Marie Pearl Reese

August 18, 2010

Marie Pearl Reese, 78, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, at the St. John’s Nursing Home in Albert Lea, after battling a cancerous brain tumor.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 14, at the United Methodist Church of Albert Lea. Rev. Tom Biatek officiated. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, August 13, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Marie Pearl Reese, was born on December 27, 1931 in Gordonsville, Minnesota, to Harold and Nellie Rabe. She spent her childhood on a farm outside of Gordonsville where she was active in 4-H and riding horses on the family farm. The family moved to Northwood, in March of 1946 where she attended high school. Marie later attended night classes at NIACC and graduated with honors. Marie married Dale Perry of Northwood, in July of 1948. The family moved to Lake Mills, in the fall of 1968 and in March of 1984 Marie moved to Albert Lea where she managed the A-Lea apartments for 25 years.

Marie was an active member of the United Methodist Church, involved in Mission Outreach, Martha Circle and served as Communion Steward for many years. Marie enjoyed many activities including bowling, downhill skiing, traveling and doing volunteer work. She loved to dance and was an active member of the Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna Singles and Solos groups as well as the Eagles and Elks clubs of Albert Lea. Marie's only "complaint" in life has been that there wasn't enough time to do all the wonderful and interesting things in life and spending more time with the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Marie was dearly loved and will be missed by all.

Survivors include by her four children, Steve Perry of Mason City, Sue Foster of Edwardsville, Illinois, Vicki Brewster and husband, Don of Cloquet, Minnesota and Terri Colby and husband, Dave of Edwardsville, Illinois; five grandchildren, Nicole (Foster) Hudson, Hannah (Tucker) Thiede, Naomi (Tucker) Bouts and Philip and Dylan Colby; six great-grandchildren, Abigail, Charlotte and Foster Hudson, Jackson Addie and Molly Bouts; and five sisters, Peg Crawley, Doti Silva, Routh Otterbein Joan Stumo and Donna Jepson.

Marie was preceded in death by her father, Harold; mother, Nellie; brother, Lyle; grandparents; and a brother-in-law.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

Lucetta Marie Kermes

September 1, 2010

Lucetta Marie Kermes, age 86, of Glenville, Minnesota, died on Monday, August 23, 2010, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, August 28, at the Hayward Lutheran Church. Rev. Katie Fick officiated. Interment was in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Myrtle, Minnesota. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, August 27, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Lucetta Marie Kermes, was born on March 24, 1924 in Albert Lea, to Leslie and Anne (Christensen) Otteson. She grew up in the Albert Lea area and graduated from the Albert Lea High School. For a short time after school she was employed at Munsingwear. On March 2, 1946, she was united in marriage to Clifford Kermes in Clarks Grove. The couple farmed in Oakland and in the Cass Lake areas for three years, then moved to the Glenville area, where she enjoyed being a farm wife.

Lucetta was a member of the Trondhjem Lutheran Church, Hayward Senior Citizens and the Myrtle Birthday Club and served as the secretary for the Farmer’s Union. She loved fishing, gardening and dancing at the Brick Hall, where Lucetta was a long time member of Lodge Zare Zapadu #44. As a couple, they enjoyed traveling to Europe and across the U.S.

Survivors include her husband, Clifford (Jack) Kermes; children, Judy (Jim) Becker of Oakland and James (Debra) Kermes of South St. Paul; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Van Hooser, Rita (Jesse) Anderson, Angela (Dave) Rust and Michael (Becky) Kermes; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Violet Henderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Lucetta was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Owen Otteson.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

Edna A. Schaub

September 1, 2010

Edna A. Schaub, 87, of rural Kensett, died on Monday, August 23, 2010, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m., at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, Iowa, with Rev. Ron Bolinger officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery. Visitation was on Tuesday, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Edna was born on November 1, 1922 near Grafton, Iowa, to Leonard and Edvina (Wilde) Walk. She married Ellis "Bud" Schaub on August 24, 1947, which would have been their 63rd anniversary. Edna was baptized, confirmed, married and will be buried in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton. She taught Sunday School for nearly 50 years and was a circle member at the church. After her farming years, Edna worked at the Manly Care Center.

Together with Bud, they were members of the Trail Riders Organizations and enjoyed the friends from those organizations. Family, community and church were very important to Edna.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Clarence Walk; and sister-in-law, Ethel Walk.

Edna is survived by her husband, Ellis "Bud" of Kensett; three sons, Lynn (Sharon) Schaub of Northwood, Curt (Julie) Schaub of Grafton and Jay Schaub of Grafton; grandchildren, Eric (Angie) Schaub, Brent Schaub and Michael Schaub; great-grandchildren, Alex and Zac Schaub; step-grandchildren, Tyler (Kelly) Jansen, Tony (Kizzy) Jansen and Sara Jansen; step-great-grandchild, Elijah Jansen; and several nieces and nephews.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

Thelma G. Gaarder

September 8, 2010

Thelma G. Gaarder, age 92, of Sibley, Iowa, died on Saturday, August 28, 2010, at the Country View Manor in Sibley.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, August 31, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, with Reverend Scott Meyer officiated. Following lunch at Trinity Lutheran, family and friends were asked to meet at the Elk Creek Lutheran Cemetery in Kensett, for a 3:00 p.m. burial. Visitation was held on Monday, August 30, from 2-7:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.

Thelma Geneva Julseth, was born on July 1, 1918 in Kensett, Iowa and was the only girl of six children born to Clifford and Minnie (Brunsvold) Julseth. Thelma (aka Granny Puff) was united in marriage with Hoyt Gaarder on December 29, 1941, days prior to his departure for the European Theatre during WW II. While Hoyt was in the military, Thelma worked at a bank in Mason City, Iowa. Upon Hoyt’s return from the War, they moved to Worth County, Iowa where they farmed from 1946 until 1957. During this time, Thelma also worked at a bank in Northwood. While they were living on the farm, they welcomed their three children, Angelynn, Brian and Scott. The Gaarder family later moved to Sibley, where Thelma worked as an accounting secretary for her husband’s insurance business.

Thelma had three priorities in her life and she listed them in the following order: Faith, Family and Friends. Thelma was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley. When she wasn’t raising her children or spending time with grandchildren, she was volunteering for her church and Meals on Wheels. Thelma was an avid golfer and enjoyed music and testing her Jeopardy skills. She loved to spend her time reading, doing crossword puzzles, baking, supporting Hoyt’s passion for the Hawkeyes and Vikings, traveling, and being involved in her bridge and sewing clubs. In addition to her loving husband, the joy of her life was time spent with her family during holidays and vacations.

Thelma is survived by her three children, Angelynn Dolan and husband, Robert Corey of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Brian and wife, Carolyn Gaarder of Fargo, North Dakota and Scott and wife, Judy Gaarder of Sibley; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hoyt Gaarder; son-in-law, Thad Dolan; and five brothers.
© Northwood Anchor 2010