Leonard Root

September 9, 2008

Leonard E. Root, 86, of Latimer, died on Wednesday,  September 3, 2008, at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 8, at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer. Burial was in the Alexander Cemetery.

Leonard was born on September 9, 1921 in Franklin County, to Frank and Ella (Steenhard) Root. He graduated from the Sheffield High School. He married Marcia Muir on June 15, 1944 at her parents home in Aredale. Leonard was a farmer and a member of the Alexander United Methodist Church.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold; and sister, Helen.

He is survived by his daughter, Charlotte (Harlan) Plagge of Montevideo, Minnesota; and son, Leon (Bev) Root of Latimer; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Marie Sinnwell

September 16, 2008

Marie L. Sinnwell, 88, of Nashua, died on Friday, September 5, 2008.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 9, at the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Nashua.

Marie was born on June 5, 1920 in Chickasaw County. She married Cyril Sinnwell on September 14 in Independence.

Surviving are sons, William of New Hampton, Michael (Sue) of Belmond, Daniel of Waverly, David of Mason City and Kevin of Nashua; daughters, Cecelia Pitkin of Clear Lake, Charlene Longhorn of Colorado, Marilyn Bouillon of Greene and Linda Groen of Nashua.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Jack Faaborg

September 9, 2008

Jack Faaborg, 74, of Meservey, died on Sunday, September 7, 2008, at the University of Iowa Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, with Rev. Rodney Meester presiding. Interment will follow in the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Retz-Grarup Funeral Home in Meservey.

Jack Emery was born on September 2, 1934 in Mason City, the son of Andrew and Lillie (Barkema) Faaborg. He graduated from the Meservey High School in 1952, where he played basketball and baseball. He tried out as a pitcher for a professional baseball team but returned to take over the family Century Farm after his father was unable to continue farming.  

Jack was a lifelong member of First Reformed in Meservey and it was there that he was united in marriage with Shirley JoAnn Schmidt. Jack played baseball and basketball in local leagues and enjoyed woodworking and refinishing furniture. The highlight of his life was watching his grandchildren. Family get-togethers were very important to him. Jack was particular, and everything had it's place. He was there to help out whomever needed it.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers-in-law, Sam Manganiello and Bill Jurgens.

Survivors include his wife; son, Andy (Connie Jo) Faaborg of Meservey and their children, Allison (Tyler) Muhlenbruch and their son, Eli and Kyle and Ryan Faaborg; daughter, Laura (Andrew) Oppermann of Mason City and their children, Adam (Mallory) Oppermann and Rachael and Leah Oppermann; sister, Eleanor Manganiello of Clear Lake; niece, Becky Manganiello; and nephew, Steven Manganiello.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Walter Schaller

September 16, 2008

Walter Schaller, 85, of Belmond, died on Friday, September 12, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

The Dugger Funeral Home, Belmond is in charge of the arrangements.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Jamie Cook

September 16, 2008

Jamie P. Cook, 37, died of natural causes on Friday, September 12, 2008, near Kanawha.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, September 17, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.

Jamie Porter, the son of Earl and Carol Hayes Cook Parks, was born on August 1, 1971 in Dayton, Ohio. At the age of eleven Jamie moved with his family to Belmond. He graduated from the Belmond High School in 1989 and then attended college in Emmetsburg. Jamie married his high school sweetheart, Tina Janssen, on May 25, 1991. After many years of working construction, Jamie decided on truck driving as his profession.

Jamie had a wide variety of interests and hobbies. He enjoyed riding his 2000 Harley Davidson Sportster, was a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the Philadelphia Eagles football team. Of all his past-times though, Jamie cherished the time he spent with his children and family the most.

Jamie was preceded in death by his father, Jim Cook; nephew, Shawn Cook; sister-in-law, Sue Cook; and his grandparents.

Jamie is survived by his children, Jordan and Keyra and their mother, Kristina of Belmond; parents, Earl and Carol Parks of Kanawha; brothers, Russell Jay, Jr. (Vicki) of Indiana, Christopher (Angie) of Kanawha, Jackson of Kanawha, John (Julie) of Indiana, Jimmy (Debbie) of Indiana and Marty of Florida; sisters, Serena (Chris) Short of Indiana, Ruth (Bill) Apple of Florida and Hope (Mike) Baker of Indiana; step-sisters, Teresa Bernard of Nebraska, Kim (Mike) Cronin of Nebraska and Tonya (Justin) Christy of Oklahoma; and extended family, Brett and Sonja Lobdell and family, and Barb and Ted Watne and family, all of Belmond.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Clarice A. Houck

September 23, 2008

Clarice A. Houck, 90, of Dows, died on Friday, September 12, 2008, at the Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 16, at the Dows United Methodist Church, with Erling Shultz officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery, Dows.

Clarice Adeline, the daughter of Herbert and Rose Hagen Root, was born on February 20, 1918, on the family farm near Dows. She graduated from the Dows High School in 1935. Clarice then attended the Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls.

