Charles "Chuck" M. Butler, 1925-2010

August 11, 2010

Charles '"Chuck" M. Butler, age 84, of Lake Cornelia, Iowa, died on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at Arbor Springs, Des Moines, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services were held on Monday, August 9, at the Klemme United Methodist Church, Klemme. The Reverend Paddy Druhl officiated. Burial with full military honors, was provided by the Klemme Military Squad in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation was held on Sunday, at the Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme.

Charles "Chuck" M. Butler, was born on September 13, 1925, in Humboldt County, near Livermore, the son of Luther W. and Maude (Humble) Butler. He attended the Livermore area schools and graduated from the Livermore High School, with the Class of 1942. Following his schooling Charles served his country in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. During his military tenure in the Army, he spent time in Germany and various other locations on foreign soil. He was a part of the combat engineers during his six years of military service. Chuck was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Upon returning to civilian life, Charles was united in marriage to Virginia M. Davis at the Livermore United Methodist Church on September 2, 1951. Their union was blessed with three daughters, Gwen, Maggie and Becky. The couple, farmed for a time in Livermore and Bradgate before moving to a farm east of Klemme in 1955. In addition to farming, Charles and Virginia owned and operated an Oliver business. They later started the firm BMD in Klemme, a business that was built from the ground up with Chuck's vision and perseverance grew to a very successful company that provided it's services and expertise not only to the region, but throughout the U.S. and foreign countries. Charles and Virginia actively operated the business until 1992, when Chuck retired as President of the Company. Chuck's involvement continued until they sold BMD (known today as A & D) in 1995.

Throughout his entire life Charles was an ardent and active supporter of the community. He had served for a time as Mayor of Klemme, as a board member of the Klemme School Board and as a Klemme Volunteer Fireman. He generously gave of his time, talents and financial support to the Slippery Elm Golf Course, Klemme Ag Days, the fireworks and to numerous other events and projects.

Chuck had enjoyed hunting in earlier years. He and Virginia enjoyed golfing and were longtime members of the Slippery Elm Golf Course in Klemme and the Clarmond Country Club near Lake Cornelia. Chuck and Virginia had spent many years on winter vacation in Biloxi, Mississippi, for the month of January. The couple enjoyed dancing in earlier years and actively bowled in numerous leagues. Charles looked forward to fishing excursions in Canada. He also looked forward to any occasion that meant spending time in the presence of his children and grandchildren.

Chuck enjoyed the friendly competition of cribbage and cards among the comradery of his buddies, Ricky, Arly, Harold and Barney over lunch at the Sawmill in Klemme. Chuck, Rick and Arly would also look forward to an outing to the casino and would often times bring Virginia along for the occasion. Chuck was an actively involved lifetime member of the Klemme American Legion Post and also the Garner VFW.

Chuck will be remembered by his family, friends and former employees, as a man who loved life to it's fullest, enjoyed the simple things along the way and cared deeply for those around him. All who crossed in his life foot steps will cherish the echoes of his wonderful and heartwarming laugh, friendly hello and wave to both friend and stranger, and of course his unique wit and humor.

Those left to cherish the memory of his life include his wife and life companion of nearly 60 years, Virginia Butler of Lake Cornelia; daughters, Gwen of Clive, Maggie and husband, Mike Gowin of Rochester, Minnesota and Becky and husband, Ed Lents of Drexel, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Devon Mau and wife, Jamye, Danielle (Mau) and husband, Connor Sears, Dillon Mau, Chris Gowin and wife, Raissa Byer, Matt Gowin, John Gowin and wife, Jen, Ann (Lents) Mattison and husband, Chris and Jill Lents and fiancée, James Howarts; seven great-grandchildren, Andrew, Taylor and Cassidy Gowin, Dana and Spencer Mattison, DJ Mau and Nico Sears; brothers, Ralph Butler and wife, Ruby of Arkansas and James Butler of Washington, Iowa; and a sister, Linda Bahr of Livermore; and numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Mary Colwell of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Eva Lous Ferstl of Harriet, Arkansas.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Wayne W. Badker, 1926-2010

August 18, 2010

CLEAR LAKE-Wayne W. "Bud" Badker, 83, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died on Monday, August 9, 2010, at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center, Manly, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, August 12, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church. The Rev. Diana Hoover officiated. Burial was in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, with full military honors conducted by members of the Clear Lake V.F.W.

The Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel of Clear Lake, was in charge of the arrangements.

Wayne Welker Badker, was born on November 16, 1926 in Clear Lake, the son of Roy and Laura (Welker) Badker. Bud attended the Ventura School and helped his father farm. He was baptized and has been a lifelong member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Army in 1945, during WW II and was honorably discharged in 1947.

Bud was united in marriage to LaVohn Schlawin on September 7, 1947, at the Reformed Evangelical Church in Klemme. To this union a son was born. Bud farmed many years until his retirement in 1997 at the age of 70. Bud was a crop adjuster for Farm Bureau Insurance and was a substitute mail route carrier for 18 1/2 years.

Bud was a member of the Quarter Horse Assoc., Farmers Elevator Board member for 12 years and lifetime member of the Am Vet's and the Clear Lake V.F.W. Bud enjoyed playing golf, snowmobiling, bowling on league and wintering in Mesa, Arizona for numerous years!

Bud is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, LaVohn Badker of Clear Lake; son, Dennis Badker and his wife, Karen of Klemme; two grandchildren, Scott (Tina) Badker of Garner and Curt (Michele) Badker of Clear Lake; four great-grandchildren, Wade and Austin Lohman and Michaela Delzer and Drake Badker; along with one nephew, other relatives and friends.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Theone (Art) Risse.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Timothy Dean Wurtzel, 1959-2010

August 25, 2010

Timothy Dean Wurtzel, 51, of Clear Lake, died on Friday, August 13, 2010, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

A celebration of life service was held on Saturday, August 21, at the Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Reverend Dennis Ganz officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Concord Cemetery, Garner.

Timothy Dean Wurtzel, was born on June 20, 1959 in Waterloo, the son of Dean and Joan (Stocks) Wurtzel. In the third grade Tim and his family moved to Clear Lake and he attended the Clear Lake School System. He worked at the Clear Lake Bakery along with other various jobs. Most recently he was working for Intercon, Laborers Union, local 340 out of Mason City. Tim met up with his childhood sweetheart, Lois (Gouge) Ziron. They have enjoyed the last three years, taking trips, motorcycling, laughing and enjoying life. They were engaged and looked forward to spending their lives together.

Tim’s greatest love was spending time with his family, friends and his dog, Bandit. He loved riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, camping, taking trips to the casino, and loved watching sunsets. He was “Papa” to five special granddaughters, whom he loved dearly. He was a lover of life and his smile showed it. He will be sadly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory include his father, Dean (Jane) Wurtzel of Hazelhurst, Wisconsin; siblings, Cindy (Mike) Wisher of Hanlontown and Mike (Pam) Wurtzel of Des Moines; aunt, Jean Knox of Waterloo; a very special extended family, Karen Secory, Danielle Secory, Keghan Oppman and Jennifer Craighton; nieces and nephews, Kristy, Chad, Corey and Shaun; fiancée, Lois Ziron of Garner; daughter, Cheryl (Robert) Lenning of Mason City; grandchildren, Justina, Bailee, Skylar, Abbey and Piper Lenning of Mason City; mother and father-in-law, Merle and Marian Gouge of Garner; brothers and sisters-in-law, John (Violet) Gouge of Garner, Pete (Joan) Gouge of Garner, Becky Kirschbaum of Kallispell, Montana, Mike (Judy) Gouge of Crystal Lake, Steve (Mary) Gouge of Garner, Lori (Ted) Salz of Garner, David Gouge of Garner and Julie (Duane) Pigman of Crystal Lake; his dogs, Bandit, Yetta and Cyrus; along with other relatives and many, many friends.

