Cdr. Leonard Vernon Rohrer

March 18, 2010

Cdr. Leonard Vernon Rohrer, beloved father, husband and friend, passed away on Monday, March 8, 2010, with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, on Friday, March 19, at 10:30, followed by a military ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery in Ono, California, at 12:45.

Leonard was born on August 4, 1926 in Clarion. Leonard, the oldest of three sons was raised working hard on the family farm, but his thoughts were always of flying away to faraway lands. In high school he earned letters in football and track and earned a reputation in wrestling as an Iowa State Champion in 1943. At age 14 he earned his wings and at 17 enlisted in the Navy, where he dedicated the next 26 years to serving his country.

As a naval aviator he served in two wars, on three different aircraft carriers flying almost every aircraft in naval service between 1945 and 1968. In 1948, Leonard wrestled on the Navy Olympic team, competing until he broke his clavicle and was forced to drop from the competition. During his 26 year military career, Leonard attained the rank of commander, earned two bachelors and a masters degree, and received numerous awards and commendations.

In 1968, Leonard was wounded and opted to retire to Red Bluff, California with his family. Despite his disability, Leonard continued to rise before dawn and ride his three-wheeler around town. He worked long hours on various hobbies, including playing chess, during which he enjoyed the company of many friends throughout the years. For the past 10 years, Leonard was a resident at the Windsor Redding Care Center in Redding, California.

Leonard was preceded in death by his mother; father; and two brothers.

He is survived by his wife, Monique; son, David; daughters, Deborah and Dana; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Frances M. Hanson

March 18, 2010

Frances Marie Hanson, age 90, of Clarion, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 12, at 2:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Clarion, with Pastor Don Morrison officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Frances Marie Bloomfield, was born on July 17, 1919 at Ravenwood, Missouri, the daughter of William Troy and Mary Mollie Bloomfield. Fran graduated from the Faucett High School in Faucett, Missouri in 1936. She attended one year at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, Maryville, Missouri and graduated the following year from St. Joseph Junior College at St. Joseph, Missouri in 1938.

Her family moved shortly after that to Clarion, thereby her dream of being a teacher wasn't to be realized, as her degree was not valid in another state. But here she would meet her soul mate for life. Frances and Charles (Chub) Hanson were married on July 2, 1939 and to this union were born two daughters, Marilyn and Sandra. Although she never taught in the school system, she was a true teacher by the life she led, her beliefs and the examples she set.

Frances was baptized in the Methodist Church in Dearborn, Missouri and was a member of the United Methodist Church in Clarion at the time of her death. Most of her married life was spent in the Clarion and Iowa Falls areas, where she worked side by side with her husband in all his many business ventures. One we fondly remember was Chub's Drive-In, where so many friendships and memories continue to live on with us.

Her interests in life were many and varied with her family and their welfare at the top of her list. Her hands were never idle – always busy cooking, crocheting hundreds of baby booties and baby blankets for her grandchildren and following up with graduation afghans for them. She was a true writer, sending the most beautiful letters to countless people. Her chocolate chip cookies were special and they were always available.

Frances is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Jackson of Stanwood and Sandra Schipull and her husband, Duane of Goldfield; one brother, Byron (Dorothy) Bloomfield of Lake San Marias, California; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chub; parents, William Troy and Mary Mollie Bloomfield; brother, Fay Bloomfield; infant brother, Franklin; son-in-law, Doug Jackson; and great-granddaughter, Sydney Jackson.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Ronald Dennis Kelling

March 25, 2010

Ronald Dennis Kelling, 71, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Roseville, California.

Funeral services were held on Monday, March 15, with burial following in the East Lawn Sierra Hills Cemetery, Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to your favorite charity.

Ronald was born on August 26, 1938 in Waverly. He attended the First Presbyterian Church of Roseville. 

He was a devoted, caring husband of Janean Kelling for 49 years, a loving father to Kim Arens and Jill Brown and a loving grandpa to Kaitlin Arens, Logan Arens and Jacob Brown.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Wilbur R. Davis

March 18, 2010

Wilbur R. Davis, age 83, of Dows, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 13, at the Morgan United Methodist Church, east of Dows. Pastor Mike Druhl officiated. Burial took place in the Morgan Church Cemetery.

Wilbur was born on October 8, 1926 in Brook Park Township, Minnesota, to Roger and Alvina (Parsons) Davis. He received his education in the country schools near Brook Park, Minnesota. On November 23, 1950, he was united in marriage to Jean Range at Princeton, Missouri. After their marriage they lived in Lineville, Missouri for five years. They moved to Webster City for two years and in 1956 moved south of Kamrar. It was there that Wilbur worked for Bob Sealine before moving to Dows in 1965. He was a farm hand for Forest Denger and then Earl Hofsommer before retiring in 1990.

