Donald Goeman, Sr.

October 16, 2012

Donald M. Goeman, 86, died unexpectedly at his home in Belmond on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

Services were held on Wednesday morning, October 17, at the Immanuel Reformed Church east of Belmond, with Pastor David DeKuiper officiating. Burial, with military honors, was in the Belmond Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be directed to the Belmond Ambulance or the Belmond Hospital Foundation.

Don was born on December 2, 1925 in Belmond, to Hio and Anna Goeman. He was baptized at Immanuel Reformed. He attended Pleasant #16 country school and Belmond Schools, graduating in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. After receiving his honorary discharge he returned home to work at Rath Packing and John Deere in Waterloo, before beginning his farming career. He enjoyed farming with his sons up to the day of his passing. Don married Lois Osby of Kanawha on February 16, 1950.

Don was the first recipient of the Belmond Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award. He served as Deacon and Elder at Immanuel Reformed. He was active as a Belmond ambulance driver, Hospital Foundation board member and Belmond Retirement Center board member for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Walter; and grandson, Jacob Boller.

Don is survived by his wife, Lois; his children, Donald E. (Darla) of Belmond, David (Kathi) of Belmond and Kathy (Lonny) Boller of Ventura; grandchildren, Aaron (Lisa) Goeman, Aimee (Tad) McKnight, Tate Goeman, Chad Goeman, Courtney (Tom) Dey, Ashley (Josh) Petersen, Cody (Katherine) Boller, and Josh (Melinda) Boller; great-grandchildren, Olivia Goeman-Willet, Thomas Treyharne, Quinton, Kanon and Easton Goeman, Camden, Hudson and Dylan Dey, Taylor and Kate Petersen, and Jacob and Madilyn Boller; his sisters, Marjorie Christians, Mavis (James) Murphy and Ann (Ed) Bell; and brother, Donovan (Shirley) Goeman.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Kenneth Johnson

October 23, 2012

Kenneth D. Johnson, 85, died on Sunday, October 14, 2012, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.

Services were held on Thursday, October 18, at the Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines.

Kenneth Duane was born on April 5, 1927 on their family farm west of Belmond, the son of Talferd and Nellie (Christenson) Johnson. He finished high school in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army from September 1950 to August 1952, being stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He received a medal as a rifle sharpshooter with the European OCC. He met Charlene Rae Bower and they were married March 27, 1954 and started their family of four children. Kenneth worked as an automotive parts and tools clerk at Sidles, Hicklin GM Power Company and then retired from Hawkeye Auto Supply in Des Moines.

He was frequently seen with a child in his lap watching Disney movies, or you could find him walking and pulling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in a red wagon. He enjoyed camping, hunting, boating, fishing and riding his motorcycle with family. During retirement years you could catch him watching reruns of the Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, and keeping current with NASCAR and CNN news. In earlier years he and Charlene were members of the Moose Lodge and could be found listening to music, dancing and enjoying friendships. Recently he was a member of the Elks Lodge #98 in Pleasant Hill. There they enjoyed visiting with family and friends and watching them play horseshoes. Kenneth had his trusty dog, Scruffy, to keep him company at home.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Charlene.

He is survived by his children, Craig (Helen) of Des Moines, Charles (Lori) of Toledo, Susan Ramey of Des Moines and Shayne (Karen) of Des Moines; three sisters, Neoma (Ed) Bather of Minnesota, LaVonne (Ralph) Johnshoy of Arizona and Lila (the late Dwane) Shay of Arizona; grandchildren, Bradley (Tiffany) Johnson of Des Moines, Dustin (Becca) Johnson of Indianola, Ashley Ramey of Des Moines, Dwayne Johnson of Oskaloosa, Nicole Johnson of Toledo and Rhiana Johnson of Des Moines; and great-grandchildren, Sierra, Erika, Spencer, Haylee, Braxton and Kleighton Johnson and Destiny, Hannah, Dylan, Kaydence and Jackson Johnson.
©Belmond Independent 2012

John Halfwassen

October 23, 2012

John Halfwassen, 93, of Belmond, died on Monday, October 15, 2012, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Services were held on Saturday, October 20, at the Immanuel Reformed Church east of Belmond. Burial will take place later in the church cemetery. The University of Iowa College of Medicine acknowledges the generous contribution John has made to the advancement of medical science and the welfare of mankind. The Dugger Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

John was born on August 16, 1919, to Martin and Agnes Kruse Halfwassen on a farm southwest of Meservey. He attended rural school for eight years and graduated from the Meservey High School in 1937. John married Loraine Tinkey on July 8, 1941. They were engaged in dairy farming northeast of Alexander until they retired and moved to Belmond in 1983. They spent seventeen winters in Florida.

