James Alan Brosdahl

August 10, 2011

James Alan Brosdahl, age 72, of Lake Mills, passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2011. He was surrounded by his loving family at home, as he peacefully returned to his maker after a 16 year battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, August 8, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown, with Pastor Randy Baldwin officiating. Burial took place in the Somber Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation was on Sunday, August 7, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills and continued one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.

James Alan Brosdahl, was born on December 3, 1938 in Forest City, Iowa, to parents Thomas and Alvina (Tweed) Brosdahl. He attended the Fertile and Lake Mills Schools and later attended Waldorf College where he was a basketball star. On August 16, 1958, James was united in marriage with his homecoming queen, Marilyn Hanson at the Somber Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills. They were married for 53 years this month. James was the “Twinkie Man” and worked for Wonder Bread for many years until he and Marilyn bought the Victorian House in Parkersburg, and they catered and served many hungry people delicious meals for 15 years. The couple recently retired and moved back to Lake Mills.

James was an avid collector of antiques, anything Campbell Soup, coins, trains and many other collectibles. He had a wide variety of interests that he used to connect with his family and his grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, Marilyn of Lake Mills; two daughters, Kim Brosdahl of Charles City and Ann (Steven) Hersom of Peachtree City, Georgia; five grandchildren, Ashley, Calvin, Carl, Tanner and Madalyn; one great-granddaughter, Lila Rose; three brothers, Gene (Dorothy) Brosdahl of Thornton, Denny (Donna) Brosdahl of Cresco and Arlyn (Elaine) Brosdahl of Mason City; a sister, Ardelle Osnes of Forest City; along with many extended relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Brandon James Ciavarelli; and a brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Russell Osnes.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Violet E. Wangen

August 10, 2011

Violet E. Wangen, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died on Friday, August 5, 2011, at the St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 89.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, August 8, at the United Methodist Church of Albert Lea. Pastor Tom Biatek officiated. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation was from 4-7:00 p.m., on Sunday, at the Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour before the services at the church. 

Violet was born on May 29, 1922 in Emmons, the daughter of Leo and Bernice (Powers) Swehla. She graduated from the Albert High School in 1940 and then continued her education with business training for shorthand. She was united in marriage to Ray Wangen on December 16, 1940 in Mason City. Her priority in life was to make her house a home for her family. Every holiday was made special as she prepared all the food and brought everyone together. After her children were grown she had worked for a time at the St. John’s Lutheran Home and United Pre-School.

She was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church, where she had served as a Sunday School teacher for more than 45 years and enjoyed UMW and the Mary Grace Circle. She was a member of the Home Extension Club and had volunteered at the Freeborn County Historical Society and in the Horticulture Building at the Freeborn County Fair for more than 35 years.

She will be greatly missed by her sons, Dean (Carolyn) Wangen of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Ronald (Judy) Wangen of Northwood, Iowa, Wayne Wangen of Albert Lea, Minnesota and Guy Wangen of Medford, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Ellen Wangen of Winona, Minnesota; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; sister, Leona Schaffer of Des Moines; sister-in-law, Marge Swehla of Alden, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray; son, Keith; and three brothers, Merlyn, Gerald and Leo F. “Bud” Swehla.

Blessed be her memory! The family wishes to thank Sheltering Arms, St. John’s Lutheran Home for the special care Violet received.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Mary Ellen, Joseph L., Frieda A. Orth

August 10, 2011

Graveside services will be held for Mary Ellen Orth, who passed away on January 30, Joseph L. Orth, who passed away March 9, and Frieda A. Orth, who passed away on February 23, 1988. The inurnments will begin at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 13, in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood. Pastor Wendi Gillan will officiate. Arrangements are with the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Della Myrtle Grosland

August 17. 2011

Della Myrtle Grosland, 89, of Mason City, died on Saturday, August 6, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, August 10, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, with Rev. Sid Bohls officiating. Visitation was from 6-8:00 p.m., on Tuesday, August 9, at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, Mason City. Interment was in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Della Grosland memorial fund, in care of the family.

Della was born on August 12, 1921 in Pelican Rapid, Minnesota, the daughter of Herman and Olga (Mielke) Feldt. In 1941, she graduated from the Northwood High School in Northwood. Della married George M. Grosland on March 6, 1948 in Iowa City, Iowa. They moved to Mason City in 1948. Della received her teaching certificate from Iowa State University. Over the years, she worked for Northwest Airlines Modification Center and the Barton #5 – Country School in Bolan, Iowa.

She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she participated in many church group activities. Her faith, family and friends were very important to her. She enjoyed sending birthday cards to friends and family. Della was a caregiver.

Della is survived by two children, Craig Grosland of Clear Lake and Jane (Grosland) Jensen and husband, Bruce of Omaha, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Lori Grosland of Munich, Germany, Angie Grosland of San Diego, California, Jason Grosland and wife, Beth of Durham, North Carolina, Paul Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska and Sarah Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren, Ava and Abigail Grosland of Durham, North Carolina and Sophie Grosland of Munich, Germany; and one sister-in-law, Evelyn Garnas of Clear Lake; and by many nieces and nephews.

