Edward Colnes

July 13, 2010

Edward "Eddie" Colnes, 97, of Dows, died on Monday, July 5, 2010, at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 8, at the First Lutheran Church in Dows. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery in Dows.

Edward Elin, was born in Randaberg, Norway on September 17, 1912, to Marcelius and Emma Torkelson Kolnes. He was baptized and confirmed at the Randaberg Lutheran Church and was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Dows.

Eddie immigrated to Garden City, Iowa, on February 27, 1929 and became a U.S. citizen on December 23, 1940. During the depression years, Edward helped various farmers in the Williams-Blairsburg area, as well as working in a Chicago factory. Eddie married Emma Reinhardt of Des Moines on December 30, 1937. They were farm laborers in Blairsburg where their oldest daughter, Carolyn was born. They moved to Galt in 1943 where he started farming for himself and his youngest daughter, Cathleen was born. Eddie lived in the Dows and Galt areas for 66 years. Eddie was always a farmer, even after retiring in 1980. He loved his gardens and flowers and was very particular how the rows were spaced and especially no weeds.

In retirement Eddie helped in restoring the Dows Depot and enjoyed volunteering at the Welcome Center for many years. He also enjoyed playing his accordion, organ and loved to sing. For many years he sang Norwegian hymns at the church on Easter and Christmas and he transcribed Norwegian for many people. Edward was proud of his Norwegian heritage which he shared with his family, especially on Christmas Eve, with a special fish, lefse and rice dinner, after which he would pass out oranges and apples like he received in Norway as a boy. He always enjoyed returning to Norway to visit and having relatives from there visit him. Eddie loved the Cubs and Hawkeyes. He was a devoted husband and father, and loved his family and spending time with them.

Eddie was preceded in death by his brothers, Karsten, Henrik and Marthon; and sisters, Mary, Bertha and Borgny, all of Norway and Esther of Kansas.

Eddie is survived by his wife, Emma; daughters, Carolyn (Doug) Jacobsen of Dows and Cathleen (Robert) Richards of Polk City; grandchildren, Julie (Cary) Halfpop, Janelle Jacobsen, Corey (Kim) Jacobsen and Jennifer (Chris) Lang; great-grandchildren, Trey, Brady and Kelby Halfpop and Benjamin, Matthew and Caleb Jacobsen; brother, Elmer (Deloros) Kolnes of Des Moines; and sisters, Agnes Vik, Emma Lerang and Gudren Otteroen, all of Norway.
©Belmond Independent 2010

Merle Frohling

July 27, 2010

Merle G. Frohling, 75, of Meservey, died on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

A private memorial service was held. Private burial was in the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery east of Belmond. Arrangements were handled by the Dugger Funeral Home.

Merle Gene, the son of Herman and Annie Koenen Frohling, was born on October 24, 1934 in Belmond. He grew up in the Belmond, Thornton and Meservey areas where he attended school. Merle married Deloras Stevens on September 13, 1955 in Belmond. They made their home in Meservey and raised a family. Merle worked for the lumber yard in Meservey, the Chicago Northwestern Railroad and was a salesman for Moor-Mans Feed for over 22 years. Merle and Dee also owned and operated M&D Service in Meservey for several years.

Merle was a member of the Meservey Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Meservey City Council and was mayor of Meservey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lola, Gladys and Loretta; and brothers, Donald and Dale.

Merle is survived by his wife, Dee; sons, Mike (Sue) of Meservey and Mark of Meservey; grandchildren, Bill (Amy) Hicok of Mason City and Laurie Dusold and Jeremie Johanns of Kanawha; great-grandson, Jackson Johanns; and brother, Byron of Waterloo.
©Belmond Independent 2010

Marlin Hopkey

July 13, 2010

Marlin G. Hopkey, 63, of Alexander, died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 12, at the St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Hampton. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Marlin was born on October 22, 1946 in Belmond, to Marvin Carl and Clara Mabel (Waltzing) Hopkey. He attended the Alexander Consolidated School until 1962, then CAL Community Schools, where he graduated in 1964. He attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where he graduated with a BA Degree and was a member of the Kappa Pi honorary fraternity. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. Marlin married Margaret Miller on March 3, 2003 at the St. John's Lutheran. He was a member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer. He worked as a farmer until 2001 and then went to work for the Latham Hi-Tech Seed Company.

Marlin enjoyed traveling, watching NASCAR, gardening, his dog Sadie, and getting his family together for special occasions. He took great pride in having a nice yard and garden and he loved farming, making sure that everything was just right while he farmed.

Marlin was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Vernon Modderman.

