Mourine Ruth Pals

July 22, 2004

Mourine Ruth Pals, 94, of Belmond, passed away on Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond.

Mourine Ruth Lieuwen, was born on July 30, 1909, on the Lieuwen family farm in Avery Township, Hancock County, Iowa. She was the seventh of eleven children born to Teeke Tjaard and Helen (Frey) Lieuwen. As a child, Mourine received her education in the neighborhood rural school.

Mourine married Joe Pals of Alexander, on November 9, 1929, at the Parsonage of the First Reformed Church in Meservey. During the years when Joe worked maintaining the roads of Wright County, the couple made their home in Belmond. Later, in 1947 they moved to the Lieuwen farm where they lived until retiring to their home in Belmond in 1974. Joe died in 1989.

A homemaker all her life, Mourine devoted her life to her family, and her home was always the focal point for many family gatherings. She was a skilled seamstress and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning, and reading, especially cookbooks.

Joe and Mourine were the parents of four children, Joan, David, Carol and James.

Mourine is survived by four children, Joan (James) Carroll of Osage, David (Marlys) of Cedar Falls, Carol (Roland) Lerda of Berne, Indiana and James of Britt; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mabel Evans of Clarion, Mary Jasperson of Glendale, California and Margaret Parker of Yucaipa, California; a niece who made her home with the Lieuwens, Jean (Arnelt) Ostendorf of Klemme; a sister-in-law, Jennie Lieuwen and husband, George; and a brother-in-law, Peter Pals and wife, Gladys both of Belmond.

Besides her parents and husband, Mourine was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Bert and Donald Lieuwen; four sisters, Nellie (Hauko) Barkema, Grace (Hauko) Barkema, Rose (Ralph) Baker and Helen (Gene) Kelley.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Adela Rocha

August 12, 2004

Adela Rocha, 83, of Kansas City, died on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at the St. Luke's Hospital from an aneurysm.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, July 19, at the St. Raphael's Church, Kansas City, Missouri. Burial was in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas.

Adela was born on December 16, 1920 in Clarion. She resided in Kansas City for 63 years. She was a member of the St. Raphael's Catholic Church and Forte-Galvan-Serrone American Legion Auxiliary Unit 609.

She is survived by daughters, Mary Louise Corona and husband, Henry and Christina Saferite and husband, Emery; sons, Santos Rocha, Jr. and wife, Shirley and Frank Rocha and wife, Tanya; brothers, Al Rodriguez of Clarion, Jessie Rodriguez and wife, Dee of Sylmar, California, Frank Rodriguez and wife, Cheryl of Clarion, Tony Rodriguez and wife, Connie of Kansas City and Manual Rodriguez of Kansas City; sisters, Esther Pohlman of Clarion and Celia Pond and husband, Alan of Schwisher: brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Agustine and Theresa Rocha, Aurelio and Carmen Rocha, Mary and Manual Pacheco, Raymond Rocha, Emma Rocha; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; cousins; Godchildren; and many friends.

Adela was preceded in death by her husband, Santos Rocha; and her parents.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Jack Perry

August 19, 2004

Jack Perry, 82, of Shutesbury, Massachusetts, died on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at his home after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services were held at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Shelburne Falls. Rev. John Roach officiated at the service. Burial was in Our Lady of Chestochowa Church in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.

Jack Perry, was born on March 8, 1922 in Clarion, the son of Shirley and Fern Perry. He was a resident of Shutesbury for more than 40 years. The town honored him for his creative efforts in 2003.

Jack was a World War II veteran, serving with the 2689th Ground Liaison Attachment, Small Intelligence Unit, attached to the 12th Air Force Advance, stationed in Corsica and Italy.

He received a theater degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and later did graduate work at both Stanford University and the Yale Drama School.

Jack was a playwright, wrote for the Daily Hampshire Gazette and worked in the advertising department there, before retiring in 1987. He also wrote radio and television commercials for Jackson Associates, the house agency for the Holyoke-based Lestoil Co. It was there he met his wife of 42 years, the former Annette Federowsky. He was the author of three published plays as well as a collection of essays, "Clarion Chronicles: A Garden Along The Railroad Tracks". A fourth play, "Without Consent", won a Mount Holyoke College Summer Theater competition. The play was produced in South Hadley in 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Annette of Shutesbury, Maryland; three sons, Jonathan A. of Brookline, Massachusetts, Christopher J. of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Kinson B. of Colchester, Connecticut; one daughter, Cassandra E. of Newburyport, Massachusetts; and two grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Betty Mussman

July 22, 2004

R. Betty J. Mussman, 82, of Clarion, died on Friday, July 16, 2004, at the Wright Medical Center.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 19, 2004, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Highways 69 & 3, Rowan. Pastor Ray Salemink officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. The committal service was held in the Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton at 3:30 p.m.

R. Betty J. Fuehrer, was born on August 29, 1921, on the family farm in Canton Township near Shellsburg, the daughter of Edward and Mary Vogt Fuehrer.

She married Willard H. Mussman on August 29, 1941, at the St. John's Lutheran Church Parsonage in Newhall.

