Earl A. Hanson, 1928-2009

February 18, 2009

Earl Hanson, age 81, formerly of Miller, died on Friday, February 6, 2009, at his home in San Clemente, California.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 14, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Miller, with Lay Pastor Rose Visser, officiating. Burial was in the Ventura Cemetery in Ventura. The Petersen Lund Funeral Home, Forest City, was in charge of the arrangements.

Earl Amos Hanson, the son of Lewis and Hannah Amelia (Hansen) Hanson, was born on January 19, 1928, on his family's farm in Miller. He attended rural Forest City Schools. On February 25, 1947, he married Darlene M. Hefte in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The couple moved to Amarillo, Texas and in 1957 they moved to Anaheim, California. On July 17, 1982, Earl married Holly A. Karl at their home in Santa Ana, California. Earl was a salesman and managed the Berkshire House, R&B and the Fedco Furniture Stores.

He loved to golf, eat breakfast on the San Clemente Pier and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed preparing Thanksgiving Dinner and his specialty was an Iowa Christmas Morning Breakfast.

He is survived by his wife, Holly Hanson of San Clemente; his children, Cynthia (Paul) O'Shea of Garner, Twyla (Michael) Quinn of Ventura, Debra (Delbert) Owen of Spokane, Washington, Gregory Earl Hanson of Tustin, California and James Karl of Geismar, Louisiana; 11 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Wilson of Garner, Lula Schroeder of Britt and Vivian (Dwayne) Rasmusson of Clear Lake; and sister-in-law, Mildred Hanson of Forest City.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ernest, Milton, Raymond and Duane; sisters, Mary Stewart, Pearl Pinkerton, infant sister, Laura Hanson; and his granddaughter, Sarah Quinn.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009

Dora E. Yohn, 1914-2009

February 18, 2009

Dora E. Yohn, 94, of Garner, died on Thursday, February 12, 2009, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Dora Emerald Yohn, the daughter of Walter and Jessie (Goodchild) Knight was born on November 4, 1914 at Havelock, Iowa. Her mother passed away when Dora was 13 months old. She was raised by her grandmother, Ida E. Knight, until her father remarried in April of 1917 to Ella Classen. Dora graduated from the Havelock Consolidated School then attended cosmetology school in Fort Dodge. On October 5, 1936, she married Jay E. Stole at Ruthven. They moved to Garner in 1937 where they operated a barber and beauty shop for many years. Jay passed away on February 11, 1985. On September 26, 1992, she was married to Ronald D. Yohn. They lived in Garner and spent winters in Mesa, Arizona.

She enjoyed bridge and her bridge friends. She was a collector of Dalmatian dogs. Dora was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

She is survived by a sister, Norma C. Struthers of Orange, California; a brother, Art (Patricia) Knight of Omaha, Nebraska; step-children, Sharon (Lars) Larson of Crystal Lake, Carol (Dr. Philip) Lonning of Humboldt and Bill (Rosemary) Yohn of Clear Lake and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husbands, Jay Stole and Ronald D. Yohn.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009

Patricia Buntenbach, 1929-2009

February 25, 2009

Patricia Buntenbach, 79, of Garner, died on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, February 21, at the United Presbyterian Church in Garner, with Rev. David Wagner officiating. Cremation will follow with inurnment at a later date in the Concord Township Cemetery. Visitation was from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, at the United Presbyterian Church in Garner and continued one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.

Patricia Buntenbach, the daughter of Dr. Earl (Dora) Phillips, was born on May 23, 1929 in Garner. She graduated from the Garner High School in 1947 and continued her education at Frances Shimer College in Mt. Carroll, Illinois and Iowa State University in Ames. On August 28, 1949, she was married to E.D. "Red" Buntenbach at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. They lived in Garner where they raised their family. Pat had worked at the Garner Livestock Sales and operated Mrs. B's Bed and Breakfast for a time.

She enjoyed visiting with family and friends, cooking for others, listening to music, playing bridge, reading and gardening. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Women and Progressive Club.

Pat is survived by her husband, E.D. "Red" Buntenbach of Garner; four children, Mary Pat (Steven) Hastings of Blaine, Minnesota, Edward P. "Phil" (Jeanine) Buntenbach of Norwalk, Brian (Shannon) Buntenbach of Klemme and Andrew (special friend, Teresa) Buntenbach of Mason City; grandchildren, Benjamin Hastings, Adam (Rachel) Buntenbach, Eric Buntenbach, Wesley Buntenbach, Amanda Wilken and Jocelyn Boss; great-grandchildren, Naiya and Jaeda Hastings and Gavin and Kennedy Buntenbach; and a sister, Jean Hicks of West Lafayette, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Leonard Phillips; and a grandson, Trevor Albertson.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009

Dennis A. Eckert, 1952-2009

February 25, 2009

Dennis A. Eckert, 56, of Garner, died on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 21, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with Rev. Jim Allard, Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Woodbury Cemetery near Lyle, Minnesota. Visitation was held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and continued for one hour prior to the services at the funeral chapel.

