Myrtle Moss

Myrtle Moss, 83, of Clarion, died on Saturday, October 6, 2001, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion, where she had resided since March of 1992.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 9, at the Holmes Lutheran Church. Rev. Paul Rothfusz officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Holmes Cemetery. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Myrtle Johnson was born on April 19, 1918, in Minerva (Marshall County), the daughter of David Aron and Lena Rogers Johnson. During her youth she moved frequently and attended many schools, including schools in Albia, an Indian reservation in Grand Coulee, Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada and Clarion. She graduated from the Clarion High School in 1936.

Myrtle worked at a grocery store in Eagle Grove and an airplane factory in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the war. Myrtle married Martin Moss on December 23, 1943, in Des Moines. She and Martin farmed in the Eagle Grove, Holmes, and Clarion areas until 1976. To this union, three daughters were born, Karen, Margaret and Loretta.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Martin on May 29, 1994; daughter, Karen on May 31, 1986; two brothers; and two sisters.

Myrtle is survived by two daughters, Loretta Krahling and husband, Bill of Forest City and Margaret Askelsen and husband, Harlan of Clarion; 12 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law; and three brothers-in-law.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Harold Duane Hansen

Harold Duane Hansen, 89, of Goldfield, died on Wednesday, October 10, 2001, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 13, at the United Presbyterian Church, Goldfield. Rev. Ellen G. Brantley officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield. The Foust Funeral Home of Eagle Grove was in charge of the arrangements.

Harold Duane Hansen, was born on December 23, 1911 in Goldfield, the son of Hans and Clara (Carse) Hansen. He was raised and educated in the area of his birth.

Harold and Jeanette T. Anderson were married on March 19, 1938 at Thor. The couple made their home and farmed in the Goldfield area, except for a short period, 1949-54, when they farmed in Wadena, Minnesota. He continued farming until 1969 and then worked for the Goldfield Farmers Elevator until 1977.

He was a life long member of the United Presbyterian Church in Goldfield where he served as an elder, trustee, usher, greeter and volunteered for many church events. Harold was also a member of the Evergreen Sporting Association. He loved to play softball, hunt, fish and spend time with his children and grandchildren.

Harold is survived by his children, Randy Hansen and wife, Frannie of Eagle Grove, Clay Hansen and wife, Colette of Thor, Daryl Hansen and wife, Joyce of Orange, California, Sharon Seibert and husband, Jim of Eagle Grove, Janet Aranda of Oak Harbor, Washington and Judy Hebner and husband, Ed of Stevensville, Montana; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one sister, Geraldine Flatebo of Eagle Grove.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jeanette in 1996; and one brother, Gilbert.
© Wright County Monitor 2001  

Louise Ross

Louise (Larsen) Ross, 93, of Clarion, died on Saturday, October 13, 2001, at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 16, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Louise Larsen was born on April 6, 1908, in Livermore, the daughter of Pete and Marie (Andersen) Larsen. She attended the Maple Lawn Country School, Humboldt County. After finishing school, she helped her parents in Ottosen.

On February 14, 1931, she and Emile Fjetland were married. During that time, as well as most of her life, Louise was a homemaker, tending to her husband and two sons. Emile died in 1950. On June 27, 1955, Louise was united in marriage with Dell Ross at the Presbyterian Church in Goldfield. Dell famed south of Clarion while Louise took care of their home and family.

She loved to sew and take care of her garden. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Clarion, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the Monday Club in Clarion.

She is survived by her husband, Dell of Clarion; two sons, Galen Fjetland and wife, Pauline and Burton Fjetland, all of Goldfield; seven step-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Elsie Larsen and Edna Sheehan both of Humboldt and Lillian Kaduce of Belmond; four brothers, Warren Larsen of Florida, Lloyd Larsen of Des Moines, Arnold Larsen of Fonda and Daryl (Larsen) Johnson of Webb.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Emile Fjetland in 1950; step-daughter, Eloise Maassen in 1969; five brothers, Lawrence, Carl, Magnus, Harlan, and Bill; and one sister, Violet.
© Wright County Monitor 2001  

Ruth C. Banks

Ruth C. (Banks) Nessa, 95, of Eagle Grove, died on Saturday, October 13, 2001, at the Rotary Ann Nursing Home, Eagle Grove.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 16, at the Samuel Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove. Pastor Paul Rothfusz officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home, Clarion, was in charge of the arrangements.

Ruth Corrine Markus, was born on March 3, 1906 near Kanawha, the daughter of Elias C. and Ellen Marie Oakland Markus. She grew up in Wright County where she attended country school. Ruth graduated from the Lutheran Deaconess Nursing School, Chicago, Illinois. She worked as a nurse in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a time before returning to Clarion.

Ruth and Bert Arthur Banks were united in marriage on December 30, 1944, in Clarion. They made their home in Clarion. They were the parents of one son, Donald. Bert passed away on July 10, 1962. Ruth married Thomas Arthur Nessa on June 5, 1965.  The couple lived in rural Thor and in Eagle Grove. Art died, on August 16, 1978. Ruth continued to live in Eagle Grove until moving to the Meadows in Clarion in 1995. She entered the Rotary Ann Nursing Home in 1999.

