Jewell Thompson

October 10, 2012

Jewell Thompson, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at the St. John’s Lutheran Home. 

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 6, at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood. Rev. Wayne Hagen officiated. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery at a later date. Visitation was held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, October 5, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayview funeral.com

Jewell Thompson, was born on December 22, 1912 on the Haugerud Farm in Silver Lake, Iowa, to Jul Marthinius and Inger (Haugerud) Thompson. For his first 12 years Jewell grew up by Silver Lake and went to country school and the next eight years he grew up west of Northwood. He was united in marriage on January 9, 1936, to B. Lillian Holstad in Hampton, Iowa. They were married for 71 years. Jewell spent many years farming and bought the farm near Myrtle in 1948. He farmed there until 1975. In 1979, Jewell and Lillian moved to Albert Lea.

He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Northwood and the Eagles Club in Albert Lea. Jewell liked to listen to the Minnesota Twins, farm news and weather. Jewell and Lillian enjoyed vacationing in their motor home and taking the grandchildren along. In pastimes Jewell would tell stories of his childhood and being a hired man for the first six years of his married life. Jewell enjoyed playing cards and telling jokes to family and friends, most of all he enjoyed making others laugh. Everyone will miss his great humor.

Survivors include his children, Judean "Geno" and wife, Carol, Gary and wife, Sandy and Lou Jean and husband, Gordy Nelson, all of Albert Lea, Jerome and wife Jen of Harker Heights, Texas and Hertha and husband, Denny Steckelberg of Gillette, Wyoming; grandchildren, DeeAnn and Rod Westrum, Lisa and Tim Shiley, Steven and Julia Thompson, Scott and Marnie Thompson, Michael Thompson, Rhonda and Jim Jensen, Julie Patino, Sue and Brad Walters, Brenda and Vince Madson, Dean and Missi Thompson, Rodney and Becky Thompson, Brian Mondido, Dawn Broitzman and Jeff and Cari Broitzman; 28 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Harriet Thompson; and many nieces and nephews.

Jewell was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lillian; brothers, Arnold, Glen and Clifford; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Jerry Parmley

October 10, 2012

Jerry Parmley, former director of Veterans Affairs in Worth County, passed away on Monday, October 8, 2012 at his home, surrounded by family. He fought a hard battle and is now at peace.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Sunday, October 14, at the Izaak Walton clubhouse, located one mile north of Kensett on Highway 65 (between Northwood and Kensett), from 2-4:00 p.m. Appetizers and desserts welcome.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Shirley Johnson

October 24, 2012

Shirley Ann (Abrahams) Johnson, 70, of Mason City, formerly of Northwood, died on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at her daughter’s home in Unionville, Missouri.

A visitation for Shirley will be held from 4-6:00 p.m., on Friday, October 26, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood. A private family burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood.

Shirley Ann (Abrahams) Johnson, was born on November 23, 1941 in Northwood, the daughter of Bernhard A. and Edith V. (Adams) Abrahams. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith in Owatonna, Minnesota and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Bolan. She attended school in Northwood and graduated from the Northwood-Kensett High School in 1960. Shirley also graduated from the La James School of Cosmetology in 1962. Shirley worked at the Newton Hospital as a certified nursing assistant and at a county care facility in Newton, as an assistant to the school nurse. Shirley also worked at the Globe Gazette newspaper in Mason City and as a beautician. For the last 28 years, she worked in the medical field.

She was united in marriage to Richard Werle at the Little Brown Church in Nashua in 1962. He preceded her in death in May 2006. She was united in marriage to Jerry Johnson in December 1984, in Knoxville, Iowa. He preceded her in death.

Shirley enjoyed quilting, needlework and being on a bowling league. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bolan.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Nancy Werle of Louisville, Kentucky and Vicky (Gary) Anders of Unionville, Missouri; her grandchildren, Ashley, Cassandra and Josh Richard Cullum, Cory Timblin and Ryan, Nathan and Caleb Dover; eight great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Betty (Carl) Tesch of Lincoln, Nebraska, Vernon (Glenyce) Abrahams of Doniphan, Missouri, David (Phyllis) Abrahams of Northwood, Mary Montgomery of Mason City and Duane (Karen) Abrahams of Northwood; and her best friend, Joann Paulsen of Newton; as well as many nieces, nephews and many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; three sisters; and one brother.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Francis Boggess

October 24, 2012

Francis Boggess, 92, passed away on Friday, October 19, 2012, at the Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, Iowa.

Visitation is from 5-7:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 28, at the Henry Olson Funeral Home in Estherville. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, October 29, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville.

Francis Xavier Boggess, the son of Les and Mary (Nolan) Boggess, was born on February 22, 1920 in Estherville, Iowa. He attended the Estherville High School, graduating in 1937. He then attended Estherville Junior College from 1938-1939. Francis served in the U.S. Air Corp from 1942-1946 as a Radio Operator and was discharged as a Corporal. Returning home from the service, he worked at Estherville Ready Mix and was part of the Surveyors crew for the State Highway Commission. He enrolled at Drake University in 1949, majoring in Education, where he received three degrees, a Bachelor's in 1950, a Master's in 1954 and an EDS in 1966. He also attended summer school sessions at Colorado State, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Minnesota.

