Harold Cunningham

November 6, 2012

Harold Cunningham, 88, of Belmond, died on Friday, November 2, 2012, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

A private family service is planned with burial in the Amsterdam Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Goodell United Methodist Church. Condolences may be left at the Dugger Funeral Homes. www.duggerfunerals.com.

Harold was born on November 18, 1923 in Moingona, the son of Herman and Ruby Cunningham. He was a graduate of the Belmond High School. Harold married Marcella Green on February 14, 1953. He lived on the family farm north of Goodell for 68 years and farmed most of those. He also was a crop insurance adjuster. Harold enjoyed gardening and woodworking. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marcella; daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Lynn Bailey; great-grandchild, Noah Lee Mikesh; and his brother, Lloyd Cunningham.

Survivors include sons, Marc (Sylvia) Cunningham of Portsmouth, Virginia and Dwight Cunningham of Goodell; daughters, Sharon (Don) Millage of Ames, Tracey (Bill) Mikesh of Medway, Massachusetts and Corrine (Jeff) Vande Vegte of Rock Valley; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Roger Toft

November 13, 2012

Roger D. Toft, 81, of Surprise, Arizona, died on Sunday, November 4, 2012, following a brief illness. No service was held.

Roger Dean was born on November 15, 1930, the son of Thomas and Blanch (Ulstad) Toft. He grew up in Belmond, attended the St. Olaf Lutheran Church and graduated from the Belmond High School. He married Carole Reno of Belmond. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Roger was a mechanical engineer by trade and had his own company for several years.

Roger had many interests and enjoyed traveling by RV with his wife, seeing the country and visiting family and friends. He wrote several books during his retirement. He sense of humor and presence will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Thomas, Jr., Donald and Robert; sisters, Betty and Doris; and granddaughter, Lindsey Toft.

Roger is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carole; daughter, Vicki (Kenneth) Padgett of Goodyear, Arizona; sons, Steve of Monterey, Tennessee and Larry of Surprise; grandchildren, Mike, Tom, Joe, Kelly, Barbara and Jessie; great-grandchildren, Seth, Breanna, Reese, Delaney, Cole, Kiley, Taylor, McLean and Owen; brothers, Clifford Toft of Belmond, Everett of West Des Moines and Jerry of Urbandale.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Bob Junker

November 13, 2012

Robert W. Junker, 70, of Meservey, died on Monday, November 5, 2012, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Services were held on Thursday, November 8, at the Salem United Methodist Church in Meservey. Interment was in the Meservey Cemetery.

Robert "Bob" was born on November 20, 1941 in Charles City, the son of Tony and Grace (Perton) Junker. He graduated from the Greene High School with the class of 1959. On October 2, 1960, Bob was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Patricia Gibson, at Bristow. They made their home in Meservey. Bob worked for Lloyd Faaborg operating large equipment and also drove truck all over the country. He worked as a mechanic for Andrews Pre-Stressed Concrete, then Sheriff Grain and Livestock and later IMT in Garner, retiring after 30 years.

One of his favorite things was running large equipment and he was known to be excellent at that job as well as being skilled at welding. Bob was a fixer who enjoyed a challenge and was able to fix most anything. He was an active supporter of 4-H, assisting Pat as a leader for 35 years. He also ran the Wayne Junker Memorial Tennis Camp in Meservey for many years. Getting together with family for vacations was important to Bob and he could be counted on to share his stories of past travels to entertain and inform. Bob liked retirement. Not having a set schedule allowed him to read many books each week and visit with friends and travel to meet friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pat in 2008; son, Wayne in 1991; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Chuck and Nancy Reams; and sister, Grace Debner.  

Left to remember Bob are his daughter, Toni (Gregg) Fliss of Belmond; son, Jeff Junker of Newton; grandchildren, Kami Wenzel, Kara Wenzel, Jennifer (Mike) Colby, Grant Fliss (Kellie Long), Ryan Fliss and Blake Fliss; daughter-in-law, Suzii Parsons of Stillwater, Oklahoma; step-grandchildren, Noan, Hayden and Kylee Colby and Camren Fliss; brother, Fred Junker; sisters, Darlene Palmer and Karen (Glen) Soike; and brother-in-law, Dean Debner.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Marvel Stadtlander

November 13, 2012

Marvel R. Stadtlander, 89, of Sheffield, most recently residing at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton, died on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City with her family at her side.

Services were held on Monday, November 12, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, with burial in the Meservey Cemetery.

