Ann Balk

February 15, 2011

Ann Balk, 74, of Goodell, died on Friday, February 11, 2011, at the Belmond Medical Center.

Services were held on Tuesday, February 15, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with Rev. Brian Lund officiating. Her body was cremated.

Cecelia Ann, the daughter of Carl and Eva (Henderson) Melver, was born on January 5, 1937 at Bluffton, Iowa. On January 5, 1956, she married Donald Huckins in Marion. They made their home on a farm near Cresco. Don died in July 1958. Ann married Robert “Bob” Balk in Schley on January 27, 1962. They lived in Schley, Osage and in 1975 moved to Klemme. In 1978, they moved to their present home in Goodell. Ann was a homemaker for most of her life, but also worked as a nurse's aide at Concord Care Center in Garner for a time.

She enjoyed collecting teddy bears, gardening, crocheting, embroidery, reading, word search puzzles and watching birds. She was a member of the Neighborhood Club in Goodell.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Don; granddaughter, Rhonda Heginger; and siblings, Robert, Grace, Earl, Norman, Richard and Thomas.

Ann is survived by her husband, Bob of Goodell; daughters, Donna (Craig) Diekhuis of Mason City and LaVanda (Bruce) Bergeson of Towanda, Kansas; grandchildren, Michele “Shelly” and Dylan Bergeson; brothers, Jim (Carol) Melver of Cresco, George Melver of Cresco, Leonard (Sharon) Melver of Cresco, Oscar “Butch” (Pat) Melver of Lime Springs and Kermit Melver of Shell Rock; sister, Wanda Sly of Grimes; and sister-in-law, Eileen.
©Belmond Independent 2011

Diane Trampel

March 1, 2011

Diane M. Trampel, 61, died unexpectedly on Saturday, February 19, 2011, at her home in rural Klemme.

Services were held on Friday, February 25, at the Klemme Community Hall, with Pastor Kim Bachman officiating. The Andrews Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Diane Marlene was born on November 1, 1949 in Algona, to Ivadell and Charles Walton. The family made its home in Des Moines and later moved to Napier. Diane graduated from the United Community High School near Boone and then attended Hamilton Business School in Mason City, where she met her future husband Richard Allen Trampel. Diane married Rich on August 21, 1971 at the St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Ames. They made their home in Klemme where they were was blessed with children, Angela "Angie" and Travis. Following college Diane was employed by Wallace, Holland, Kastler and Schmitz. After staying home to start a family she got a job at Par Products in Klemme. In 1988, she began a career at the Klemme School as board secretary. When the schools consolidated in 1994, Diane was transferred to Belmond where she worked until her death. She spent many long days, nights and weekends dedicated to making sure the school finances were in order. Throughout the years Diane took on extra jobs including selling heat detectors, Maleluca, Christmas Around the World and Party Light Candles.

When Diane was not working she enjoyed many good times at the infamous Trampel Arena. At rodeos and ropings she was in charge of taking entries and recording times. Through the arena she touched the lives of many up-and-coming high school rodeo stars. She and Richard loved to attend rodeo and roping events in surrounding states, cheering on their young friends and son, Travis in the saddle bronc event. Diane also enjoyed her trips to Texas to visit her daughter and grand-dog Ashley. She also enjoyed going to the casino where she always dreamed of hitting the jackpot.

One of her most happy times in later years was a family trip to Sweden for their Swedish son Philip Herlitz’s wedding to Anna. She enjoyed visiting the family’s farm, seeing the big ships in Stockholm, and the beautiful Swedish landscapes and architecture. Her hobbies included sewing, playing cards with family and friends and watching game shows.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents, George and Viola Bolte Hiatt; father-in-law, Clarence Trampel; sister-in-law, Beverly Korleski; brothers-in-law, Gerry VanderWolde, Bob Korleski and Greg Nelson; and nephew, Cory Walton.

She is survived by her husband; daughter, Angie of Austin, Texas; son, Travis of Klemme; brothers, Dennis (Vivian) Walton of Story City, Duane “Dewey” (Marlene) Walton of Napier and Devon (Deborah) Walton of Andover, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Joanne Vander Wolde of New Braunfels, Texas and Dixie (Larry) Treinen of Klemme; brother-in-law, Terry (Tracy) Trampel of Klemme; and mother-in-law, Ruth Trampel of Klemme.
©Belmond Independent 2011

Julie Boelman

March 1, 2011

Julie D. Boelman, 64, died on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at her home in Belmond.