Della was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Gene Grosland; two brothers, Arnold and Donald Feldt; and two sisters, Leona Crosby and Gladys Arndt.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Jon T. Tumilson

August 17. 2011

Petty Officer Jon T. Tumilson, 35, a native of Rockford, died on Saturday, August 6, 2011, while conducting special operations combat in Afghanistan.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, August 19, at the Rudd Rockford Marble Rock Community School Gymnasium. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery at Rockford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Frogman238 Memorial Fund, First Security Bank and Trust, Rockford, Iowa. The Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City, is in charge of the arrangements.

He was born on July 1, 1976 at Osage, Iowa. He joined the U.S. Navy on July 17, 1995, following graduation from the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School. He graduated from the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in September 1995. He completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School, Coronado, California in April 2002. He served in three west-coast based Special Warfare units and in two east-coast based Special Warfare units. Petty Officer Tumilson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. His awards include the Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and Rifle Expert and Pistol Expert Medals. He deployed on multiple deployments to include Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is survived by his parents, George and Kathleen Tumilson of Rockford; two sisters, Kristie Pohlman (Brad Hartgraves) of Cedar Rapids and Joy (Scott) McMeekan of Taylor Ridge, Illinois; six nieces and nephews, Kobey Pohlman, Kamryn Pohlman, Kelsi McMeekan, Kaitlyn Pohlman, Sydney McMeekan and Isabella McMeekan; 21 aunts, uncles and cousins; and his trusted canine friend, Hawkeye.

Petty Officer Tumilson was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Nell Tumilson; maternal grandparents, John and Leona Jacobs; a friend, Kevin Reiter; and his Brothers in Arms.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Curtis Glenn Johnson

August 17. 2011

Curtis Glenn Johnson, 63, of Mason City, formerly of Northwood, died on Monday, August 8, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City.

A sharing of memories and celebration of his life was held from 2-4:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 11, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood.

Curtis Glenn Johnson, was born on June 21, 1948 in Mason City, the son of Alfred Conrad and Genevieve (Butler) Johnson. Curtis affirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood. Curtis attended and received his education in the Northwood-Kensett Community School. After his schooling, Curtis enlisted in the Army and served his country honorably and faithfully, serving most of his enlistment at Ft. Hood, Texas. After his honorable discharge, Curtis moved back to the North Iowa area working at various jobs throughout his life, mostly in Mason City. Curtis enjoyed working with horses and on cars. Curtis was a former member of the 4-H club in Northwood.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Shawn Dahlstrom of Kansas City, Missouri and Jon Smith and Kyle Smith, both of Mason City; his mother, Genevieve Methus of Northwood; his grandchildren, Angela Dahlstrom and Caiden and Jon Smith; his significant other, Linda Smith of Mason City; his sister, Sharyl (Jim) Golway of Santa Rosa, California; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Curtis was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Conrad Johnson, who died on July 12, 1986; and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
© Northwood Anchor 2011

Marian Ethel Havlik

September 7, 2011

Marian Ethel Havlik, 97, of Northwood, died on Monday, August 29, 2011, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, September 2, at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Pastor Karen Rossing Grandall officiating. Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, September 3, in the Baker Township Cemetery, rural Melvin, Iowa. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood. Visitation was also held one hour prior to the service time on Friday at the church. Marian’s family would like to suggest that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to give a memorial in her memory may wish to consider the First Lutheran Church or the Northwood Public Library.

Marian Ethel Havlik, was born on November 25, 1913 in Brentford, South Dakota, the daughter of Paul and Olive (Young) Elfrink. Marian grew up on a farm at Selby, South Dakota and graduated from the Selby High School. Marian also attended and graduated from a teachers college in Aberdeen, South Dakota, majoring in education. Marian taught school for five years, in Brentford with lower grades and also taught school for 15 years in Melvin, Iowa. Marian was united in marriage to Simon Brandt, a fellow teacher from Primghar, Iowa, on May 30, 1937. After their marriage they moved to a farm at Melvin, where their children, Donna and Rodney, joined them.

Marian enjoyed the farm life, also fishing and traveling. Simon preceded her in death in June 1982. Later Marian married John Havlik of Northwood, Iowa. John preceded her in death on April 21, 2004. Marian enjoyed reading, playing cards, especially Bridge, crocheting and traveling. Marian was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Martha Circle and a Bridge Club, all in Northwood.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Donna Unahalekhaka of Mountain City, Tennessee and Rod (Cathy) Brandt of Forest City; six grandchildren, Jean (Boyd) Collins, Paul Espey, Lynne Unahalekhaka-Norris and her husband, Randy, Shaun (Cary) McKeever, Sherry (Joe) Schneider and Jenny (Aharon) Kreiter; and 12 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and many extended family members and friends.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Simon Brandt and John Havlik; grandson, James Brandt; a brother, Clifford Elfrink; and a son-in-law, Arnath Unahalekhaka.
© Northwood Anchor 2011