Doris Virginia Nagle

December 17, 2008

Doris Virginia Nagle, 88, of Northwood, died on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, December 15, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly, with Rev. David Kucera officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4-6:00 p.m., on Sunday, with a Scripture Service at 5:30 p.m., at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in Northwood, and continued one hour prior to the services at the church.

Doris was born on February 28, 1920 in Litchfield, Illinois, to Ray and Irene (Neift) Whitlow. She grew up and attended school in the area and married John Thomas Nagle, Jr., on November 6, 1941 in Litchfield. They worked and farmed in that area until moving to Joice, Iowa, in 1958 and then to Northwood in 1965. She worked at Fleetguard in Lake Mills in the  60’s. Doris and John farmed and did custom hauling and farming in the Northwood area until John’s death in 1998.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, golfing, dancing, and being with family and friends.

Doris is survived by her children, Linda (Jerry) Klidies of Green Cove Springs, Florida, Marilyn (Terry) West of Memphis, Tennessee, Theresa (Kendrick) Berg of Osage, John (Marilyn) Nagle of Greeley, Colorado, Joyce (Dennis) Kildahl of Rochester, Minnesota and Dennis Nagle of Northwood; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; her sister, Rosalie Towell and brother, Russell Whitlow from the Litchfield, Illinois area.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; son, James; and sister, Ruth House.
© Northwood Anchor 2008

Marian Midtgaard

December 24, 2008

Marian E. Midtgaard, 70, of Mason City, died at her home, on Monday, December 15, 2008.

Memorial services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, December 19, at the Fertile Lutheran Church, Fertile, with Lay Minister Dave Halverson officiating. Inurnment will be in the Brush Point Cemetery, rural Fertile at a later date. A gathering of family and friends was held on Thursday from 4-6:00 p.m., at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, and also one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Fertile Lutheran Church or the donor's choice.

Marian E. Midtgaard, was born on June 19, 1938 in Forest City, Iowa, the daughter of Melvin and Martha (Storm) Midtgaard. She attended school in Fertile and graduated in 1956. She attended Waldorf College and received her Bachelor's Degree from the Northern Colorado University in Greeley, Colorado. She began her teaching career in Fenton, Iowa and she then taught in Lake Mills and Minneapolis, Minnesota, before coming to Mason City, where she taught kindergarten at Harding Schools. She had a passion for teaching and nurturing the children, she touched many lives throughout her 39 years of teaching. She enjoyed traveling and also had a love of music and books.

Marian was an avid sports fan who loved cheering on her favorite teams. She was very active in the Christians Women's Club in Mason City and was also a member of the Fertile Lutheran Church and also an associate member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City.

Marian was very social and loved the time she spent with her friends and family. She will always be remembered for her pleasant and cheerful personality and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her siblings, Arden Midtgaard and wife, Fern of Fertile, Ken Midtgaard and wife, Mary of Mason City and Maynard Midtgaard and wife, Madelyn of Northwood; nieces and nephews, Cindy Schubert and husband, Russ of Britt, Arlyn Midtgaard and wife, Lila of Fertile, Connie (Mark) Hallam of Mankato, Minnesota, Vicky Vogl and husband, Larry of Cedar Rapids, Debra Sjolinder and husband, John of Mason City, Susan Pope of Mason City, Michael Midtgaard of Minnetonka, Minnesota, John Midtgaard of Northwood, Tom Midtgaard and wife, Ann of Fort Myers, Florida, David Midtgaard of Fertile, Mary Bloomingdale and husband, Bob of Northwood and Mark Midtgaard of Northwood; and many great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and nephew, James Midtgaard.
© Northwood Anchor 2008

Loretta R. Nelson

January 21, 2009

Loretta R. Nelson, of Lake Mills, passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2008.

Funeral services were held at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, on Tuesday, December 30, with Pastor Randy Baldwin officiating.  Loretta was born in Northwood on May 2, 1922 and received her education in Northwood and graduated from the Northwood High School in 1940.
© Northwood Anchor 2009

Marvin Phillip Rusley

January 7, 2009

Marvin Phillip Rusley 90, of Iowa Falls, formerly of Manly, died on Saturday, December 27, 2008, at the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls.

A funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 3, 2009, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Manly, with Reverend Tom Martin officiating. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, with military graveside honors conducted by members of the Edward-Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly. Visitation was held one hour prior to the service time on Saturday at the church. The Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, was in charge of the arrangements.

Marvin Phillip Rusley, was born on September 16, 1918, the son of Theodore Alfred and Frances (Perkins) Rusley. Marvin attended and received his education in the Lake Mills Community Schools, graduating from the Lake Mills High School in 1935. Marvin also earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1939, from the University of Iowa. He was united in marriage to Geneva Rebecca Searl on January 4, 1941 in Kahoka, Missouri. She preceded him in death in October 1973.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 15, 1943 and served his country honorably during World War II until his honorable discharge as a Sergeant on November 16, 1945. After his honorable discharge, Marvin pursued his law degree from the University of Iowa and graduated from law school in 1947. After earning his law degree, he began his law practice in Manly in 1947 and continued to practice law in Manly until his retirement in 1994. He was united in marriage to Myrtle Glassel in May of 1976 and she preceded him in death in 2004. Marvin was instrumental in bringing the Pioneer Town and Country Club to Manly and was also the Mayor of Manly in the 1950s, and the 1960s.

Marvin enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye football fan, but his greatest love and enjoyment was his family and grandchildren. He was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Manly, Edward-Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly, Pioneer Town and Country Club in Manly, Grand Lodge of Iowa Masons, Jaycee's and the Iowa Bar Association.

Those that are left to cherish his memory are his children, Marjean Jensen of Hampton and her husband, Michael of Jupiter, Florida and Philip (Cheryl) Rusley of Iowa Falls; grandchildren, Michelle (James) Longhini of Ft. Meade, Florida, Mark A. (Karen) Jensen of Jupiter, Florida, Michael P. (Lee) Jensen of Barrington, Road Island, Eric W. (Jennifer) Rusley of Las Vegas, Nevada, Janean (Fran) Dicari of Loveland, Ohio and Jason T. (Melissa) Rusley of Kansas City, Missouri; three step-grandchildren, Brock (Alli) Johnson of West Des Moines, Kelly (Chad) Friesleben of Urbandale and Stacy (Chad) Terrill of Ocheyedon; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Elaine Swails of Iowa City; as well as other extended family members and friends.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Geneva and Myrtle; a great-granddaughter, Jennifer Grace Jensen; and a brother, Dean Rusley.
© Northwood Anchor 2009

Lester Idell Amundson

January 7, 2009

Lester Idell Amundson, 84, of Northwood, died on Monday, December 29, 2008, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood.

A celebration honoring Lester’s life was held on Friday, January 2, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, with Rev. Karl Hermanson officiating. He was laid to rest following the celebration at the Center Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Lake Mills, the church where he and Avis were married. Visitation was on Thursday, January 1, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood.

Lester was born on June 11, 1924 at his parents’ home, Lars and Ida Sophie (Ramsey) Amundson, in rural Joice, Iowa. He attended rural schools, graduating from the Lake Mills High School in 1942. Lester married his high school sweetheart, Avis Elaine Branstad, on June 21, 1945. Lester had three careers. He and his wife, Avis, farmed near Leland, Iowa, and later near Lake Mills, Iowa. Later he moved to Northwood where he was a State Farm Insurance agent for 25 years and a mail carrier for 29 years, retiring on December 31, 2000.

He served his church by holding offices at the First Shell Rock Lutheran Church in Northwood and proudly served on committees for the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. For many years, he was a member of the Northwood Jaycee’s and Lions Club and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, which honored him with induction in the NRA Legion of Honor in 2004. Lester and Avis shared outdoor hobbies and other interests their entire married life. They enjoyed fishing and ice fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, riding motorcycles, playing blackjack at Mystic Lake Casino and home improvement projects (there were none he couldn’t do). His life was enriched by sharing these activities with his wife, children, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Lester is survived by his wife, Avis; daughters, Karen (Lynn) Watney of Lawrence, Kansas and Mary (Brent) Brunsting of Mason City; granddaughter, Chris Watney of Denver, Colorado and grandson, Chase Johnson of Ames.; step-granddaughter, Shara (John) Klesath of Mason City; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and six sisters, Orlette (Melvin) Florentz of Mason City, Ila (Cornell) Knutson of Northwood, Iva and Joy in early childhood and two sisters in infancy.
© Northwood Anchor 2009