Francis began teaching English and Business subjects at the Kensett High School in 1951, where he coached both boys and girls varsity basketball. He became principal of Kensett High School in 1954. He served as junior high principal for 15 years at Northwood-Kensett before becoming high school principal in 1981, until his retirement in 1992. Francis started the girls basketball program at Northwood-Kensett High School and coached the girls there for 12 years. The Iowa High School Athletic Association awarded Francis for his contribution to high school athletics.

He was a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Estherville, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Elks Lodge.

Francis's interests included all sporting events, but he especially enjoyed watching Notre Dame football and Drake basketball. He was an avid reader and loved working crossword puzzles. Francis enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and Europe, visiting Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany. He traveled with his best friend, Robert Perkins, a fellow educator, whom he met while they were both students at Drake.

Left to cherish Francis's memory are 21 nieces and nephews and many more grand-nieces and nephews.

Preceding Francis in death were his parents, Les and Mary; his two brothers, Nolan and Maurice; and his sister, Virginia (Boggess) Johnson.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Karl Himan

October 31, 2012

Karl Himan, beloved husband of Julie, passed away suddenly on Friday, October 19, 2012.

He is survived by his wife; three children, Jodie, Andrea and David; their spouses, Joe, Chris and Robin; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his brother, Leland; and nieces and nephews.

There will be a "Celebration of Life" for Karl on Monday, November 19, at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church in rural Northwood, Iowa, at 2:00 p.m. Cookies and coffee will be served.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Minnie Scheffel

October 31, 2012

Minnie Bernette Scheffel, 89, of Lyle, Minnesota, died on Sunday, October 21, 2012, at the Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 27, at the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church, Glenville, Minnesota, with the Reverend Ronald D. Myers officiating. Interment was in the Woodbury Cemetery, Lyle, Minnesota. Visitation was on Friday, from 4-7:00 p.m., at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin, Minnesota and at the church on Saturday, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service.

Minnie was born on May 1, 1923, on the Helle Farm in Winnebago County, Lake Mills, Iowa, to Ole and Lena (Turtedahl) Helle. She was baptized at the Lime Creek Christian School on May 20, 1923. She attended the Lime Creek Christian Day School until the fifth grade, when the family moved to rural Lyle, Minnesota. She attended country school at the Nevada and Ames Schools. Minnie was confirmed on May 29, 1938, by Rev. William Milbrath at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota. She graduated from the Austin High School in 1942 and was employed at the Geo. A. Hormel Co. for three years.

Minnie was married to Richard C. Scheffel on June 2, 1943, at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin. She and Richard were members of the London Lutheran Church, where she served as Sunday School superintendent and teacher. She was an active member of the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church of Glenville, Minnesota, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Lois Circle.

Minnie was known as a great cook and her lefse was always in demand during the holidays. She enjoyed having company and serving her good food to friends and family. Minnie and Richard spent several winters as snowbirds with their friends from the London area. She later attended classes to become a home health aide and took great pride in caring for those less fortunate. In 2002, the Scheffels’ moved to Austin. They were residents at Pickett Place and the Cedars of Austin, until declining health found them living at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield.

Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, Ole and Lena Helle; in-laws, Herbert and Nettie Scheffel; son, Arnold Scheffel; brothers, Orville, Melvin and Hans Helle; sister, Anna Helle Benson; and granddaughter, Amy Lynn Scheffel.

Minnie is survived by her husband, Richard Scheffel of Hayfield, Minnesota; daughter, Judy Stark of Atwater, Minnesota; son and daughter-in-law, Roger and DeAnn Scheffel of Lyle, Minnesota; grandchildren, Matt (Sue) Stark, Suzanne (Anthony) Holtz, Mindee (Joe) Hemann, Scott (Dani) Scheffel, Patty (Mark) Conradt, Jennifer Scheffel, Michelle (Rod) Lange and Candice (Randall) Lahann; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lillian Brady of Austin, Minnesota and Ruth (Sheldon) Lukes of Austin, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Jacobson of Lyle, Minnesota and Fern Johnson of Austin, Minnesota; and nieces and nephews.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Marjorie Jaspers

October 31, 2012

Marjorie Lucille (Lewis) Jaspers, 89, of Northwood, died on Saturday, October 27, 2012, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 2, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood. There will be a private family committal service on Saturday, in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood. The family would like to suggest that those wishing to give a memorial in her memory may wish to consider memorial contributions to the Marjorie Jaspers memorial fund; to the Mosaic, 102 West Park Street, Forest City, Iowa 50436; or to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Marjorie Lucille (Lewis) Jaspers, was born on November 18, 1922 in Mason City, the daughter of Milton and Ione (Wilson) Lewis. Marge received her education in the Mason City community schools, graduating from the Mason City High School on May 29, 1940. She was united in marriage to Maynard Stanton Jaspers on November 20, 1946 and that was a start of a long and loving relationship. Maynard and Marjorie founded Jaspers Motor and Implement in April 1948. They worked side by side throughout the years in agreement and without arguments. They were always together and the years since Maynard’s passing in 1993, were especially difficult for Marjorie. Their reunion now is a blessing for them.