Tim was preceded in death by his grandparents; mother, Joan Shreve; uncles, Glenn Knox and Glenn Wurtzel; and his special dog, Wolf.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Lula L. Schroeder, 1925-2010

August 25, 2010

Lula L. Schroeder, 85, of Garner, died on Friday, August 20, 2010, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, August 23, at the United Presbyterian Church in Garner, with Justin Asche, lay pastor officiating. Burial was in the Concord Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the United Presbyterian Church in Garner. The Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Lula Leone Schroeder, the daughter of Lewis and Hannah (Jefson) Hanson, was born on July 17, 1925 in Forest City. She attended the rural schools near Forest City. On July 19, 1944, she was married to Alvin Schroeder at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City. They farmed southwest of Garner until 1961 when they purchased a farm northeast of Garner. They lived there until 1990 when they retired from farming and moved into Garner. Lula and Alvin also owned and operated the Modern Cleaners in Garner for five years. She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and UPW.

Lula is survived by her daughter, Lona (Robert) Younge of Hampton; three grandchildren, Aeric (Tammy) Younge and their two sons, Adam and Aaron, Marcus (Robin) Younge and their two children, Courtney and Sydney and Chadwick (Shannon) Younge and their two children, Braydon and Brynn; a great-grandson, Colton Dixon; two sisters, Dorothy Wilson of Garner and Vivian (Duane) Rasmussen of Clear Lake; a sister-in-law, Mildred Hanson of Forest City; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn who died on April 1, 1949 in a car accident at the age of four; husband, Alvin who died on September 8, 2001; granddaughter, Heather Dixon in July of 2006; her parents; brothers, Ernest, Milton, Raymond, Duane and Earl Hanson; and sisters, Mary Stewart, Pearl Pinkerton and an infant sister, Laura Hanson.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Doug H. Engstler, 1965-2010

August 25, 2010

Doug H. Engstler, 45, of Tea, South Dakota and formerly of Garner, died on Saturday, August 21, 2010, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 25, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Fr. Donald Hertges officiating. Burial was in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Doug Harvey Engstler, the son of Lawrence and Carole (Monson) Engstler, was born on February 13, 1965 at Britt. He attended and graduated from the Garner-Hayfield High School in 1983 where he was active in sports. Doug continued his education at NIACC and later transferred to UNI in Cedar Falls, graduating with a degree in teaching. On August 6, 1994, he married Jodie K. Adams at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood. They lived in Clear Lake, Beatrice, Nebraska, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Tea, South Dakota. Doug was employed as a construction supervisor at Midwest Livestock Systems.

Doug enjoyed spending time with his sons. They were the focus of his life.

Doug is survived by his four sons, Nicholas, Zachary, Joshua and Carter; his parents, Lawrence and Carole Engstler of Garner; four brothers, Bruce Engstler of Huntington, West Virginia, Kenny (Teri) Engstler of Garner, Larry (Denise) Engstler of Lawndale, California and David (Deb) Engstler of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Kevin in 1975; maternal grandparents, Carl and Fern Monson; paternal grandparents, Harvey and Anna Engstler; a niece, Kayla Engstler; and a nephew, Justin Lunning.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Jean M. Hildman, 1966-2010

September 1, 2010

Mason City-Jean Marie Hildman, 43, died on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City.

A Funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, August 30, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City. Reverend Kenneth B. Gehling officiated. Burial was in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Wesley, Iowa. The Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of the arrangements.

Jean Marie Hildman, was born on November 15, 1966 in Mason City, the daughter of Donald and Marie (Hadacek) Hildman. She attended grade school in Plymouth and graduated from North Central in Manly in the class of 1985. After graduation, she attended the North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City in the medical secretary program. She most recently worked at Wal-Mart as a cashier for several years and due to health reasons she retired.

Jean loved listening to country music, cross stitching and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Minnesota Twins fan. Her greatest love was spending time with her family, especially with her niece and nephew. Jean was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City.

Jean is survived by her father, Donald Hildman of Mason City; sister, Ann (Douglas) Lampe of Waterloo; nephew, Marcus Lampe and niece, Allison Lampe, both of Waterloo; along with several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Jean was preceded in death by her grandparents; and her mother, Marie Hildman.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Laurice A. Lemke, 1929-2010

September 1, 2010

KLEMME-Laurice A. Lemke, 81, of Klemme, died on Friday, August 27, 2010, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, August 30, at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme, with Pastor Donna Buckman officiating. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Laurice Allen Lemke, the son of William H. and Ethel (Whitney) Lemke, was born on January 31, 1929, on the family farm in rural Klemme. He attended the rural schools of Liberty Township until the eighth grade and graduated from the Klemme High School in 1945. On February 1, 1948, he married Marjorie Meinders at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. They farmed west of Klemme until 1992, when they retired and moved into Klemme. In 2004, they moved into Garner.