Wilbur enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also treasured the time he spent with family. Wilbur attended the Morgan United Methodist Church and served for a time on the cemetery board.

Wilbur is survived by three sons, Bill Davis of Alden, Rick Davis of Dows and Jim Davis and wife, Ronda of Alden; five daughters, JoAnn Withers and significant other, Dan Elkin of Webster City, Kathy Silvest and husband, Rick of Iowa Falls, Lavon Schwebke and husband, Jeff of Lincoln, Nebraska, Deb Dow and husband, Mark of Clarion and Tracie Bolhuis and husband, Josh of Dows; twenty grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; two brothers; four sisters; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Dow; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Davis: sister, Ginger; and infant sister, Patricia.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Florence Louise (Beardsley) Titus

March 18, 2010

Florence Louise (Beardsley) Titus, passed away at her home in Clarion, on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the age of 87 years and 8 days.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 19, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Clarion United Methodist Church. The memorial service will be on Saturday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m., at the church.

Florence was born on March 2, 1923, in the farm home of her parents, Emmett Frank and Florence Ivy (Moreland) Beardsley, in Seeley Township, Guthrie County. In 1926, her family moved to Baker Township, which gave her the most enjoyable years of her youth. Florence met Max Titus at the age of 16. She graduated from the Guthrie Center High School, class of 1941. Because World War II was in action, she was issued a war emergency teaching certificate and taught three years in rural schools. On April 11, 1942, Max and Florence drove to Bethany, Missouri, where they were united in marriage. Florence accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior in 1943, and was baptized by Immersion, in 1952.

When Max was only 20 years old, after the death of both his parents, Max and Florence bought his dad's farm, located three miles east of Guthrie Center, where Max had lived since he was two years old and continued to work the land there. Three children blessed their farm home, Wyn Allen, Rickey Edward and Etter Marlene.

In 1957, Max left the farming to Florence, along with sons, Wyn and Rick and started working as a Farm Bureau Insurance Salesman for Guthrie County. In 1959, the family moved to Clarion, where Max became Agency Manager for Farm Bureau Insurance.

Florence then attended the Eagle Grove Jr. College for one year, taking secretarial courses. She took a position as secretary at the Clarion Memorial Hospital and later as secretary at the Clarion city clerk's office. In 1962, when Max left Farm Bureau to open his own independent insurance, real estate and farm management business, Florence became his office secretary and receptionist.

Other positions that Florence held were chairperson of the Valley Twp. Farm Bureau Women; Sunday School teacher, as well as secretary-treasurer at the Guthrie Center Open Bible Church and Holmes Baptist Church; and secretary for the Wright County Republican Women's organization. She also was a member of the Blairsburg Missionary Alliance Church and the Clarion First United Methodist Church.

Hobbies that Florence enjoyed were; gardening, canning, baking, sewing, quilting, knitting, darning, crocheting, painting and hosting dinners, family gatherings and reunions.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmett and Florence Beardsley; infant sister, Myrna Bethene; and sisters, Amy Smith and Irene Alexander.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 68 years, Max Edward Titus; her children, Wyn Titus and wife, Saundra of Lebanon, Missouri, Rick Titus of Clarion and Etter Watne and husband, Knute of Galt; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Neva Earp of Salem, Virginia.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

June Sams

March 18, 2010

Alice June Sams, age 85, of Whitten, died on Thursday, March 11, 2010.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 16, at the Whitten Community Church, with Pastor Jim Hartman officiating. She was laid to rest in the Vienna Cemetery near Beaman.

Alice June Maxheimer, was born on February 21, 1925 in Wright County, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer and Isel (Mechem) Maxheimer. She graduated from the Clarion High School. June was employed for many years at the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown as a receptionist and later relief clerk at the Whitten Post Office. On March 23, 1960, she was united in marriage to Everette Sams in Princeton, Missouri. They made their home in the Green Mountain community before moving to Whitten over 40 years ago. At the time of her death, June was the eldest resident of Whitten.