Marjorie was a loving wife and mother. She was always an "outdoors" person and liked having boys, spending time with them, her horses and dogs. As a young woman she rode and showed American Saddlebred Horses, which was an activity she shared with her parents and brothers. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, painting, crafts and dancing. It always brought joy to her life when she could spend time with children and especially with her "Grandma Marj" grandchildren. Marjorie was a very active member of the Northwood United Methodist Church and the church circle. Marjorie was a hostess for the Conner Colonial Chapel for many years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Donald Jaspers of Northwood, Ronald Jaspers of Saint Ansgar, Bradley Jaspers of the Mosaic group home in Clarion and an "adopted" daughter, Pat Muehl of Evansdale; her brother, Bill (Jo) Lewis of Three Rivers, Michigan; her sister-in-law, Pete Lewis of Mason City; seven nieces, nephews and many loving children who called her "Grandma Marj"; as well as many other extended family members and a host of friends.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Ione Lewis; her husband, Maynard who died in 1993; and a brother, Lefty Lewis.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Claus Pixley

November 7, 2012

Claus Rush Pixley, 94, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, at The Breakers of Long Beach, Long Beach, California.

Claus will make his final trip back home to be laid to rest beside his parents in Sunset Cemetery, Northwood, today (Wednesday, November 7) at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Stephen Wolfe officiating. Our family would like to recognize and thank his good friend, Jesse Brooks, for his care of Claus these last few weeks and for bringing Claus home to rest.

Claus Pixley was born on April 27, 1918, son of Herbert and Effie (McQuatters) Pixley in Northwood. Claus was a graduate of the Northwood-Kensett High School. He loved music and participated in band during his school years. The N-K band trip to Cleveland in 1939 was his best memory of his school days. Claus honored this memory with a donation of $40,000 to the N-K music department in 2005. He was very proud of how he earned this "extra money"; he bought stock in the Hilton Hotel in the 1940s, where he worked in the Sky Room for many years. The hotel was converted to assisted living now known as The Breakers of Long Beach. When Claus moved there in September 2012, he said he was back home.

Claus loved to dance, travel and gamble. Claus traveled to Hawaii often and stayed several months at a time. Claus loved Las Vegas and Reno and made many trips there. His last trip was earlier this year. Claus opened Claus’ Men’s Store in Long Beach and ran it through the 1960s. My sole visit to Claus was in 2008. He participated in an annual gathering of Iowa transplants each summer in Long Beach. Claus always sent his annual Christmas greeting-always a Santa Claus card, that he never failed to send to family in Iowa.

Claus was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clayton Garr Pixley and his wife, Cora; first cousins, Linn, Gladys, Glenn and Beva Pixley; second cousins, John, Lillian, Bob and Verna Pixley; and many family and friends.

Written by his third cousin, Bev Pixley, Eureka, California. Aloha Claus.
© Northwood Anchor 2012

Roger Osmonson

November 7, 2012

Roger Harold Osmonson, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, passed away early in the morning on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at the Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He had received new life through the gift of a heart transplant there on July 12, 1996.

There was a gathering of friends and family from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 2, at the Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar. The funeral was held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 3, at the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church, with Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Inurnment in the Woodbury Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Roger was born on October 15, 1943 in Austin, Minnesota, to Denver and Irma (Pope) Osmonson. He started school in Minnereka Country School, continued his education in Otranto and was in the last graduating class at the Carpenter High School in 1962. Roger completed auto/machinery mechanics training through Austin Area Vocational School in Austin, Minnesota. From a young age, Roger was a hard worker; he helped farmers with fieldwork through his school years, worked at Boyd Implement in Northwood, Iowa, and then was employed as a partsman at Thill Implement in Rose Creek, Minnesota. Before retiring in 2005, Roger worked as a custodian at the St. Ansgar High School for 22 years.

Roger and Sara Louise Pike were married on September 9, 1967, at the Otranto Community Church. They then resided on the family farm east of Otranto. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Jill Elaine and Jana Leigh, who helped their parents celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary this year.

Roger is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sara; daughter, Jill (David) Hill and their children, Autumn (13) and Hunter (11) of Mason City, Iowa; daughter, Jana (James) Huebsch and their daughters, Hilary (20), Hannah (15) and Halle (12) of Mitchell, Iowa; sister, Ann (Horace) Hendrickson of Northwood, Iowa; brother-in-law, Roland (Kathy) Pike of Rochester, Minnesota; and two nieces, Emily Pike of St. Paul, Minnesota and Elizabeth Pike of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gary; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Guy and Arlene Pike; brother-in-law, Roger Guy Pike; and grandparents, Isaac and Lorenca Osmonson and Alfred and Cora Pope.
© Northwood Anchor 2012