Laurice enjoyed their Brown Swiss dairy herd, farming and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme, where he served as a deacon, elder, Sunday School Superintendent and a mentor for confirmation students. He also was active in Farm Bureau, the Garner Creamery Board, REC and 4-H.

Laurice is survived by his four children, Gwen (Byron) Suntken of Meservey, Paige (Dave) Rohlf of Altoona, Lynn (Valerie) Lemke of Olathe, Kansas and Michele (Stan) Greiman of Garner; grandchildren, Neal Suntken (fiancée, Dana Brubaker), Adam (Sandy) Suntken, Emily (Verlyn) White, Joel Rohlf, Amanda Rohlf, Joshua Lemke, Rebecca Lemke, Brandon (Libby) Stromer, Edward (Cindy) Greiman, Angela (David) Homann and Matthew (Angela) Greiman; great-grandchildren, Erin Suntken, Abbie Suntken, Jake Suntken, David King, Nick King, Andrea White, Cameron White, Blaize White, Taylor Homann, Joshua Homann, Reid Homann, Grace Greiman, Shelby Greiman and Jacob Greiman; two brothers, Bill Lemke of Weyerhauser, Wisconsin and Byrnes (Stella) Lemke of Mason City; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Jurgemeyer of Garner and Mildred Lewis of Logan, New Mexico; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie on January 13, 2006; his parents; son-in-law, Doug Stromer; sisters, Helen Sellner, Ethel Volkman and Lorraine Mitchell; and granddaughter-in-law, Kim Suntken.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

September 8, 2010

Betty Jean Hegg-Payne, 87, of Fort Collins, Colorado and formerly of Kanawha, passed away on Monday, August 30, 2010, in Fort Collins.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 7, at 10:30 a.m., at the Kanawha Lutheran Church, Kanawha, with Pastor Lee Nelson officiating. A private family burial service was held in the Concord Cemetery, Garner. The Ewing Funeral Home of Kanawha, was in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Jean Hegg, the daughter of William and Helen Brummund, was born on February 5, 1923. She attended and graduated from the Kanawha Schools in 1940. On November 22, 1941, she married Merle Hegg at her parent's home near Kanawha. They brought to the union four children. These four children were the couple's pride and joy. Merle died on July 11, 1978.

She married Jim Payne on April 2, 1983. Jim died on July 26, 1989. Betty and Merle and family lived in Kanawha until Merle retired. She and Merle then moved to Garner. In Kanawha, Betty worked at the Strahorn Hardware, Kanawha Community School District and Krietlow Electric. She later worked at the county courthouse in Garner. She had moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be near her son and daughter in 1999.

Betty was a life member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries. She especially enjoyed her family, dancing, playing cards, baking, traveling, picnicking, sewing, crafting and reading. She made herself the "Sunshine Lady" by sending greeting cards to anyone she had ever met. Many people remembered their own anniversaries only because Betty had sent a card to them.

Betty is survived by her children, Bob and his wife, Barb of Fort Collins, Colorado, Ruth Mosher of Fort Collins, Colorado, Jim and his wife, Judy of Shell Rock, Mary and her husband, Richard of Sandusky, Iowa and Allen Payne of Seattle, Washington; seven grandchildren, Jamie (Ty) Drage, Carie (Jordan) Aslor, Shawn Mosher, Jeff (Misty) Mosher, Brian (Holly) Hegg, Kristy (Michael) Baker and Mark (Kathryn) Bevington; two step-grandchildren, Lonnie Payne of Des Moines and LeAnn (Daniel) Tindall of Akron, Iowa; 15 great-grandchildren; and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merle Hegg; second husband, Jim Payne; sister, Florence; brother, Bill; and granddaughter, Angi Hegg Bronemann.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010