Merle was born on January 23, 1922 in Kanawha, the son of Emil and Della (Hayden) Peterson. His mother was killed when he was a child and he moved to Minnesota. He served in the Navy during WW II and then moved to Waverly.

He married Alverta Nolte at the E.U.B. Church in Goodell in 1954. He worked for a crane company and ran his own landscaping business in Waverly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and two sisters.

Esther Pauline, was born on January 13, 1915, on the Linden Ranch in Cerro Gordo County near Meservey, the daughter of Bene and Emma (Stadtlander) Dorenkamp. She attended Meservey Schools.

She married Paul Andrew Bohning on March 16, 1934. The couple farmed east of Belmond until 1980 when they retired and moved into Belmond. Esther worked outside the home as a nurse's aid for the Belmond Community Hospital for ten years. She enjoyed playing cribbage, working in her flower garden and baking.

Esther was an active member of the Bethany Reformed Church in Belmond. She had resided at the Belmond Care Center following a stroke in December 2000.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Rhoda Kohler (Madison); son, Norman Bohning; two infant siblings; brother, Emil Dorenkamp; sister, Elma Mennenga; and sister-in-law, Luella Bohning.

Casket bearers were Perry Brown, Max Peterson, Chris Moore, Rob Morris, Tim Benetti, Don Triggs, Andy Johnson and Ron Retleff. Honorary casket bearers were Roger Southard, Nate Poncin, John Leist, Derek Barkema, Jake Just, Wayne DuVall, Roddy Retleff, David Hildebrand, Beth Hildebrand, Tracy Lobdell, Doug Drake and Dick Korleski.

Henry Edward, the son of Duane and Theresa Quigley Trager, was born on April 20, 1966 in Belmond. He graduated from the Belmond High School in 1985 and attended Iowa Lakes Community College, where he received a degree in auto body in 1986.

At age 13, Ed went to work at McLaughlin Brothers and continued there until 1997. In November of that year he began working for Eaton Corporation in Belmond and was employed there at the time of his death. Ed also helped Perry and Donna Brown do landscaping.

Ed was very family oriented. He was a good friend and was always there to help in any way he could. He enjoyed children, especially spending time with his nieces and his friends' children, Kevin and Jesse Brown. Ed was extremely proud of his brothers service in the United States Army.

Ed enjoyed weight lifting, biking and all types of cars. He was a Nebraska Cornhusker fan and had a large collection of Elvis Presley music and memorabilia. He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Church and the Belmond Jaycees.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1993; grandparents, Tom and Josephine Quigley and Henry Edward and Grace Trager; and aunt, Darlene Braga.

Honorary pallbearers were his brothers-in-law, Edward Willing, Jr., Kevin Johnson, Charles Martin and DeWayne Deal, all of South Carolina and nephews, Eric, David and Robert Johnson of Iowa.

Ken was born on November 6, 1942 in Belmond, the son of Alice and Ardell Johnson. He graduated from the Belmond High School, St. Olaf College, University of Iowa Medical School, St. Paul Ramsey Hospitals and Clinics, Duke University and the Medical College of Georgia. He was certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and attained the rank of major. He was discharged in 1973. He was a plastic surgeon in Florence the past 16 years and in Augusta, Georgia before that. He shared his talent with his patients to help them feel better about themselves. Many of those patients required reconstructive surgery after cancer or devastating and disfiguring accidents.

Ken was born into the Lutheran faith but joined the Episcopal Church in 1986. He was a member of the American Medical Association, South Carolina Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, South Carolina Plastic Surgery Society, Florence County Medical Society and the Lipoplasty Society of North America. He served on the staff of the McLeod Regional Medical Center, Carolinas Hospital System and Wilson Hospital.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Organist was Carol Severson and soloist was Marilyn Janssen. Ushers were Robert Kalkwarf and Robert Wenzel. Casket bearers were firemen, Wayne Bruggeman, Maynard Holmgaard, Frank Quigley, Dean Adcock, Rich Kling and Daren Mennenga.

