David) Michaelson of Minnetonka; eight great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and three step-great-great-grandchildren; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death in 1995 by her only sibling, a sister, Altine Bliton Clark.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Johnnie K. Willert

April 26, 2006, page 9

Johnnie K. Willert, age 90, of Lake Mills, died on Friday, April 21, 2006, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, April 24, 2006, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett, with Rev. Tom Martin officiating. Burial will take place in the Concordia Cemetery, rural Joice. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 23, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills, and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Johnnie Kenneth Willert, was born on November 15, 1915 near Thompson, to Carl and Emma (Johnson) Willert. He was united in marriage on November 15, 1940, to Roscelia Lee at the Concordia Church near Joice. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith.

Johnnie was involved in farming his entire life until 1976, when he retired from farming and moved to his home in Lake Mills. Johnnie had his own small business of mowing yards in the summer and moving snow in the winter, until 2003. He was always a hard worker. He will be remembered and missed by his family and the many people he helped while living in Lake Mills.

Johnnie is survived by his three children, Rose Ann (John) Tietz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Christie (Dick) Kobernusz of Norwalk, Iowa and Gaylan (Kathy) Willert of Rochester, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Tim (Carol) Tietz, Tammy (Joe) Carolan, Brad (Julie) Kobernusz, Jeff (Lisa) Willert, Mike (Andrea) Willert and Steve (Michelle) Willert; ten great-grandchildren, Diedra, Laura, Shannon, Nicole, Remy, Megan, Austin, Tyler, John and Christopher; two brothers, Carl and Walt; and five sisters, Mary, Agnes, Irene, Emma, and Gladys.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Roscelia; three brothers; two sisters; and two great-grandchildren.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Gay Dolores Schneider

May 3, 2006, page 9

Gay D. Schneider, 76, of Manly, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center, Manly.

A funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams, Mason City, with Rev. Jon M. Seda officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation was held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, where a scriptural wake service was held at 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday. Also there was visitation one hour prior to Mass at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Iowa Chapter and Hospice of North Iowa.

Gay Dolores Wells, was born on March 23, 1930 in Mason City, the daughter of Wendell and Sidonia (Exner) Wells. Gay grew up in Mason City and graduated from the Holy Family Catholic High School. She attended college at Clarke College in Dubuque, where she obtained her teaching certificate. She taught in elementary schools in Parkersburg, Swaledale, Kensett, and would occasionally substitute teach at area schools. In later years, Gay worked at Amicare as a caregiver.

Gay Wells married Carl Schneider on October 24, 1953, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City. They have always made their home on a farm west of Manly. For the last three years Gay has resided at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center.

Gay was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Manly. She was involved with the Worth County Extension office, where she was a 4-H Leader and Aide. We remember Gay as a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and baking, sewing and crafts, and especially quilting.

Her survivors include her husband, Carl Schneider of Manly; three children, Carol (Dudley) Forbus of Inola, Oklahoma, Pauline (Bill) Berzins of Antioch, Tennessee and John (Amy) Schneider of West St. Paul, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Joseph and Jeffrey Forbus, Lindsey and Taylor Berzins and Cathryn and Joel Schneider; two brothers, Doug (Elsie) Wells of St. Paul, Minnesota and Thomas (Joyce) Wells of Leavenworth, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, K. Jane Schneider in February 1996; and a brother, Mark Wells in May 2005.
© Northwood Anchor 2006

Gaylord H. Sorbo

May 3, 2006, page 9

Gaylord H. Sorbo, age 69, of rural Northwood, died on Friday, April 28, 2006, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at the Word of Faith Dominion Church in Lake Mills, with Rev. Doug Domokos officiating. Following the service, cremation will take place, with inurnment at a later date. Visitation was held on Monday, May 1, 2006, at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Word of Faith Dominion Church Building Fund, or to Hospice of North Iowa.

Gaylord Harlan Sorbo, the son of Clarence 0. and Irene M. (Bendickson)  Sorbo, was born on November 1 29, 1936, at his parents farm in Worth County. He attended the Silver Lake Country School #2, and Emmons Public School.

Following his schooling, Gaylord helped his father on the family farm near Silver Lake. In addition, he drove an egg delivery truck for Mortenson Produce of Northwood, from 1959 until 1982. Gaylord was active with the Army National Guard from 1960 to 1965. In the spring of 1983, Gaylord was hired by Rognes Brothers Excavating as a tiling machine operator, until January of 2006.

Gaylord was united in marriage with Vivian Nadine Green on September 21, 1974, at the Johnston Evangelical Free Church in Johnston, Iowa. Gaylord built their home on the Sorbo farm, and raised four children, Gustavus, Sonja, Richard and Otis. Gaylord was a faithful and active member of Word of Faith Dominion Church in Lake Mills, where he was one of the church’s first deacons and was involved in many church building projects.

All of Gaylord’s past times revolved around his true love of nature. In his earlier years, he enjoyed collecting and polishing rocks, and making jewelry pieces from them with his nieces and nephews. In his later years, he enjoyed fishing on his pontoon and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was the manager of the Sorbo Family Campground, where he made friends with everyone he met. He will always be remembered for the life lessons he shared with his loving family, and his willingness to help out anybody in need.

Survivors include his wife, Vivian of Northwood; his mother, Irene Sorbo of Lake Mills; four children, Gustavus Sorbo and his wife, Jill of Mankato, Minnesota, Sonja Alamsya and her husband, Yurry of Forest City, Richard Sorbo and his wife, Shannon of Northwood and Otis Sorbo and his wife, Melissa of Waldorf, Minnesota; grandchildren, Gregory, Molly and Andrew Sorbo of Mankato, Minnesota and Jaden and Devin Alamsya of Forest City and a new one to be born in July; siblings, Senora Holstad and her husband, Dean of Lake Mills, Dr. Clarine Coker and her husband, Dr. Ade Coker of Council Bluffs, Clifford Sorbo and his wife, Sue of Newton and Linda Ward and her husband, Bill of Lake Mills; two uncles, Glenn Sorbo and his wife, Mary of Plymouth and Glenn Bendickson and his wife, Margaret of Lonsdale, Minnesota; an aunt, Jeanette Harmon of Kensett; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother-in-law, Dennis Peterson.
© Northwood Anchor 2006