Services were held on Tuesday, March 1, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Pastor Mike Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Julie Diane was born the daughter of Richard Allan Eckhoff and Bonnie Colleen Gunderson on May 1, 1946 in Belmond. She was baptized as an infant by Rev. Kampman at the First Reformed Church in Meservey. She attend the First Reformed faithfully, attending Sunday School, catechism and singing in the church choir. During her high school years she also taught Sunday School and served as the Sunday School Secretary.   Julie attended Ramsay Elementary School in Belmond for a few years and than transferred to the Alexander Community School. She returned to attend Belmond High School in 1962, graduating in 1964 with academic honors. During high school she worked on the school newspaper, was elected homecoming queen in the fall of 1963 and served as the secretary of her senior class.

Julie received an academic scholarship to attend Waldorf College, graduating with honors in the spring of 1966. She then attended the State College of Iowa (UNI) for her junior year. In 1967, Julie transferred to Northwestern College in Orange City, graduating with honors in 1968 with a bachelor of arts in elementary education. Later she attended Iowa State University, earning a multi-categorical endorsement in K-9 special needs in 1985. Julie was regarded fondly by her peers, the parents of her students and above all else her students. She not only helped her students academically, but also many times provided other items such as clothing for those who were in need.

In the fall of 1967 Julie met David Boelman at Northwestern College. They fell in love and were married on August 2, 1968 at the First Reformed Church, by Rev. Peter Iff and Rev. Fred Buseman. The couple started their teaching careers in 1968 at the Lakota Consolidated Schools. Julie taught third grade from 1968 to 1973. In the fall of 1973 the couple moved to Allison where Julie taught 4th grade until 1976. In 1977 the couple moved to Klemme where Julie was employed at the Clear Lake Schools until 1988. She later taught in the Waterloo Schools and then taught special needs for the last fifteen years of her career at CAL Schools in Latimer. She retired in 2003 after 33 years of teaching.

On November 22, 1977 the couple experienced their biggest blessing of their married life when their son, Brandon, came into their family. Each night at bedtime for nine years, Julie read to Brandon from a fiction book and from a children’s Bible story book. Julie was an amazing mother and wife who gave so much love to her family. This affection was also exhibited when Julie started writing daily to a young soldier from eastern Iowa serving in the Gulf War. The Adopt-a-Soldier Program was organized by the Des Moines Register. After the solider came home, the family was invited to a family picnic in his hometown honoring his return. Julie also wrote daily to two different soldiers during their year-long deployment during Iraqi Freedom. Both soldiers brought her gifts upon their return.

During her married life Julie taught Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church of Lakota, Trinity Reformed of Allison, Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme and the Belmond United Methodist Church. After her retirement she was a faithful member of the United Methodist Women. In 2008, Julie was honored by the women’s fellowship as Member of the Year. Julie also belonged to the Belmond Progress Club until her health did not allow her to attend. She enjoyed the fellowship of this club and worked on the club’s activities for the Belmond sesquicentennial celebration in 2005. Her duties included serving as mistress of ceremony for the town’s style show in the park. She also belonged to the multi-county teacher sorority organization serving as secretary. Over the years the family enjoyed traveling to 46 states, the Caribbean and to Europe in 1982 and 1993.

Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 1990 and underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatment for six months. She was again diagnosed in May 1996 and treated through surgery and six weeks of radiation. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in August 2007. She went to the Mayo Clinic every three weeks for over three years. She fought her cancer with zeal, finally deciding last November to discontinue treatment after 52 consecutive visits to Mayo. Dr. Harry Long, medical oncologist, was her only doctor for the twenty years that Julie suffered from breast cancer.

Julie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ernest and Tena Eckhoff and Chester and Sena “Jackie” Gunderson; uncle, Stewart Eckhoff; and cousin, Steve Eckhoff.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, David; son, Brandon (Valerie) and their children, Broderick Julian and Kellen Jakob of Altoona; her parents, Richard and Bonnie Eckhoff of Belmond; brothers, Jim (Connie) Eckhoff of Meservey and Jon (Dawn) of Rochester, Minnesota; nieces, Kim G. and Emily Eckhoff; nephews, Brian and Grant Eckhoff; grand-niece, Danielle; grand-nephews, Jerimiah, Ben and Jonah; aunt, Connie Eckhoff of Belmond; and uncle, Dean and Aunt Mavis Gunderson of Conyers, Georgia.
©Belmond Independent 2011