June was an active member in the Whitten Community. Currently she was serving on the Whitten City Council, was a member of the Whitten Community Church (served on church board), the Whitten Women's Fellowship, serving as chair of the Courtesy Committee and the funeral luncheon committee and was co-grand marshal of the Whitten 125th Celebration and the soup supper committee at the fire station. June was blessed with the gift of hospitality, always having the coffee pot on with plenty of cookies to share and dog treats for the family dogs. She loved her family, going to the antique power shows and tractor shows with Paul, making jelly and baked goods and enjoying birds, flowers and dogs.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Paul (Cheryl) Sams of Marshalltown; daughter-in-law, Susan Sams of Whitten; stepdaughter, Judith (Jack) Boughton of Van Meter; nine grandchildren; 21 great- grandchildren; one brother, Lee Maxheimer of Clarion; and one sister-in-law, Naomi Maxheimer of Clarion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everette; one son, Stanley; one sister, Irma Maxheimer; and three brothers, Paul, Randall and Robert Maxheimer.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Charles Gregg

March 25, 2010

Charles Gregg, age 70, of Clarion passed away on Friday, March 19, 2010, at the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, of cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 24, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Slater. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Charles was born on July 28, 1939 in Des Moines, the son of Clarence and Gertrude Gregg. He was married to Marilyn Hedlund on January 31, 1959 and they resided in Slater for 23 years, where they raised three daughters. He ran a car dealership in Clarion for 22 years, retiring in 2004 and lived at Lake Cornelia.

He enjoyed spending time with family, watching NASCAR racing and playing cards.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Debra, Carol (Dan) and Julie (Brian); six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one great- grandchild; and one brother, John.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and one sister.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Alice Irene Roosevelt Dougherty

April 1, 2010

Alice Irene Roosevelt Dougherty, age 88, of Clarion, passed away on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Israel Hospice House in Ames after several months of declining health.

Memorial services will by held on Friday, April 9, at 10:00 a.m., at the United Presbyterian Church in Clarion, with Pastor Bill Kern officiating. Inurnment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 8, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Irene, the daughter of Dr. Theodore and Dotsie Soults Roosevelt, was born on December 17, 1921 in Clarion. She attended the Clarion schools, graduating in 1940. After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank in Clarion. As a child, Irene spent summers at their cottage at Lake Cornelia where she enjoyed sharing time with family and friends. That experience translated later in life when she and Dale would take their family on a summer vacation every year to Alexandria, Minnesota. There she watched her children and later grandchildren enjoy the same moments that she had as a child.

Irene was a fashionable dresser with lovely brown eyes and thick brown hair. Irene and Dale were high school sweethearts and were married on August 16, 1941, enjoying 68 years together. Dale was a longtime Clarion banker and very active in community activities. They were members of the Clarion community until December 2007, when they moved to an Assisted Living Center in Ames to be near their son, David.

Irene was very active in church activities at the United Presbyterian Church. She was also an active member of Chapter FS, P.E.O. While Irene personally experienced many health challenges during her life, she always had a positive outlook on life and inspired others to make the best of their situation through her faith and prayer.

Irene is survived by her husband, Dale; daughters, Diane (Tom) McNulty of Naples, Florida and Linda (Steve) Foltz of Nashotah, Wisconsin; sons, Mike (Jackie) Dougherty of Aurora, Colorado and David (Charlotte) Dougherty of Ames; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Ruth Bunn in May 2009.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Clarion United Presbyterian Church, the Wright County Medical Center and the Ames Homeward Hospice.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Irene Basham

April 8, 2010

Irene Basham, of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, formerly of Ankeny, passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Ankeny First United Methodist Church in Ankeny.

She was a former teacher at the Clarion Elementary School and her husband was a guidance counselor. They were members of the First Methodist Church, Clarion. Irene was born on August 16, 1918.

She was the beloved wife of the late Richard Basham; and a loving mother of Richard, Nancy, Ann and Robert. Irene was also the grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of thirteen.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Lynn Rochelle Blankenship

April 8, 2010

Lynn Rochelle Blankenship, age 52, of Clarion, passed away on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at the Careage of Clarion.

A Celebration of Life Service was held on Tuesday, April 6, at 2:30 p.m., at the Careage of Clarion, with Pastor Warren Curry officiating and music by Doris Andrews.

Lynn Rochelle Blankenship, was born on June 7, 1957 in Newton, the daughter of Verle and Marliss Blankenship. Lynn came to live at Careage in December of 1978. Her second home provided her with excellent care and the many friends she made blessed her with love beyond measure.

Lynn worshipped God at the Clarion Church of Christ and had a wonderful church family. They have cared for, loved her, and transported her to church services each Sunday.

Lynn is survived by her parents; one sister, Lisa Tompkins and husband, Dr. William Tompkins; and four nephews.

Lynn was preceded in death by one sister, Maura Blankenship.
© Wright County Monitor 2010

Celebrate The Life of Lynn Blankenship, June 7

May 27, 2010

A tree will be planted in memory of Lynn Blankenship, on Monday, June 7, 2010, at the Careage of Clarion on South Main.

The dedication will take place at 10:00 a.m. The public is welcome to attend and is invited to the reception following the planting. This will be a celebration of Lynn's life. She passed away on March 30, 2010.

She had resided at Careage since 1979.
© Wright County Monitor 2010