Jennie DeWaard

December 9, 2008

Jennie Dirksen Goeman DeWaard, 101, formerly of Belmond, died on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, at the Kanawha Community Home, where she had resided the past six years.

A private burial was held the morning of Friday, December 5, at the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery, east of Belmond. A memorial service was held that afternoon at the Wright Christian Reformed Church west of Belmond.

Jennie Borchers, was born on June 24, 1907, to Dirk and Yettie (Pals) Dirksen in Alexander. She was baptized and made her profession of faith at the Alexander Reformed Church. She was educated in Windsor Township. On February 13, 1930, Jennie married Rammer Goeman and they moved to a farm east of Belmond. They were active members of the Immanuel Reformed Church where Jennie taught Sunday School. Rammer died on January 31, 1951.

In 1958, Jennie married Joe DeWaard. They lived in Kanawha and were members of Wright Christian Reformed. They lived in Denver in the winter and enjoyed traveling around the United States.

Jennie and Joe were active in receiving funds and planning for the Kanawha Community Home. Along with their grandchildren, they helped plant trees in the yard. The two of them helped tend the yard and gardens. Joe died in 1981, and Jennie continued to live in Kanawha and Denver until moving to the Bel-Air Condos in Belmond in 1994. She remained active in the details of managing the farm until she was in her early 90's. She always enjoyed rides to check on the crops.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; daughter-in-law, Donna; and four siblings, all of whom lived into their 90's.

Jennie is survived by her daughter, Lyola (Earl) Logterman of Denver; son, Richard (Carol) Goeman of Tucson, Arizona; brother, Dirk Dirksen of Alexander; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Thelma Nicolet

December 9, 2008

Thelma Nicolet, 83, of Belmond, died on Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 6, at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Thornton, with Pastor Milton D. Johnson presiding. Interment was in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Thornton.

Thelma Katherine, was born on August 30, 1925 at Thornton, the daughter of Peter and Cecelia (Bertelsen) Floy. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran and attended school in Thornton, graduating in 1943. She attended Upper Iowa University where she received her teaching degree. She taught school in Swaledale, Ventura and Thornton.

On June 13, 1948, she married Dwain Nicolet at St. Paul's Lutheran. They lived on their farm west of Thornton for 49 years. In 1975, she became employed at the First State Bank of Thornton where she worked until retirement in 1991. They moved to Belmond in September of 1997. They enjoyed many winters in Texas and summers at Leech Lake, Minnesota.

Thelma's hobbies were gardening, baking, reading, fishing and boating. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and especially the last five months with Kinslie Jo her youngest great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and sisters, Seydell Hagen and Bonnie Hagen.

She is survived by her children, Cindy (Jim) Petersen of Des Moines, Jo Ellen (Larry) Swenson of Belmond and Scott (Christine) of Round Rock, Texas; grandchildren, Jennifer (Max) Peterson, Angela Heiden, Heather Swenson, Michael Petersen, Amy (Wes) Burrell, Brian Nicolet and Sarah Nicolet; seven great-grandchildren; and brother, Charles (Janice) Floy of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Richard Ulrich

December 9, 2008

Richard L. Ulrich, 85, of Klemme, died on Thursday, December 4, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, December 8, at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme, with Rev. Donna Buckman officiating. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. 

Richard, the son of Lloyd and Clara (Merkel) Ulrich, was born on July 9, 1923 in Liberty Township, Hancock County. He attended the Liberty #5 Rural School. The family moved to Clear Lake in 1941 and Rich went to work at the Clear Lake Bakery, where he met his future wife, Pauline. They were married on October 19, 1942 at Glenville, Minnesota.

Richard focused his life around his family, the genealogy of both his and Pauline's family, camping, dancing, gardening, fixing and building things in his garage, and visiting with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife on June 19, 2007; son, Larry; grandson, Richard; son-in-law, Robert; great-great-grandson, Kayden Johnson; and sister, Sharlyene Baird.

