Cody Schmit, 1993-2010

July 7, 2010

Cody Jay Schmit, passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, from injuries sustained in an accident on June 26, 2010. Cody's generosity will continue giving life to others through the Iowa Donor Network.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 6, at 10:30 a.m., in the West Hancock High School Gymnasium. Burial was in the St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Britt. The Ewing Funeral Chapel, Britt was in charge of the arrangements.

Cody, the son of Joe and Billie (Rose) Schmit, was born on October 2, 1993 in Mason City. He was 16 years old and was to begin his junior year of high school in the fall. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Britt and loved going to Luther League, doing many fun activities with other teens. He also attended Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Thursday mornings before school.

Cody was a kind, big-hearted kid who enjoyed life to the fullest, preferring to keep busy, rather than sit on the sidelines watching. He spent countless hours in the garage and had a never-ending desire to learn everything he could about the project of the day, whether it be his racecar, pick up, or the '69 Chevelle he restored with the help of his dad. The entire family loved the outdoors and spent a lot of weekends camping, fishing, boating and tubing. Cody started hunting with his dad at a very young age and bagged his first deer when he was thirteen.

Sports were also very important to him and his family. An avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, he loved watching and playing football and worked very hard in the weight room during the off-season. Cody's other activities included track, FFA, 4H and shop class competitions and playing Texas Hold `em. He excelled at welding, laser engraving and fabricating, often making things from scratch. Those skills earned him first place in the "Bucket of Junk" contest at the Hancock County Fair three years in a row.

Cody is survived by his parents, Joe and Billie and his sister, Kellie all of Britt; grandmothers, Judy Rose of Mason City and Jeri Schmit of Ventura; aunts, Roxanne Rose and her children, Jeremy and Jake of Mason City, Tami (Paul) Allen and their children, Mackenzie and Morgan of Burnsville, Minnesota; uncle, Rob (Stephanie) Rose and their children, Kyle and Missy of Center Point; and great-grandmother, Bonnie Rodberg of Mason City.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Skip Rose; great-grandfather, Stan Rodberg; and great-grandmother, Vera Swartout.

The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the Cody Schmit Scholarship Fund at First State Bank in Britt.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Viola E. Bredlow, 1915-2010

July 14, 2010

Viola E. Bredlow, 94, of Garner, died on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, at the United Methodist Church in Garner, with Rev. Tim Rieckhoff-Faris officiating. Burial was in the Concord Township Cemetery.

The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Garner United Methodist Church Sunday School.

Viola Elnora Bredlow, the daughter of William and Laura Koehler, was born on August 8, 1915, on a farm west of Meservey. She was the youngest of seven children. Viola attended school at Meservey, graduating from the Meservey High School as class valedictorian. She received her teaching certificate from William Penn College and taught for several years in the rural schools of Wright and Hancock counties. On September 21, 1940, she was married to Marvin Bredlow at the Corwith United Methodist Church. They lived in Garner where they raised their children, Diane, Alan and Audre. Viola also did some substitute teaching in the Garner Community School System.

She enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, quilting, crossword puzzles, playing cards and Yahtzee. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Garner and UMW.

Viola is survived by her three children, Diane Stimes of Belvidere, Illinois, Alan (Barbara) Bredlow of Garner and Audre (James) Tagtmeyer of Phoenix, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Joseph (Sarah) Stimes, Thomas (Beth) Stimes, William (Heather) Stimes, Derek Bredlow (special friend, Michelle Miller), Jeni (Shaun) Hackman, Bret (Jennifer) Bredlow and Robert Tagtmeyer; and eleven great-grandchildren, Corisan and Nicholas Stimes, Grant and Jacob Stimes, Kelsey, Jalen and Benjamin Stimes, Jack and Kaine Hackman and Hailey and Hayden Bredlow.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin on June 7, 1989; her parents; a son-in-law, David Stimes; two sisters, Mildred Hammond and Edna Lauen; and brothers, Herbert, Walter, Raymond and Gilbert Koehler.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Marie D. Ellingson, 1920-2010

July 14, 2010

Marie Dorthea Ellingson, 89, of Garner, died on Saturday, October 10, 2009, at the Concord Care Center, Garner.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, July 17, 2010, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Kensett, with the Rev. Tom Martin officiating. The family will greet friends at the Kensett Community Center from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service and following the service until 5:00 p.m. A private family inurnment will be in the Kensett Cemetery, Kensett.