Wallace A. was born on January 13, 1915 in Belmond, the son of Charles and Pauline (Christopher) Cramer. He was baptized in the Belmond Methodist Church and graduated from the Belmond High School in 1933. He was employed by Petersen's Meat Market when he met his companion of more than 66 years, Marion L. Rohn. Marion worked at Petersen's Cafe across from the market. They were married at Zion Lutheran on September 19, 1937. They opened Soupy's Shell Service and Cafe on Highway 69.

Marion was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis soon after their marriage and was physically disabled the rest of her life. Soupy cared for her every need. He also looked after his sister, Lucille Cramer, prior to her move to the Belmond Health Care Center.

In 1941, he began with the U.S. Postal Service. He served for three years with the U.S. Army and was in Africa and Italy during World War II. He received five Overseas Service Bars, European-Eastern Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. He earned the rank of sergeant.

He resumed his 20-year job as city mail carrier, covering 18 miles per day, and was then a rural carrier for 15 years, retiring in 1984.

Soupy was a generous and faithful man. He had many friends and enjoyed coffee times with them. He was very meticulous.

As a young man, Soupy was active in Boy Scouts, and as an adult he continued as a scoutmaster. He was an active member of the St. John Lutheran Church and a member of the VFW. Soupy loved old-time music, especially the 1940's era.

Soupy and Marion had made their home at the Bel Aire Condos since October 1983 and enjoyed activities at the Leinbach Center. They collected Hummel figurines.  

Preceding him in death was his wife this past January.

Robert was born on September 10, 1943 in Belmond, the son of Robert M. and Laura Vought Finn. He graduated from the Belmond High School and the Palmer College of Chiropractic. From 1992 to 1994, he attended the University of Wisconsin for additional licensure.

After graduating from Palmer he practiced in Missouri for four years followed by 12 years working at the Ford Motor Company in Kansas City. He then was employed with the Zion Nuclear Power Station, taking time out to practice chiropractic in Milwaukee for a year. He then returned to Zion, working for three years with Burns Security. Recently he was employed with I.T.O. Industries in Bristol as a waste water operator.

He enjoyed boating, fishing, camping, golfing and tennis. He liked working in his yard and spending time with family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his first wife, Wanda.

Paul Anthony, the son of Paul and Marie Novak Rogalla, was born on December 23, 1913 in Chicago, where he grew up and attended school.

He married Olga Loeffler on July 8, 1939 in Chicago. The couple moved to Belmond in 1946 where they raised their family. Paul worked as an interior and exterior painter. Painting and hanging wallpaper was a labor of love that Paul never really retired from.

Paul was an avid gardener, and he could fix anything. His hobbies included bowling with the senior league, golfing, playing cribbage, fishing and ice fishing. He was a member of the Belmond Country Club and the St. John Lutheran Church in Belmond.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Charles; four brothers; and one sister.

Loney, was born in Belmond on May 23, 1931, to Wilbur Ross and Gertrude Alice (Wagoner) Eggers. He graduated from the Kanawha High School where he played baseball and won the Iowa State Championship and was runner-up the next year.

He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1952 and served four years. He married Patricia Muhm on September 4, 1953 in Montgomery, Alabama. After the service he attended Waldorf College in Forest City for two years and worked nine years in Britt, moving to Sparta in 1968.

Lon worked at various banks in the area. He was a member of the Lions Club and was active in the Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed fishing, golf and bowling. He always started his day with his friends at McDonald's for coffee. He had a good sense of humor, always smiling, always funny.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Max R. Ahlstrom

January 18, 2005

Max R. Ahlstrom, 75, died on Monday, November 22, 2004, at his home in California.

He was born on August 3, 1929, on a farm near Belmond, the son of George and Mae McMahan Ahlstrom. The family later moved to Thornton and Sheffield.

He married Eleanor Watermiller in 1953, and they moved to California in 1961.

Maxine was born on April 18, 1927 in Estherville, to Lawrence and Blanche Laidley. She married Marvin (Pat) Morris on July 3, 1946 in Albert Lea. They lived on the family farm near Meservey. Upon retiring, the couple spent summers on Big Pelican Lake in Minnesota and winters in Casa Grande, Arizona. Maxine loved to golf, fish, garden, and bird watch. She belonged to the Salem United Methodist Church in Meservey. On July 19, 2004, she moved to the Elmwood Care Center in Onawa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Harvey Polsdofer; and husband, Pat in February 1994.