Robert Duane, the son of Oscar and Carrie Shaw Nelson, was born on January 13, 1926 in Belmond. He grew up in Belmond and in high school Ozzie excelled in basketball and baseball. He graduated from the Belmond High School in 1944. In 1945 he entered the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1947.

Ozzie married Emma Eekhoff on January 4, 1948, at the United Church of Christ in Clarion. They then traveled to Florida where Ozzie participated in a baseball school for the minor league farm team for the Boston Red Sox.

The couple made their home in Belmond, where Ozzie began working for his father at Oscar Nelson Sand and Gravel. He continued to run the gravel pits with his family after Oscar died in 1962. Ozzie worked at the south pit until 1965 and then at the north pit until retiring in 1990.

Ozzie is remembered by family and friends, alike, for his fun loving personality and varied interests. Ozzie and Em enjoyed spending their winters in Fort Myers. He enjoyed playing his songs on the keyboard. He liked watching baseball and basketball. The Chicago Cubs was his team. Ozzie loved golf and was Club Champion at the Belmond Country Club in 1979.

Ozzie belonged to the American Legion and V.F.W. in Belmond and the Loyal Order of The Moose in Fort Myers Beach. He was one of the original board members of the Belmond Country Club and was a life time member of Slippery Elm in Klemme. Ozzie was a member of the Belmond United Methodist Church.

Ozzie was preceded in death by his parents.

Helen Ryerson, was born on July 25, 1921 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the daughter of Arthur and Ida (Williams) Ryerson. She graduated from high school in Eau Claire and later attended Hunter College for two years.

Helen was a veteran of World War II. She entered the U.S. Navy on September 7, 1941 and her active duty was spent partially in New York where she served as a dental technician. She received the American Campaign Ribbon and WW II Victory Ribbon.

She was a 50 year plus member of the American Legion. Helen was Past Commander of the only all-female American Legion Post #988 in Chicago. She had also been an active member of the Rowan Legion Post #159. She served for a number of years as Chairman of the Midwest Waves.

Helen married Raymond Kramer, Sr. on September 20, 1946 in Chicago. To this union four children were born. Three sons, Raymond, William and James, who died in infancy, and one daughter, Nancy.

The family lived in Chicago for many years where Helen was employed at the Wesley Memorial Hospital for 30 years. Her husband died in 1964. She moved to Rowan in 1979 and also lived in Dows and at the Retirement Center in Belmond.

Helen had a life long love of genealogy that commenced at age 11 and continued into her 70's. Much of her work involved tracing her ancestors in the Belmond and surrounding areas. She was a long-time member of the Wright County Genealogical Society. Helen was a foster parent to more than 40 children.

Dale, the son of Herman and Annie Koenen Frohling, was born on April 15, 1931, in rural Belmond. He attended country schools in the Belmond and Thornton area. He received his high school diploma while serving in the Army.

Dale entered the US Army in November of 1951, serving during the Korean War. He was a military policeman for a POW camp during that time. He was honorably discharged on December 1, 1959.

On February 5, 1960, Dale was united in marriage to Myra Zieman at the Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond. The couple made their home on the Zieman farm near Meservey and then Thornton where Dale and Myra were engaged in crop and livestock farming. He also worked for the Woodford-Wheeler Lumber Yard in Meservey and Thornton. Dale retired in 1991. The couple then moved to an acreage south of Meservey.

Dale enjoyed tinkering with engines. He especially liked riding horses with his family and he drove a horse and buggy in several parades. He also enjoyed speaking German and telling stories. Dale liked being around anything that involved his grandchildren. He also helped his children on their acreages and helped area farmers with combining and he did some trucking for Farm Services.

Dale was a member of the American Legion in Meservey and VFW in Garner. He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church of Meservey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Kent in 1995; one brother; and three sisters.

He was born on October 10, 1917 in Belmond, the son of James and Ida Jacobs Finn.

He retired from the Marine Corps after 28 years. He served in WW II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam as a fighter pilot. He also retired from the Northern County School District.

Preceding him in death was his wife, Marilynn J. McGuire Finn.

Audrey Lenoir Leinen, the daughter of Frank and Sylvia Ferguson Leinen, was born on June 29, 1913 in Mechanicsville. She graduated from the Mechanicsville High school, received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1933 and taught in rural schools. During WW II, she worked at an aviation assembly plant in Wichita, Kansas and in California.

Audrey married William Theodore Schneckloth on September 26, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas. They moved to Spencer where she worked at the newspaper, later for a CPA and as a Deputy Treasurer at the Clay County Treasurer's office, retiring in 1982.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William; one brother, Gordon Leinen; and one sister, Hazel Dauber.

Casket bearers were Virgil Stahl, Devin Piippo, Kay Burke, Brian Tisor, Wayne Redmond and Jeff Tisor. Honorary bearers were Gerald McNulty, Kristen Tisor, Laurel Redmond, Gerald Burke, Rebecca Peterson, Sandra Piippo and Amy Tisor.

Leo, the son of Michael and Alice Hemingway Kearney, was born on September 5, 1917, on his parents farm at Klemme. He lived on the farm his entire life. Leo graduated from the Goodell High School, where he was the valedictorian of his class.

Leo married Irene (Angelides) Tisor, on September 12, 1964 and they farmed the home place. Irene died on July 28, 1995. Leo continued to reside on the farm until moving to the Good Shepherd Health Care Center in Mason City in January of this year.

Leo was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He had a life-long love of working the land and was known by many for his love of gardening and exceptional tomatoes. He loved visiting with people, caring for his special dogs and cats, and truly enjoyed family celebrations such as birthday parties and Christmas gatherings.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Irene; and sisters, Frances and LaVonne.

Homer was born in Ellsworth on April 6, 1917. He was educated in the Ellsworth School System and graduated in 1935. He married Anna Mae Hill at Our Savior Church in Stanhope on October 22, 1941.

Homer farmed at Stanhope and Fertile from 1941-1963. He purchased the Belmond Hotel in 1963, which the tornado destroyed in 1966. From 1966-1998 he drove Winnebago motor homes.

Homer and Ann lived in Apache Junction and Queen Creek, Arizona, during the winter months for the past 14 years. They resided in Belmond during the remainder of the year.

Homer was a trustee of the Lutheran Church in Fertile, member of the Elks Lodge, a Commissioner for the Soil Conservation District, and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond.

He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed fishing throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Canada. His greatest treasures in life were his friends and his family who cherished him and will deeply miss his humor and wit.

Homer was preceded in death by his grandchildren, Emily Morgan Knoll and Benjamin Scott Meints; brothers, Clare Daniel, William Scott and Wayne Edward Brinton; mother, Mabelle Emma (Lindebak) Brinton; father, Scott Marshall Brinton; and grandparents, Marshal Homer and Mary J. Scott Brinton, Edward O. and Emma Osterus Lindebak.

Jelto was born on August 2, 1912 in Alexander, to Adolf and Minnie (Pals) Eden. He was a farmer in the Franklin County area. He served as both a Deacon and an Elder at the First Reformed Church in Alexander.