Marie Dorthea Petersen, was born on May 22, 1920 in Kensett, the daughter of Carl and Johanna (Bay) Petersen. She graduated from the Kensett High School. After graduation she moved to Mason City to be a nanny and housekeeper for a doctor. Marie was united in marriage to Orvin Ellingson and to this union four children were born. She was a homemaker until she went to work for the Decker Packing Plant, Mason City. She worked there for 28 years retiring when she was 55 years old.

Marie enjoyed dancing, gardening and decorating for the different seasons and holidays. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Marie enjoyed taking walks with her sister-in-law, Esther and attending regular coffee hour! She was very active in her church, the Bethany Lutheran Church of Kensett, the Women's Club and the Senior Citizens Center in Kensett.

Marie is survived by her children, Dallas (Rose) Ellingson of Norwalk, Connecticut, Sandra (Craig) Boutelle of Mission, Kansas and Linda Finn of Garner; grandchildren, Steven Boutelle and fiancée, Pam, Kelly (Julie) Vedane-Finn, Tina Boutelle, Mollie (David) Hueneman, Heather (Ken) Drake and D.J. (Amanda) Ellingson; great-grandchildren, Tayler (Chace) Doyal, Madison Finn, Zachary, Trevor and Jake Hueneman, Kendall and Tatum Drake; sister-in-law, Muriel Petersen; extended family, Fran Ellingson, Brian (Willi) Finn, Meghan and Kyle Finn; along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She will be greatly missed by three little boys.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant daughter; seven brothers; two sisters; two great-granddaughters, Stephanie and Samantha; along with several nieces and nephews.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Lucille Roe, 1916-2010

July 14, 2010

Lucille Roe, 94, formerly of Garner, died peacefully in her home in Davis, California, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

A memorial service led by the Rev. Keith Scott, will be held at the United Methodist Church, Garner, on Saturday, July 24, at 11:00 a.m.

Lucille was born on June 3, 1916, on a farm just west of Britt, Iowa, to Miller and Sophia Townsend. Following graduation from the Britt High School, she moved to Garner where she worked as a stenographer for the Rural Electric Cooperative. There, Lucille met Don Roe and they were married in 1938. They owned and operated a grocery store in Garner for over 40 years. Lucille and Don moved to Davis, California in 1979. Lucille worked full time as an apartment manager for two years until she retired.

She was an excellent cook and seamstress. She sent cookie care packages to two generations of family members attending college and provided plates of special baked goods to friends and neighbors at Christmas. She was a member of the Davis Community Church and P.E.O. International.

Lucille is survived by son, Bill and his wife, Nancy Roe of Davis, California and their children, Eric and Whitney (Thornburg); daughter, Barbara and her husband, Dick Kasperek of Hinsdale, Illinois and their children, Suzy (Baldwin), Kristin, David and Morgan; son, Chuck and his wife, Alison Roe of Davis and their daughters, Carla (Yeh) and Alix; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; all six siblings; and her husband.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Lyle C. Hall, 1935-2010

August 4, 2010

Lyle C. Hall, 75, of St. Paul, Minnesota, died on Saturday, July 31, 2010, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 10, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner. Burial will be in the Ellington Prairie Cemetery north of Garner. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral chapel.

Lyle C. Hall, the son of Clarence and Clara (Hanna) Hall, was born on February 12, 1935 in Mason City. He attended country school at Ellington No. 8 and graduated from the Ventura High School in 1952. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Luther College in 1956 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Iowa. Lyle taught one year at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was a Professor of Chemistry at the Wisconsin University, River Falls, Wisconsin, for thirty-five years. While at River Falls he took several sabbaticals to foreign universities to teach chemistry in India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico and Argentina.

He enjoyed helping foreign students come to the United States to further their education and many were able to get their advanced degrees. His home was always open to visitors from foreign countries to stay at his home. Lyle was interested in genealogy and took several trips to Norway to visit with relatives and trace his family history. He made a book for each side of his father and mother and was planning to update it.

Lyle is survived by two brothers, Caroll (Joann) Hall of Richfield, Minnesota and Irving (Lois) Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico; four nieces, Michelle (George) Ulvestad, Cindy Hall, Sheila Hall and Lori (Jim) Bork; one nephew, Steve (Lia) Hall; and several grand-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a younger brother, Gordon.

The family is deeply thankful for the wonderful care received from the staff at the Fairview Hospice and Age Well caregivers. Memorials are preferred to the Fairview Hospice, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010