Ruth is survived by one son, Donald Banks and wife, Carol of Stillwater, Minnesota; two grandchildren; one step-daughter, Jean Pemberton and husband, Jack of Missouri; one step-daughter-in-law, Lavonne Nessa of Eagle Grove; many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a step-father; husbands, Bert and Art; two step-sons; four step-daughters; five brothers; and three sisters.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Lucille Louise Bardoner

Lucille Louise (Bauer) Bardoner, 84, of Clarion, died on Sunday, October 21, 2001, at the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, as a result of an auto accident.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 25, at the Clarion Church of Christ, Clarion. Rev. Tim Platt will officiate at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 24, from 5-8:00 p.m., at the Willim Funeral Home, Clarion.

Lucille Louise Bauer was born on December 15, 1916, in Earlville, Illinois, the daughter of Egidi and Justin Bauer. She was a graduate of the Earlville High School. Being the oldest of three girls, Lucy stayed home and helped take care of her sisters.

In 1936, she and Martin Bardoner were united in marriage. Shortly after Martin passed away, she and Gary Brandt met and became friends. They have been friends for more than 20 years. Lucy had a zest for life and was a natural caregiver.

Some of Lucy's hobbies included making doll houses, reading, and completing find-a-word puzzles. She volunteered at the Clarion Care Center and enjoyed playing bingo. She was a member of the Clarion Church of Christ where she was baptized nine years ago. She was also a member of the Royal Neighbors.

Survivors include her long time companion, Gary Brandt of Clarion and his three sons and their families, Timothy Brandt and wife, Brenda of Scottsdale, Arizona, Tyler Brandt and wife, Joy of Chandler, Arizona and Travis Brandt of Des Moines; two sisters, Jane Loveland of Oregon, Illinois and Margaret Hecathorn of Earlville; and many nieces and nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Martin.
© Wright County Monitor 2001  

Dora Nawrocki

Dora Nawrocki, 87, of Clarion, formerly of Columbia, Tennessee, died on Friday, October 26, 2001, at the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion.

A prayer service was held on Friday, November 2, at the Willim Funeral Home in Clarion. Father David Beckman officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Dora Ventrello was born on December 15, 1913, in Madrid, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Mary Gedda Ventrello. She graduated from high school in 1931. She later lived in Gary, Indiana, where she was a homemaker and mother of her two children. Dora's first husband passed away when their children were young, and a son, Jackie, also passed away at an early age.

Dora was then united in marriage with Max Nawrocki. Following the death of Max, Dora lived in Columbia, Tennessee with her daughter, Marlene. She moved to the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion following the death of Marlene in June 2001.

Dora is survived by four great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; aunt, Ellen Gedda of DeMotte, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; daughter,  Marlene; one son, Jackie; and grandsons, Bruce and Brian Malott.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Lester Lee Lyons

Lester Lee Lyons, 86, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, October 30, 2001, at the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 3, at the First Lutheran Church, Clarion. Pastor Curt Miner officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home, Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Lester Lee Lyons, was born on November 1, 1914, near Fonda, the son of Nat and Carrie McGeary Lyons. Lester grew up and was raised in the Fonda and Pocahontas areas where he attended country school. He worked as a farmer with his father until his first marriage, having four children, Karen, Loretta, Lee and Denny.

After returning to Laurens, he was united in marriage with Harriet Nelson Bunz of Laurens on July 29, 1944. The couple lived in the Laurens area. They had one son, Walter Bunz, a daughter, Noreen and four sons, Larry, Rick, Ronald, and Terry. Lester and his family later moved and resided in Humboldt County where Lester worked as a farmer and laborer on a turkey farm before moving to Clarion. There he managed the Texaco gas station and later retired as a custodian of the Wright County Courthouse.

Lester is survived by his wife, Harriet of Clarion; one daughter, Noreen Nessa and husband, John of Altamont, Illinois; three sons, Larry Lyons and wife, Linda of Clarion, Rick Lyons and wife, Julie of Winona, Minnesota and Terry Lyons and wife, Cheri of Clarion; 20 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; three children from his first marriage, Karen Smith of Des Moines, Loretta Taylor of Shingletown, California and Lee Lyons of Cordova, Tennessee; two sisters, Lela and Vera; and one brother, Luther.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother; one sister, Beulah; two brothers, Darrell and Cecil; and three sons, Ronald, Walter, and Denny.
© Wright County Monitor 2001  

Alice Grace Fulks

Alice Grace Fulks, 82, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, October 30, 2001, at the Rotary Ann Home in Eagle Grove.

A Mass of Christian burial was held on Saturday, November 3, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion. Father David Beckman officiated at the 1:30 p.m. Mass. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Alice Stupka, was born on October 22, 1919, at the home of her parents', Albert and Helen Johnson Stupka, near Humboldt. She graduated from the Boone Valley School in Renwick in 1938.

Alice and Charles A. Fulks were married on March 23, 1940, in Charles City. The couple lived in Clarion most of their married life where they raised their six children. Following Charles' death at age 46, Alice remained in Clarion with her four children. She had lived at the Rotary Ann Apartments in Eagle Grove for 18 years.

Alice was a member of the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion.

Alice is survived by four daughters, Marilyn Sampson and husband, Mel of Eagle Grove, Sandra Hansen Backus of Denver, Colorado, Judith Kubly Meyers of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Suzanne Powassin of Kenora, Canada;  one son, Daniel Fulks and wife, Deb of Cedar Falls; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Helen Stroud of Kanawha; two brothers, Laurence Stupka and wife, Ramona of California and Edward Stupka of Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Roger; sister, Edna Vought; and one brother, George Stupka.
© Wright County Monitor 2001