Survivors include his daughters, Patricia (the late Robert) Lee of Mason City and Donna (Lynn) Katter of Rochester, New York; grandchildren, Wendell, Richard, Lynetta, Denise, Dawn, Michael, Kathryn, Paul, Melissa and Allison; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Merlyn (Geneva) Ulrich and Ronald Ulrich all of Mason City; and sisters, Beverly Gates of Dunn, North Carolina and Linda (Johnny) Quinones and Roberta (Don) Meyer, all of Mason City.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Anita Walrod

December 9, 2008

Anita M. Walrod, 85, of Latimer, died on Friday, December 5, 2008, at the Franklin General Nursing Home in  Hampton.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday morning, December 10, at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Latimer, with burial in the church cemetery. 
 
Anita Marie, the daughter of John and Marie (Kanning) Abbas, was born on March 21, 1923, at her parents' home in Latimer. She married Gerald W. Walrod on June 7, 1941 in Hampton. Anita  was a life long homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She also worked as a cook at the CAL Community School for ten years. In addition to nurturing to the needs of her family,  Anita always found time to help others. Her caring ways and non-judgmental accepting of others made her a special lady.

Anita and her husband looked forward to summer and hosting their grandchildren at their home. Though Anita may have been set in her ways, you always knew where she stood. She was at times serious, but was also a kid at heart. Her family recalls weekends spent at the family duck shack at Wall Lake, and an occasion when Anita dressed up as a duck hunter and went trick or treating. She enjoyed times spent over coffee with friends at the store in Latimer. Anita looked forward to a an occasional train trip to visit her son, Michael and LeNae during their years in Montana, and trips other to places, including Winnipeg.

Anita was a life long member of the St. Paul's Lutheran. She was active in the church and the community as a member of the LWML, Men's League, Latimer Park Society, American Legion Ladies' Auxiliary, and the Heritage Club. She will be remembered as a very independent lady who gave unselfishly to others. Her family will miss her loving ways as a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.  

Anita was preceded in death by her parents; husband on December 13, 1991; brother, Paul Abbas; and an infant daughter, Geraldine.

Survivors include son, Michael (LeNae) Walrod of Latimer; daughter, Mary (Richard) Ruhge of Clear Lake; brother-in-law, Dale (Nadine) Walrod of Belmond; grandchildren, Regina (Heath) Blau of Latimer, Daniel Kirchoff of Gillette, Wyoming, John Walrod of Coulter and Tammy Walrod of Hampton; great-grandchildren, Corey Walrod, Clarissa Blau, Jacob Blau, Blake Walrod and Matthew Walrod.

Anita's presence will be missed by her family, including those precious moments they shared in the recent months of her declining health.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Lovell Diddy

December 9, 2008

Lovell D. Diddy, 96, of Ridge Manor, Florida, died on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, at the Haven Hospice in Gainesville.

A memorial service was held on Friday, December 5, 2008, at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Lovell Daniel, was born on December 17, 1911, to D. Walter and Ida Diddy in Washington Township, Iowa. He graduated in 1931 from the Washington Township High School, received his BA in 1936 from Drake University, and his MS degree in education in 1942 from Drake. He taught school at the Washington Township High School in Minburn and at the West Bend High School. He served as Superintendent at DeSoto. In June 1944, he joined the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and in 1950 he was promoted to Captain in the Marine Corps Reserves.

After WW II, he served as Superintendent at Meservey for 18 years and as Principal at Meservey-Thornton and Ventura. His avocation was coaching girls basketball. He had over 400 career victories in 24 years of coaching. In 1939 he led the West Bend team to a state championship and coached four teams in state meets. In 1957 the Meservey girls finished third at state, and in 1958 they placed fourth. Upon retirement in 1974, Lovell and his wife, Lucille started dividing time between Iowa and Florida so they could spend more time pursuing their love of golf. 

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Paul and twin brother, Loren; and sister, Phyllis Fitzsimmons. 