Marvel Ruth, the daughter of Hauko and Trace (Liewuen) Barkema, was born on the family farm east of Goodell on November 3, 1923. Following the death of her mother, she lived with her aunt, Lillie (Mrs. Andrew Faaborg). She attended school in Meservey and then worked in homes in the area. She was united in marriage to Edward Luvern Stadtlander on October 20, 1944, at the Reformed Church Parsonage in Meservey. Later they moved to a farm in the Rockwell-Swaledale area where they raised their family. Marvel was not only a loving spouse and nurturing mother, but was a integral partner with her husband in the farming operation. Marvel helped raise the livestock and was especially proficient with chickens. They retired from farming in 1976 and moved into Sheffield. They enjoyed many years wintering in Arizona prior to Ed’s death in 1989.

Marvel continued to live in Sheffield where she kept a meticulous yard, spent time with her family and friends and remained active at First Reformed in Meservey. As her health declined she moved to the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. Marvel’s family will reflect fondly upon the wonderful years on the farm, where she and Ed instilled the values of hard work, faith and family. They will miss the tantalizing aromas of fried chicken, homemade chocolate cake with boiled frosting and loaded chocolate chip cookies.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Dennis; a grandson; brothers, Ted (Alice), Mervin, Leo (Noreen) and Leland; and sister-in-law, Irene Barkema.

Marvel is survived by sons, David (Carol) of Sheffield and Darwin (Kathy) of Buffalo, Minnesota; grandchildren, Denise (Steve) Jensen of Ringsted, Dawn Looft of Fairmont, Minnesota, Michelle (Lance) Thompson of Sheffield, Mark (Julie) Stadtlander of Manhattan, Kansas, Stacy (Jon) Behrens of St. Michael, Minnesota and Amy (Brent) Gerten of Lino Lakes, Minnesota; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Harvey Barkema; sister, Jean Ostendorf; and sisters-in-law, Irene Barkema and Betty Barkema.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Elizabeth DeMeules

November 13, 2012

Elizabeth A. DeMeules, 76, of Belmond, died on Friday, November 9, 2012, at the Muse Norris Hospice in Mason City.

Services were held on Tuesday, November 13, at the Dugger Funeral Home in Belmond, with Pastor Dana Wendel officiating.   

Elizabeth Ann, the daughter of Floyd and Katherine Ross Beardshear, was born on August 9, 1936 in Silex, Missouri. After living in several midwest communities her family moved to Mora, Minnesota, where she attended school. Elizabeth graduated from the Mora High School in 1954. Elizabeth was united in marriage to Donald Jean DeMeules in 1954. Don and Elizabeth made their home in Minneapolis. They were blessed with three children, Donald, Alys and Edith. The couple later divorced. Elizabeth lived in the Twin Cities for fifteen years. In 1970, she and the children moved to the Goodell and Meservey area. Elizabeth began working as a nurse’s aide, first at the Concord Care Center in Garner and later at the Belmond Health Care Center. She retired in 2007. Elizabeth was living in Belmond at the time of her passing. 

Elizabeth is remembered as an avid reader and gardener. She enjoyed crochet, working on puzzles, crafts and shopping.

Elizabeth is survived by her children, Donald and Bernice of Warren, Michigan, Alys DeMeules and Sky Nesset of Belmond and Edith Hall and Steven of Owosso, Michigan; grandchildren, Justin (Lea), Alan (Christina), Andrew (Amber), Ashley (Sean) and Erin (Jeremy); great-grandchildren, Ethan and Ilianna; sisters, Margaret Labauex, Helen Sommers and Dorothy (Lavern) Creech; and brother, George (Beverly) Beardshear

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Alys Kay; and brothers, Charles and Freddy.  
©Belmond Independent 2012

Alverta Peterson

November 20, 2012

Alverta Marjorie Peterson, 92, died on Monday, November 12, 2012, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.

Services were held on Saturday, November 17, at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly, with burial in the Harlington Cemetery in Waverly.

Alverta was born on November 19, 1919 in rural Goodell, the daughter of Henry and Veda (Christie) Nolte. She was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Goodell. Alverta graduating from the Goodell High School in 1937. Following her schooling, Alverta stayed at home and helped her parents farm. Then she moved to southern Iowa where she worked for several families before moving to Mason City. Alverta worked at the hospital in Mason City from 1942-1945. In 1945, she moved to Waverly where she worked for a short time at the hospital and at a grocery store. On December 11, 1954, she married Merle (Shorty) Peterson at the E.U.B. Church in Goodell. They made their home in Waverly, where they raised their two children. Shorty died on November 2, 2004 and Alverta remained in her home until September 11 of this year when she became a resident of the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community.

Alverta was a longtime member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly, where from 1990-1997 she was in charge of funeral luncheons. Alverta loved to crochet, machine sew, working in her garden and baking. You never left her home without something to eat or to take with you to eat later, which made Alverta very happy.