John was a member of the Immanuel Reformed Church, where he served as an elder, deacon and Sunday School teacher. Over the years he was involved in many activities: a board member of Franklin County R.E.C. and Thornton Coop Creamery, chairman of Wisner Township, the Farm Bureau, and a member of the Belmond Lion’s Club from which he received the Melvin Jones and Warren Coleman awards for service. He was a volunteer driver for the Belmond Care Car and delivered Meals on Wheels.

He was preceded in death by a son; daughter; grandson; two sisters; and a brother.

John is survived by his wife, Loraine; sons, Colin (Caryl Anne) of Naples, Florida and Darwin (Vicki) of Des Moines; grandchildren, Joel of Phoenix, Arizona, Brent of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Anita Unger of Des Moines; and great-grandson, Colin of Phoenix.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Robert McClure

October 23, 2012

Robert “Bob” McClure, 83, died on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.

Services were held on Saturday, October 20, at the Andrews Funeral Home in Klemme, with Rev. Janet Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Military honors followed the service. Memorials may be directed to the Klemme United Methodist Church.

Robert was born on January 12, 1929 in Marshalltown, to Leroy and Eva (Theil) McClure. He graduated from the Belmond High School in 1948 and then enrolled in classes in Iowa State College where he studied farming. He was then called to duty in the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge he was united in marriage with Edith Schulte. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Peggy, Nancy, Jane, Mary and Susan. Bob farmed for many years near Klemme. His lifelong career was more than an occupation; it was a true passion. In later years he became more involved with his horses, and was active in horse shows and rodeos throughout the area. Bob’s enjoyment of the outdoors went beyond his fields, to lakes and rivers, fishing adventures, and camping in the wilderness. His family and friends appreciated his one-of-a-kind personality, his gentle nature and his unique sense of humor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donavan; and nephews, Randy Ersland and Doug Markham.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith; daughters, Peggy (Craig) Moudy, Nancy (Tom) Naugon, Jane McClure, Mary (Robert) Benda and Susan McClure; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce (Donald) Markham and Mary Ellen (Gene) Ersland; brother, Max (Helen) McClure; and sister-in-law, Geri.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Kenneth Kothe

October 23, 2012

Kenneth Kothe, 78, of Alexander, died on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.

Services were held on Wednesday, October 24, at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton, with Pastor David DeKuiper officiating. Burial was in the Hampton Cemetery.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Lynn Robbins

October 30, 2012

Lynn Renee Robbins, 51, of Clarion, formerly of Belmond, died on Friday, October 26, 2012, at her home.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, with Pastor Troy Pflibsen officiating.

Lynn was born on September 2, 1961, to Larry and Ruth Ann (Swaroff) Tideback. She was raised in Belmond and was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church. After graduation she studied horticulture at Hawkeye Tech. For many years Lynn worked for the Eaton Corporation in production and quality control. On May 4, 1996, she was united in marriage to Dale Robbins. The couple later divorced. Most recently she was studying online medical coding and billing.

Lynn loved reading, baking, crafting, knitting, camping, being in the mountains and her miniature schnauzer Rosie. She was an avid Denver Bronco, NASCAR and Tony Stewart fan. Some of her favorite times were spent at Mille Lacs Lake with her Grandma, Nonny and Grandpa, Rutt, where they would spend the day fishing and watching birds.