He is survived by son, Gary (Janet) Diddy of Arvada, Colorado; daughter, Kathleen (Farol) Tomson of Gainesville; grandchildren, Sara (John) Diddy Colvard of Centerburg, Ohio, Hugh (Eve) Diddy of New York City, Farol L. Tomson of Dallas, Texas, Elizabeth (Alain) Tomson Sergile of Madrid, Spain and Eric (Kelly) Tomson of Richmond, Virginia; great-grandchildren, Jake, Chloe and Sophia Colvard, Tessa, Sebastien and Ian Sergile of Madrid and Samantha Tomson; and sister, Marjory Orr of Council Bluffs.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Roger Ridder

December 30, 2008

Roger A. "Lefty"  Ridder, 79, of Klemme, died on Wednesday, December 24, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City, surrounded by his family.

Services were held on Monday, December 29, at the Klemme United Methodist Church, with Reverend Paddy Druhl officiating. The Klemme Military Honor Guard provided honors. 

Roger was born on September 6, 1929 in Klemme, the son of Levi and Dolores (Koerner) Ridder. He graduated from the Klemme High School in 1947. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, where he met his wife, Margot Hesse. Roger was honorably discharged as a Corporal. Roger married Margot in Weiterode, Germany on December 25, 1949. He lived and worked in Germany for the next 15 years before he and Margot and their five children moved back to the United States in 1964. Roger worked as a salesman for KLSM radio in Mason City before he dedicated himself to full-time farming.

Roger lived a conservative lifestyle and abhorred waste. He was a conservationist before it was fashionable. He enjoyed playing pool and Trivial Pursuit with his family, and anything that stimulated the brain. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, teaching them the value of a nickel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant sister, Marilyn.  
    
Survivors include his wife; children, Monica (Paul) Kruse, Randy (Patt) Ridder, Sylvia Shell, Gloria (Rik Young) Bittner and Sonja (Ray Schmidt) Ridder; grandchildren, Tanya, Derek (Nicole), Justin, Ryan (Karrie) Shawn, Veronica (Josh), Nickolas, Christopher (Amber), Samantha, Lisa, Trenton, Jacob and Makenzie; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Madisyn and Ashton; brother, Dennis; sister, Maralee; and close family friend, Darlene Toyne.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Carl Barkema

December 30, 2008

Carl W. Barkema, 100, died peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2008, at the Belmond Health Care Center. 

Carl Walter, the third child of Flora (Eden) and Hans Barkema, was born on January 18, 1908, on the Barkema section northeast of Alexander. He graduated from the Alexander Consolidated School. Carl worked on his parents' farm until about age twenty-six, when he married Verla Margaret Liebing from Milbank, South Dakota. They lived in town, Carl working for the Schulte Grain Company and Verla giving piano lessons and boarding teachers. Margorie was born during this time in 1936.

They then rented a Luick farm west of Alexander. While living there, three additional children were born, Dorothy in l939, Donald in 1941 and Duane in 1942. After that, the formative family years were spent on a Schulte farm seven miles northeast of Alexander. While living there Norman was born in 1947. In 1956, Carl moved closer to Alexander.

He was a lifelong member of the Alexander Reformed Church, served for decades as church Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent and Consistory member. He also served on the fair board, school board, and as land assessor, all at the county level.

Carl and Verla built a home in Mesa, Arizona. They had lived there about six months when Verla died suddenly in early 1978. Carl then divided his time between Mesa and the farm. In later years he enjoyed golfing, bowling and many friends.

In 1983, Carl married Esther Pursell and Mesa became his permanent home. He continued to visit family in Iowa and Wisconsin for a couple of weeks each spring and fall. Esther and Carl had been married about sixteen years when they both began to have health problems. Carl went to live with daughter, Dorothy in Wisconsin for two years, and his last seven years were spent at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Verla; brother, George; sisters, Alice Schulte, Florence Thompson and Leona Kuhlers; grandchildren, Karl Sivam and Deborah Hansen; and great-grandchild, Colton Gude.

Survivors include his children, Margorie Hofacre of Hannibal, Missouri, Dorothy Sivam of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Donald and Cheryl Barkema of Meservey, Duane and Diane Barkema of Alexander and Norman and Nancy Barkema of Alexander; 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren (one also named Carl Barkema); four great-grandchildren; brother, Foster and Evelyn Barkema of Alexander and Kansas City, Missouri; and his brother-in-law's wife, Ruth Liebing of Brookings, South Dakota.
©Belmond Independent 2008