Dennis Alden Eckert, was born on June 1, 1952 at Osage, the ninth of twelve children of Clarence and Fae (Anderson) Eckert. At an early age he moved with his family to Effie, Minnesota. Dennis graduated from the Big Fork High School in 1971 and Eveleth Vo-Tech for graphics in 1973. After graduation, he moved to Minneapolis where he worked for Hershfield Wallpaper Dist. and the Anoka-Hennepin School District as a printer. He later moved to Mason City where he worked for Wellborne Manufacturing. On May 23, 1992, he married Lesa Wood at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner. They made their home in Garner where they raised their three children. They later divorced. Dennis had recently retired from Winnebago Industries in Forest City after 20 years of employment.

He is survived by his three children, Lacie, Abagail and Devon Eckert of Garner; brothers, Ross Eckert of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Emery Eckert of Cedar Falls, Ervin "Pete" Eckert of Crystal, Minnesota, Robert "Bob" Eckert of Anoka, Minnesota and Marvin Eckert of Austin, Minnesota; sisters, Donna Ciavarelli of Grafton, Jane Bork of Grafton, Judy Hrdlecka of Grafton, Gloria (Goldie) Cole of Big Fork, Minnesota and Connie Fossey of St. Ansgar; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Thera Betsinger.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009

Lena A. Blank, 1917-2009

March 4, 2009

Lena A. Blank, 91, of Naples, Florida, died on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, February 28, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with the Rev. David Wagner officiating. Burial was in the Concord Township Cemetery.

Lena Arleta Blank, the daughter of Homer and Bernice (Nobles) Waggoner, was born on May 10, 1917, at Ellston. She graduated from the Beaconsfield High School. On May 5, 1943, she was married to Lehman Blank at Joplin, Missouri. They lived in Des Moines for a time before moving to Torrance, California in 1958. Lena and Lehman owned and operated Diamond Realty in Torrance until retiring in 1975. After Lehman passed away in 1991, Lena moved to Sarasota, Florida, to be near her daughter, Linda. In 2000, she moved to Naples, Florida.

In their retirement years, Lena and Lehman enjoyed traveling across the United States in their motor home.

She was a member of the Eastern Star Fuchsia Chapter # 4250ES and the California Board of Realtors.

Lena is survived by her daughter, Linda Petersen of Naples, Florida; two granddaughters, Krista (Andrew) Nanton of Mebane, North Carolina and Tiffany Petersen of Honolulu, Hawaii; a sister, Lillie Bouge of Prescott, Arizona; sisters-in-law, Tessie (Marvin) Johnson of Garner, Eunice Johnson of Garner, Joann Blank of Peoria, Illinois and Marcia Blank of Garner; and a brother-in-law, Sylvester (Emogene) Blank of Des Moines.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009

Raymond A. Blank, 1923-2009

March 4, 2009

Raymond Albert Blank, age 85, of Kanawha, died on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at the Belmond Medical Center in Belmond. His wife of 63 years at his side.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 28, at the Bethany Reformed Church, Belmond. The Rev. Phillip Arnold officiated. Burial was in the Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Friday, at the Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond and continued one hour before the services at church on Saturday.

Ray was born on September 13, 1923, at his families farm northwest of Klemme. His parents were Berend and Grace (Nieman) Blank. He attended the local country school through the 8th grade. After his father passed away when Ray as 16 years old, he took over the family farm and provided for his mother and four younger sisters. On September 4, 1945, Ray was united in marriage to Ann Vander Ploeg at her parents farm. They continued to farm for a few years and then moved to Kanawha and started his carpenter business, which he continued until his illness in 2002. In 1955, Ray built his wife and children a home in Kanawha which they continued to live in throughout their married life.

Ray became an expert in all aspects of building, from pouring foundations and laying basement walls to plumbing and electrical, kitchen cabinets and finish work, but beginning with him drawing his own blueprints. By the time he retired he could show a person his work from Northern Minnesota, throughout Iowa and down into mid-Missouri making many friends along the way.

Ray delighted in telling stories of his past to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also took great pride in taking his grandson to work with him when he was young and taking all of his grandchildren fishing. In the 1960's Ray decided to get his high school GED and was proud when he tested out at the second year of college level.

Ray was a member of the Bethany Reformed Church and served as an elder for his church family.

Ray will be missed by every life he has touched. He is survived by his wife, Ann of Kanawha; his son, Bernard (Shirley) Black of Yuba, Wisconsin; daughter, Janine Harms of Hubert, North Carolina; his grandchildren, Angela Daugherty of Grandview, Missouri, Sgt. Austen (Brandy) Harms of Hubert, North Carolina, Sheena Harms of Rapid City, South Dakota and Tara Harms of La Crosse, Wisconsin; his great-grandchildren, Lyndy Daugherty, Kayleen, Alexander and Haleigh Ann Harms; a sister-in-law, Marian Blank of Garner; his sisters, Lillian Vander Ploeg of Kanawha, Ada Schoenwetter of Garner, Edna Schreur of Lyndne, Washington and Leona (Kenny) Sorenson of Crystal Lake.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Cecil Blank; brothers-in-law, Clarence Vander Ploeg, Homer Schoenwetter, Herman Schreur and Don Marchand; a son-in-law, August Harms; and a granddaughter, Carey Blank.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2009