Elaine Woiwod, 1924-2010

March 10, 2010

Elaine Woiwod, 85, of Garner, died on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at her daughters home in Garner.

Funeral services are 10:30 a.m., today Wednesday, March 10 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with Pastor Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery in Garner. Beverly Cataldo will be the organist and soloist. Casket bearers are Bryan Juenger, Karla Juenger-Rudisill, Natalie Swartout, Jason Juenger, Tom McMahon and Joel Swartout. Visitation was from 5-7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner.


Ione Elaine Woiwod, the daughter of Lauretz and Laura (Christie) Peterson, was born on April 7, 1924, on a farm near Goodell. She attended the Twin Lake #5 Country School and the Goodell High School, graduating in 1941. After high school she worked at Mercy Hospital in Mason City in the dietary department. On October 12, 1947, she was married to Ernest L. Woiwod at the Lutheran Parsonage in Garner. They lived in Ventura for several years before moving to Garner, where they raised their family. Elaine worked at Winnebago Industries in Forest City for 20 years, retiring in 1985.

She enjoyed her family, sewing and gardening. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner.

Elaine is survived by two daughters, Laurel McMahon and her husband, Jim and Kris Juenger and her husband, Tom, all of Garner; five grandchildren, Bryan Juenger, Natalie Swartout and her husband, Joel, Jason Juenger and special friend, Daphne McKinney, Tom McMahon and his wife, Cathy and Karla Juenger-Rudisill and her husband, Ron; six great-grandchildren, Hannah Swartout, Olivia Juenger, Brennan Swartout, Sophia Juenger, Tori Sloan and Evan Sloan; a very special nephew, Melvin Peterson of Forest City; a sister, Lula Bell and her husband, Frederick of Klemme; two brothers, John Peterson and his wife, Mavis of Clarion and Christie Peterson of Goodell; a sister-in-law, Edna Peterson of Corwith; two brothers-in-law, Laurice "Pete" Woiwod and his wife, Billie of Clear Lake and Leslie Meres of Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Woiwod; a grandson, Joel Ernest McMahon; her parents; six sisters; two brothers; four brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; two nieces and a nephew.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Lorene M. Cox, 1924-2010

March 17, 2010

Lorene M. Cox, age 85, of Washington, Iowa, died on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at her residence.

A Celebration of Life Service was held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, March 11, at the Jones-Eden Funeral Home, Washington, with the Rev. Bob Wollenberg officiating. Interment will be in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. A general memorial has been established.

Lorene was born on November 3, 1924 in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Walter A. and Ruth C. (Carlson) Anderson. She graduated from the Washington High School in 1943 and attended Business College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. On July 1, 1945, Lorene was united in marriage to R. Dean Cox in Washington, Iowa. Lorene worked as a stenographer for the Washington County Health Unit and later worked at the Brakes Fabric and Seamstress Company.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, OES, Y Women, the Washington Golf and Country Club and Chapter El of TTT. Lorene served on the Care Review Committee at the Washington Care Center for ten years.

Lorene was a master seamstress who especially enjoyed creating handiwork for her family. She treasured the friendships she developed over the years as she altered clothing for many, many people throughout Washington County. Lorene also loved to gather with her friends to play cards.

She is survived by two sons, Douglas Cox and wife, Julianna of Garner and Terry Cox and wife, Terri of Harlan; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1999; her brother, Bob Anderson; and her sister-in-law, Ruth Anderson.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Elsie Mae Van Wert, 1914-2010

March 24, 2010

Elsie Mae Van Wert, 95, of Garner, died on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, March 22, at the United Methodist Church in Garner, with Revs. Tim Rieckhoff-Faris and Gary Van Wert officiating. Burial was in the Hampton Cemetery. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Elsie Mae Van Wert, was born on October 27, 1914 in Franklin County, Iowa, the fourth child of George Everett and Mabel (Hansell) Van Wert. She grew up on the family farm northeast of Hampton, attended country school and graduated from the Hansell Consolidated School. She attended Iowa State University and became a teacher and taught for many years in country schools in the north central Iowa area. She returned to Iowa State and earned her Degree in Home Economics and became the Iowa State University Community Extension Home Economist for Hancock and Winnebago Counties. She retired from her work in October of 1979.

Elsie Mae was involved in 4-H as a young woman and held leadership positions in the 4-H Club all her life. In 2003, at the age of 89, she was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame at the Iowa State Fair.

Elsie Mae loved her work, her family and traveling. She traveled all over the United States and visited several other countries during her lifetime. She took an interest in the young people of her community, her church and her friends. She was a delightful friendly person who had a broad world-view and she will be missed by the many people who knew her.

She was a member of the Garner United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Quilters, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority sixty year member, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter FN Garner, Garner Wa-Tan-Ye Club, the Iowa and National American Home Economists Association and also the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees.

Elsie Mae is survived by a brother, Howard Van Wert of Okeechobee, Florida; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Lela Mechem, Mildred Davis, J.S. (Pat) Van Wert, Charles Van Wert, Harriet Ormston and three in infancy.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010