Betty was a farm wife, homemaker and a seamstress. After leaving the farm they operated a Dog 'n Suds in Washington, Iowa for three years, moving to Clarion in 1969. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, flowers, gardening and politics. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Immanuel Friendship Circle and Wright County Democrats.

She is survived by her sons, Ronald D. Mussman of Cedar Rapids and Richard W. Mussman (Barbara) of Clarion; daughter-in-law, Kay Mussman (Thomas) of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Lisa Mussman of Studio City, California, Jeff Mussman of Clarion,  Michael Mussman of Cedar Rapids, Mark Mussman (Amber) and great-grandson, Presley Thomas of Cedar Rapids; step-grandchildren, David Dorsey of St. Louis Park, Minnesota and Sarah Dorsey of Cedar Falls; brothers, Mick of Vinton and Jim of Shellsburg; and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willard on January 4, 1987; infant daughter, Carla on September 7, 1943; son, Thomas on December 23, 1983; sisters, Ethel (Til) Dake, Bonnie Bolton and Peg Oyler; brothers, Mike and Lyle; and granddaughter-in-law, Naomi (Michael) on November 16, 2001.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Michael Kalkbrenner

July 22, 2004

Michael Kalkbrenner, 55, died on Saturday, July 17, 2004, at his home in Peoria, Illinois.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, July 20, at the Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria, Illinois. Interment was in New Hampton. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Michael was born on July 3, 1949 in Charles City, the son of Barbara and Francis Kalkbrenner. He attended the Clarion High School, graduating in 1967. He participated in Cub Scouts, Little League baseball, golf, and high school and college basketball and was a member of the United Methodist Church at Clarion. Mike attended Wartburg College in Waverly and Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, majoring in Business Administration. His career was in sales. He worked for All Star Pro Golf in Clarion. Later, he worked in the appliance and electronic industry with hardware products. For the past 20 years, Mike has specialized in selling gold and fine jewelry throughout the Midwest.

Michael and Diana Brinkman, were wed in 1969 in Clarion and they are the parents of two children, Amy Melton and Chad Kalkbrenner. In 1988 Michael was united in marriage with Judith Doty. He has been a resident of Peoria, Illinois since 1969.

Survivors include his devoted partner, Judith Kalkbrenner; children, Amy Melton and husband, Anthony of Bartonville, Illinois, Chad Kalkbrenner and Becky Bailliez of Princeville, Illinois, Thomas and Lisa Doty of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Michael Doty and Tonya Backez of Peoria, Illinois; two granddaughters; Diana Kalkbrenner of Bartonville, Illinois; mother, Barbara Kalkbrenner of Midway, Arkansas; mother-in-law, Viola Jones of Peoria, Illinois; brother, William and wife, Nancy Kalkbrenner of Manchester, Iowa; sister, Mary Ann Serrano and husband, Patrick of Bettendorf; three nieces and one nephew; also numerous relatives and very many special friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Francis in 1969, Clarion; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Umbarger of Charles City and Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Kalkbrenner of New Hampton.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Ellen Ruth Johnston

July 22, 2004

Ellen R. Johnston, 76, of Belmond, died on Saturday, July 17, 2004, at the Franklin General Hospital in Hampton.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 19, at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond. Pastor Marvin Lorenz officiated. Interment was in the Alexander Cemetery.

Ellen Ruth Suntken, was born on April 26, 1928 in Franklin County, the daughter of Enno and Allie Schmidt Suntken. Ellen grew up near Dows where she attended school.

Ellen was united in marriage to Wallace F. Johnston in 1951. The couple lived their entire life in the Belmond, Alexander and Meservey areas. She enjoyed crocheting, afghans, cooking and baking.

Ellen is survived by her husband of 54 years, Wallace (Wally) of Belmond; a daughter, LaNae Walrod and husband, Michael of Latimer; a son, Clarence of Holmes; a daughter-in-law, Lelani Johnston of Goodell; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Don Suntken and wife, Madene of Belmond.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; son, Harold in 2003; two brothers, Clarence and Marvin; and a sister, Inez.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Eleanor Franzmeier

August 5, 2004

Eleanor Franzmeier, 80, of Albert City, Iowa, died on Tuesday, July 20, 2004, at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Albert City.

Funeral services were held on Fridday, July 23, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.

Survivors include her husband, Otto; son, Bruce Franzmeier of Clarion; daughter, Joyce (Mick) Vitzthum of Delight, Arkansas; three grandchildren; brothers, James Holmes of Denver, Colorado and Gordon Holmes of Kenosha, Wisconsin; sister, Margaret Eberly of Aurora, Colorado; brother-in-law, Edwin Franzmeier of Albert City; and sister-in-law, Hattie Sump of Storm Lake.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Harold Terence Mack

August 12, 2004

Harold Terence Mack, 87, of Clarion, passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2004, at the Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

Services were held on Saturday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m., at the Clarion Church of Christ. Pastor Tim Platt officiated. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Webster City.

Harold Terence Mack, was born on August 20, 1916 in Belmond, the son of John and Nancy (Bamford) Mack. He grew up around the Belmond area and graduated from the Belmond High School in 1934. Harold served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and upon returning home married Lida Bickford on March 3, 1948. He farmed in Wright County for 35 years before retiring in 1981.