Clarice married Faye Houck on November 23, 1937 at Eagle Grove. They made their home near Dows where they farmed and raised a family. Clarice was active with Faye in the family's cattle operation. She lived on the family farm until March of 2007.

Clarice was an active member of the United Methodist Church, the UMW and was a member of the Blaine Vernon Social Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, Ted Hartzell; a sister; and a brother.

Clarice is survived by her children, Clarissa (Byron) Kasa of Cedar Rapids and Raymond (Marilyn) of Dows; grandchildren, Melissa (Jeff) Stevens of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer (Paul) Lambert of Orange City and JoLynne (Doug) Davis of Bloomfield; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Ethan, Edan and Baron; and sister, Loraine McDougall of Los Angeles.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Boyd Patterson

September 16, 2008

Boyd Patterson, 90, of Galt, passed away on Saturday September 13, 2008, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, at the United Methodist Church in Dows, with Erling Shultz officiating. Burial will be in the Galt Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Dugger Funeral Home in Dows and one hour prior to the service on Thursday.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Merlin Johnson

September 23, 2008

Merlin Johnson, 82, of Meservey, died on Monday, September 15, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 19, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, with Pastor Rodney Meester officiating. Burial was in the Alexander cemetery.

Merlin, the son of Cornelius and Johanna Sporaa Johnson, was born at the family home near Alexander. He graduated from the Alexander High School in 1944 and then farmed with his father.

Merlin married Donna Fjetland on October 14, 1949. They made their home for a time in the Alexander area before moving to Clear Lake where they owned the Johnson Paint and Gift Store from 1964 until 1991. After a move to Meservey in 1991, he worked for a time as a security guard at Eaton Corp. in Belmond.

Merlin enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. Alaska was one of his favorite places, and he made countless trips there. He loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren brought him great joy. He also enjoyed helping friends with paint jobs.

Merlin was a member of the Clear Lake Lions Club and an active member of the First Reformed Church in Meservey.

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

Merlin is survived by his wife; sons, Randy (Ann Marie) of Anchorage, Alaska, Terry of Burnsville, Minnesota and Jeff of Lake Louise, Alaska; grandchildren, Brian Johnson and Laura Czech; great-granddaughter, Mariah Johnson; sister, Verna Kramer of Darwin, Minnesota; and brother, Roman (Wilma) Johnson of Alexander.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Bernice Payer

September 23, 2008

Bernice Payer, 79, of Belmond, died on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at the Belmond Medical Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, September 20, at the Saint Francis Xavier Church in Belmond, with Rev. Nils Hernandez officiating, Burial was in the St. Francis Cemetery.

Bernice Gertrude, the daughter of Walter and Bertha Riley Heddinger, was born on December 29, 1928 in Emmetsburg. She attended schools in Emmetsburg, Cylinder and Rolfe, graduating from Rolfe in 1947.

Bernice married Jerry Payer on June 5, 1950 in Rolfe. The couple made their home in Pocahontas. She was proud of her role as a farm wife and of the time she spent raising her children. She worked for a time as a cook at the Ideal Café in Pocahontas.

Bernice liked being in the outdoors, especially fishing. She enjoyed games, whether it was Yahtzee, cards or even computer games. She loved time spent with her family most of all. Bernice was an active member of the St. Francis Xavier and the Catholic Daughters Rosary Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Marvin, Merle, Delbert and Dale Heddinger; and grandson, Thomas Jerome Payer.

Bernice is survived by her husband; children, Connie (Jim) Eckhoff of Meservey, Steven (Lynda) Payer of Cottonwood, Arizona and Richard (Laura) Payer of Mason City; grandchildren, Kimberly Wilkinson of Clarion, Brian (Jen) Eckhoff of Mason City, Andrew Beavers of Lutsen, Minnesota, Lindsay Beavers (fiancée, Ryan Gerow) of Mason City and Jonathon Payer of Mason City; and great-grandchildren, Danielle Wilkinson, Jeremiah Wilkinson and Benjamin Eckoff.
©Belmond Independent 2008

Orville Boyd

September 30, 2008

Orville G. Boyd, 80, of Jewell, died on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 26, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, with interment in the Homewood Cemetery in Ellsworth.
 
Orville George, was born on December 1, 1927 in Story City. He graduated from the Story City High School. He married Ida M. Meyers and they raised five children. He was an Army veteran of both WW II and the Korean War and worked as a maintenance engineer at the Belmond Community Hospital.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Emma (Schlafke) Boyd; daughter, Susan; brother, Walter; and sister, Marjorie.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Michael (Kris) of Jewell and Kevin (PJ) of Windsor Heights; daughters, Kay (Pat) Kinsella of Duluth and Kristin (Curt) Perkins of Madrid; son-in-law, Frank Thompson of Ellsworth; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Eldon of Arkansas and Marion of Texas; sisters, Mabel Schroeder of Charles City and Gertrude Dickinson of Jewel; and aunt, Olive Schlafke of Jewell.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Central Iowa or to the Bethesda Lutheran Church.
©Belmond Independent 2008