She was preceded in death by her husband; step-grandson, Scott Westin; two brothers; and a niece.

Alverta is survived by her daughter, Julie (Richard) Westin of Waterloo; son, Kevin Peterson of Waverly; step-grandchildren, Neal (Patricia) Westin of Des Moines and Erik (Kelly) Westin of Trussville, Alabama; step-great-grandchildren, Adalie, Kyle, Aidan, Logan and Vivian; and brother, George (Avene) Nolte of Adams, Minnesota.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Carol Skarr

November 20, 2012

Carol A. Skarr, 62, formerly of Dumont, died on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at the Mercy Hospital in Mason City.

Carol was born on June 6, 1950 in Franklin County, to John and Anita (Meyer) Freeks. She graduated from the CAL High School and Hamilton Business College. She married Jay Skarr in 1970 and together they operated the J&C Grocery for many years.

She is survived by her husband of Mason City; sons, Jason (Robyn Hay) Skarr of Mason City and Jeremy Skarr of Las Vegas; daughter, Julie (Jesse) Boelsen of Mason City; and sister, Betty Wessels of Belmond.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Marjorie Granzow

November 27, 2012

Marjorie E. "Marj" Granzow, 91, of Belmond, died on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 1, in the Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 30, at the Dugger Funeral Home in Belmond. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorials be made to the Talbot Belmond Public Library.

Marjorie, the daughter of Clifford and Hazel Rummel Simpson, was born on Good Friday, March 25, 1921 in Iowa Falls. She grew up on a farm near Iowa Falls. She graduated as valedictorian from the Iowa Falls High School in 1937 and Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls in 1939. Marj also attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and taught school in Ferguson, Garwin, Denison and Iowa Falls. Marjorie was united in marriage to Jack Granzow on May 8, 1944 in Hiawatha, Kansas. They made their home in Iowa Falls where they lived until 1957, when they moved to Belmond and operated the Ford and Mercury auto dealership until Jack’s death. Marj was also a substitute teacher in Belmond.

She belonged to the Clarmond Country Club, Belmond Country Club, Century Club, and the American Contract Bridge Club. She was an active member of P.E.O. and the Belmond United Methodist Church, where she served in the Rebecca Circle and UMW. The Belmond Public Library was very dear to Marjorie. She served on the library board of trustees for 37 years. She was instrumental in forming the Belmond Public Library Foundation and served on that board. More recently Marj established the building fund, which, through private donations, increased the size of the library building. The fund’s remaining donations established the Talbott Belmond Public Library Endowment which will continue for years to come. 

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1977. 

Marjorie is survived by her son, Mike (Ann) of Wellington, Florida; grandson, Jack Michael, Jr. (Tracy) of Rincon, Georgia; granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Slaman (Steve) of Lake Worth, Florida; great-grandchildren, Jack Alexander Granzow, Nicolas Georges Granzow, Steven Michael Slaman and Rex Michael Slaman; sister, Lucille Kane of Aurora, Colorado; and goddaughter, Susan Marjorie Kane of Sacramento, California.
©Belmond Independent 2012

James Jackson

December 4, 2012

James M. Jackson, 85, of Rowan, died on Thursday, November 29, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 5, at 1:00 p.m., at the Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond, followed by the funeral at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Nancy Hofmiester will be officiating.

James Matthew, the son of James Jackson, Sr. and Ruby (Hartman) was born on February 17, 1929 in Washington Township, Franklin County. He was one of seven children. Jim graduated from the Hampton High School and was united in marriage with Lucille Root on September 5, 1948. They were blessed with five children, Diane, Gary, Duane, David and Steven. On May 29, 1981, James married Delores Taylor. Jim spent his younger years in a variety of occupations, from being a farm hand to his favorite profession as a pastry chef for many years all over the state. His final years of work were spent at Hagie in Clarion and Electrolux in Webster City.

James had numerous hobbies, including hunting wild game and fishing in the great outdoors. Jim marched to the beat of his own drum and continued up until his final days. Jim loved to be with his family and friends making memories that lasted a lifetime.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Delores; infant son, Steven; daughter-in-law, Joyce; two brothers; and two sisters.

Jim’s love and memories will continue in the hearts of his children, Diane (Ray) Vasquez, Gary Jackson, Duane (Vicki) Jackson and David Jackson; step-children, Rich Taylor and Barb (Mike) Smith; grandchildren, Michael, Michelle, Christina, Keith, Jennifer, Anna Marie, Heather, Kenneth, Patrick and Ryan “Jack”; eleven great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; sisters, Anna Mae (Marvin) Myers and Sharon Miller; brother-in-law, Ivan (Elise) Lycky; and friend, Lucille Jackson.
©Belmond Independent 2012