Marlin is survived by his wife, Margaret "Maggie" of Alexander; daughters, Lisa (Michael) Foth of Maui, Hawaii and Diane Hackney-Jungck of Hampton; son, Jesse (Lisa) Furman of Popejoy; sister, Delorus "De" Modderman of Redwood City, California; grandchildren, Kevin Foth, Zachary Hackney, Brittany Hackney, Jacob Jungck and Anya Jungck; and great-grandson, Tristan.
©Belmond Independent 2010

Viola Bredlow

July 20, 2010

Viola Bredlow, 94, died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, July 11, at the Garner United Methodist Church.

Viola, the daughter of William and Laura Koehler, was born on August 8, 1915, on a farm west of Meservey, the youngest of seven children. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at the Meservey High School. She attended William Penn College and then taught rural schools in Wright and Hancock Counties. She married Marvin Bredlow in 1940. They lived in Garner and raised three children.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1989; and her siblings, Mildred Hammond, Edna Lauen, Herbert, Walter, Raymond and Gilbert Koehler.
©Belmond Independent 2010

Harvey Sturm

July 27, 2010

Harvey R. Sturm, Sr., 70, of Belmond, died on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, July 28, at the United Methodist Church in Belmond. Pastors Paddy Druhl and Mike Druhl will officiate. Burial will take place in the Belmond cemetery.

Harvey Richard, was born on March 27, 1940 in Sioux City, to Albert George and Nellie May Robertson Sturm. He married Delores Roosa on July 4, 1959 at the Hampton United Methodist Church. They made their home in Belmond and raised their family. Harvey worked for U.S. Steel for over 30 years, for Farmers Grain for two years and at the Klemme Co-op for 16 years, the last six as manager.

Harvey enjoyed all motor sports and had a great passion for classic cars. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and he loved to watch old-time western movies. Harvey was a member of the Belmond Volunteer Fire Department for 19 years, the Belmond Jaycees and the Masonic Lodge. He is remembered for the friends he encountered everywhere, but most of all he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Darlene and Marjorie.

Harvey is survived by his wife, Delores; children, Sherry (Scott) McKague of Driggs, Idaho, Harvey Jr. and Wendy of Goodell and Kevin and Angel of Gowrie; grandchildren, Melissa, Christine, Nathan, Brittany, Nicole, Hollie, Kylee, Ciara and Shayla (Jay) Davison (who are both serving in the United States Army); great-grandchildren, Berlin, Adrien, Alicia, Marty and Jadalyn; brothers, Albert Lee and Karen of Geneva, Ardell and Shirley of Humboldt and Roy and LeVerna of Belmond; and brother-in-law, Roger Mumford of Rowan.
©Belmond Independent 2010

Evelyn Anderson

August 3, 2010

Evelyn Mae Anderson, 89, died on Monday, July 26, 2010, at the Rotary Ann Care Facility in Eagle Grove.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 29, at the Park Church of Christ in Goldfield, with burial in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Evelyn Mae, the daughter of George and Meta Louise Griffel Reed, was born on June 13, 1921 in rural Clarion. She was baptized at the Park Church of Christ, where she was an active member most of her life. She attended school in rural Wright County. Evelyn married Alvin W. Anderson on March 30, 1944. They had four children. Evelyn was a full time wife, nurturing mother and loving grandmother. On the farm she could be seen with Alvin, caring for the livestock, helping bring a new animal into the world, driving a tractor and plow, or strolling the bean fields in search of weeds.

Evelyn always raised a large garden filled with produce and flowers. She took pride in maintaining the yard around the farm buildings. Evelyn was an excellent cook and her family remembers rolls, ginger snaps, fried chicken, coconut creme pie, and pink applesauce, all washed down with ice cold water from her green jars. 

Evelyn's past times included sewing, cards, and making quilts, teddy bears, Easter eggs, table runners and other items for family, church and the fair. She was and avid reader and had a superb wit and sense of humor. In retirement, Evelyn and Alvin did some traveling and had wintered in the south. Alvin died in 1994 and Evelyn continued to do some traveling to visit family and friends.

Evelyn became a resident of Rotary Ann in 2002 where she enjoyed the many activities, staff, fellow residents, and family visits and outings. Her legacy will focus on her devotion to her family, her farm and her faith life.

She was preceded in death by her husband; infant daughter, Eileen; and brothers, Elvin, Loren and Warren Reed.

Survivors include her children, Steve (Rita) Anderson of Clarion, Linda (Gary) Nordling of Sioux Falls and Katheen (Douglas) Enyart of Monroe; brother, Robert Reed of Tucson, Arizona; six grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. 
©Belmond Independent 2010

Ellen Loats

August 10, 2010

Ellen Loats, of Denver, Colorado, died on Wednesday, July 28, 2010.

Her remains were cremated and a graveside memorial service will be conducted at the Belmond Cemetery at a date to be announced later.

Ellen was the wife of Andrew Loats of Belmond. He died in 1989.

Survivors include her two sons, Andrew William of Bradford, New Hampshire and Mark Edward of Denver.
©Belmond Independent 2010