Harold is survived by his wife, Lida of Clarion; two sons, Stanley Mack and wife, Jane of Kingston, Washington and Tracy Mack and wife, Beth of Lakeville, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; and a younger sister, Ruby Alderson of Ocala, California.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert and George; and two sisters, Ruth and Marian.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Gerhard Arnold Gabrielson

August 5, 2004

Gerhard Arnold Gabrielson, 91, of Belmond, passed away on Monday, July 26, 2004, at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 31, 2004, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Belmond. Pastor Lowell H. Halvorson officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Gerhard Arnold Gabrielson, was born on March 24, 1913 near Belmond, Wright County, the son of Gabriel and Anna Sunde-Peterson Gabrielson. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Church, rural Belmond. He received his education in the Wright County rural schools.

Gerhard was united in marriage to Marion Odegard of Waterville on January 15, 1938, at the St. John's Lutheran Parsonage in Waukon. They farmed in the Belmond and Waterville areas for more than 30 years. In 1972, they moved to Waukon. In 1978, they moved to Belmond. He enjoyed farm life, family, fishing, gardening and flowers.

Gerhard is survived by his wife, Marion of Belmond; one son, Dale and wife, Kathleen of Arlington, Tennessee; two daughters, Marjorie Liska and husband, Cletus of Clear Lake and Margaret Mennenga and husband, Larry of Belmond; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Lester Gabrielson of Belmond; two sisters, Beulah Reasoner and Ruby Boller, of Belmond; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, James in 1964; grandson, Benjamin in 1991; three brothers, Tolford, Elmer and Norman Gabrielson; three sisters, Elizabeth Waddington, Burley Gabrielson and Ruth Boller.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Geneva (Gen) Lesher

August 5, 2004

Geneva (Genevieve) Fern Boswell Lesher, 79, of Clarion, passed away on Monday, July 26, 2004, at her home.

Services were held on Thursday, July 29, at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home in Clarion. Elder Jerry Smith officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Geneva (Genevieve) Fern Boswell Lesher, was born on June 24, 1925 in Lehigh, the daughter of Clarence and Pearl (Kent) Boswell. The family moved to Webster City where Geneva attended school.

Geneva and Dannie Leshern were united in marriage on May 23, 1941 at Bethany, Missouri. They resided in Rowan for many years. While there, they owned the Rowan Tap. Geneva worked for Webster City Products from 1963 until her retirement.

She is survived by two daughters, Gloria Weimann and Karen Wason and husband, Bill; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Verla Carlson and husband, Leonard of Webster City; brother, Everett Boswell and his wife, Gene of Norfolk, Virginia; sister-in-law, Virginia Knosby and husband, Louis; and many nieces and nephews.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dannie; three sisters, Elnor Glawe, Alice Boylan and Dorothy Berleen; and two great-grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2004

Dale E. Brand

August 5, 2004

Dale E. Brand, 90, formerly of Clarion, passed away on Saturday, July 31, 2004, at Arbor Springs, a care facility in West Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 5, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion. Father David Beckman will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. service. Interment will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation was Wednesday from 5-8:00 p.m., at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church.

Dale E. Brand, was born on April 10, 1914, the son of John and Minnie (Loffler) Brand in Wellsburg, Iowa. His family moved to Fort Dodge where Dale was raised and graduated from high school. He received his undergraduate degree at Cornell College and completed graduate studies at Drake University. In 1946, he married Betty Kohlhaas of Algona, and together they raised their family of seven children in Clarion.

Dale was a state champion wrestler for the Fort Dodge High School, an outstanding football player and a 1937 NCAA wrestling champion for Cornell College. He represented the United States on the 1936 Olympic Wrestling Team. Dale was a high school Social Studies Teacher and Wrestling Coach in Clarion for 30 years. His teams compiled a record of 252-76-5, including 14 conference team championships and 23 individual state champions. Twenty-two of his former wrestlers went on to become coaches.

Dale is a member of the Fort Dodge High School Hall of Fame, Cornell College Sports Hall of Fame, Iowa Athletic Association Coaches Hall of Fame, Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame, was awarded the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service to Amateur Wrestling Award and was named Iowa High School Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1972.

Dale spent four years in the military service during World War II, including combat service as a medical corpsman with the 3rd Armored Division. He was a parishioner of St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion and also St. Pius in Urbandale. He was active with the Clarion VFW Post (serving as President), the Boy Scout organization and the community swimming pool where he taught hundreds of Clarion youth how to swim. In addition, Dale was known by family and friends as one of the finest "catfishermen" in the state.

Dale is survived by four sons, Phil Brand and wife, Becky of Port Angeles, Washington, Tom Brand and wife, Kara of Crockett, California, Bill Brand and wife, Lana of Marshalltown and Bob Brand of Ottawa, Kansas; one daughter, Beth Harris and husband, Bill of Urbandale; six grandchildren; one great-grandson; and one brother, Darwin of Fort Dodge. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; two sons, Steven and Michael; three brothers, John, William and Donald; and one sister, Dalorise.
© Wright County Monitor 2004