Lynn is survived by her son, Austin Corbett of Atlanta, Georgia; mother, Ruth Ann (Dale) Delk of Grand Junction, Colorado; father, Larry L. Tideback of Aitkin, Minnesota; sister, Jodi Foster of Denver, Colorado; step-sister, Tammy (Sean) Harlow of Grand Junction, Colorado; and nieces, Jenna Dinnell and Leah Foster of Denver, Colorado.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Doris Gabrielson

November 6, 2012

Doris Gabrielson, 84, died at her home in Belmond, on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 3, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Pastor Cindy Morrison officiating. Inurnment was in the Belmond Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Belmond Medical Center Auxiliary or the United Methodist Church, organizations that were important to Doris. The Dugger Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Doris was born on April 15, 1928, to J. Ralph and Beulah Webb Christie. She was the youngest of four children raised on a family farm northwest of Belmond. Doris attended country schools through 7th grade and graduated from the Belmond High School in 1947. That fall she attended Iowa State College and then the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines where she graduated in 1951. Doris married Edward L. Gabrielson on January 28, 1951, one month prior to his induction into the U.S. Army. After marriage and graduation, Doris came back to Belmond to work nights at the Steele Memorial Hospital until the new Belmond Community Hospital opened in 1952. She worked in surgery, general duty, labor and delivery, nursery, E.R., outpatient specialty clinics, and back to surgery in 1964, until retirement at age 70. Her family learned to live with “Mom is on call” throughout the years, as she loved her work and always said it was a most rewarding career.

After being widowed in 1984, Doris spent time working with a physician, dentist, and nurses doing mission work in the back hills of Honduras. Doris and a nurse friend joined another mission which took them to Jamaica where they worked long hours in a primitive surgical unit. In Kenya, Africa, she again worked with U.S. surgeons and African nurses. Doris learned to appreciate U.S. surgical and medical procedures and facilities.

Doris supported the family business, We 3 Markets, loved her family dearly, and appreciated all of her good friends. She enjoyed many ball games, track events, plays, concerts, and other community activities. Doris was a life member of the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women and served on various committees. In retirement she volunteered with the Belmond Medical Center Auxiliary and the B-K elementary school reading program, and she did a bit of traveling.

Doris loved a good time, and family and friends provided just that. Doris and Ed were blessed with four boys and their families: Marc and Camilla of Belmond, Kim and Jane of Germantown, Wisconsin, Tad and Darla of Pella and Jay and Elsie of Knoxville, Tennessee. Michelle was with the family for 12 years, and Willy Yee spent his senior year of high school with the Gabrielsons in 1974. There are 13 grandchildren: Matt, Mitch, Mike, Mindi, Molli, Casey, Sam, Karie, TJ, Niki, Sydney, Keith, and Reese; and four great-grandchildren: Ayden, Eli, Camden and Doris Mae.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; and siblings, Stanton Christie, Muriel Craun and June Ewing.
©Belmond Independent 2012

Tom Fleener

November 6, 2012

Thomas "Tom" Fleener, 72, a long-time resident of Belmond, died on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center.

A funeral visitation was held on Monday, November 5, at the Dugger Funeral Home. Burial followed in the Belmond Cemetery.

Thomas Alan, the son of Clarence and Dolly Kelley Fleener, was born on February 26, 1940 in Belmond. He grew up in the Belmond area where he attended school. Tom held various jobs before starting his own business, Fleener Construction. He was a life-long resident of Belmond. Tom was a strong, hard working guy who loved fast cars and gambling. He was a free spirit who lived life to its fullest.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Victor Fleener in January 2012.

Tom is survived by sons, Vince (Donna) of Carroll and Troy (Alissa) of Buffalo Center; daughters, Renee (Brent) Evje of Eagle Grove, Lori (Shawn) Powers of Eagle Grove, Tammi (Mike) Jones of Pleasant Hill, Missouri and Stephanie (Dave) Rish of Iowa Falls; sister, Bonnie (Bill) Dirks of Belmond; brother, Larry (Denise) Fleener of Belmond; sister-in-law, Phyllis Fleener of Belmond; grandchildren, Jonathon (Chandra) Nelson, Stephanie Nelson, Samantha Simons, Amanda Simons, Alan Fleener, Brooke Fleener, Austin Fleener, Tasha Harper, Michael Davis, Rebecca Powers, Layla Langfald, Cadin Fleener and Maison Fleener; and great-grandchildren, Brenden, Jazon, Livia and Issac.
©Belmond Independent 2012