Alvera Alice Formanek
November 29, 1934-November 3, 2010

Alvera A. Formanek, 75, of Britt, died Wednesday, November 3, 2010, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Friday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Thursday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with a combined Rosary Society and Catholic Workman rosary at 4 P.M. and a Scriptural Wake service at 7 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Alvera Alice Formanek the daughter of Joseph and Ella (Kallis) Nowak, was born November 29, 1934 at Wells, MN. She attended school at St. Casmir in Wells until the eighth grade and graduated from Wells High School in 1952. She continued her education at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea and became a registered nurse working at a hospital in Mankato. On June 23, 1959 she was married to Robert Formanek at St. Casmir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. They farmed and raised their family south of Duncan. Alvera worked as a nurse at the Kanawha Community Home, Hancock County Memorial Hospital and the Westview Care Center in Britt. She then worked as a cook at Duncan Heights where she retired from after eighteen years of employment.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking and spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Rosary Society and Catholic Workman FCSLA w51.

Alvera is survived by her four children, Linda (Dean) Brooks of Britt, Carol (Dirk) Bruns of Mason City, Tom (Brenda) Formanek of Britt and Robert Formanek, Jr. of Ankeny; eleven grandchildren, Kathleen Brooks (fiancé, Doug Hood) and Megan and Brittany Brooks, Adam, Leah and Andrew Bruns, Sara, Laura and Brett Formanek and Trevor and Jourdon Formanek; a sister, Elaine Buzicky of Britt; her mother-in-law, Elsie Formanek of Garner; three sisters-in-law, Blanche Chizek, Marge (Tom) Ryerson and Marlene (Craig) Leerar; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob on Feb. 10, 2007; her parents; three brothers, Raymond, Jake and Ambrose Nowak; and a sister, Jane Schultz.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010

Margaret Josephine Rutz
November 16, 1913-November 6, 2010

GARNER - Margaret J. Rutz, 96, of Renville, MN, formerly of Garner, IA, died Saturday, November 6, 2010, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Sunday, November 14th at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner with Pastor Brian Lund of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be held from 10:30 A.M. until service time Sunday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel with the family present from 10:30 A.M. until 11:45 A.M. No flowers preferred.

Margaret Josephine Rutz, the daughter of William and Reka (Goll) Haberkamp, was born November 16, 1913 on a farm south of Garner. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Reformed Church. Margaret graduated from Garner High School after receiving her Normal Training Teaching Certificate. She taught in the rural schools of Hancock County for several years. On June 2, 1938 she was married to Lionel R. Rutz at the Peace Reformed parsonage south of Garner. They farmed in the Garner-Ventura area and in 1956 moved to Renville, MN and continued farming. In 1963, they moved to Des Moines, in 1973 to Waukee and in 1984 returned to Garner. After Lionel passed away in 1986, she continued to live in Garner until moving to Renville, MN to be near her daughter, Carol Bakker.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, quilting, embroidering, gardening and reading. She was a member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner, Zion Women's Fellowship and the Ventura Garden Club.

Margaret is survived by her two children, Dick Rutz of Waukee and Carol (Dave) Bakker of Renville, MN; eight grandchildren, Steve (Andrea) Bakker, Sid (Tammy) Bakker, Tom Bakker (fiancée, Amy Kulberg), Tracey (Jerry) Jackson, Troy Bakker, Daniel (Lisa) Rutz, Allan (Andrea) Rutz and Beth (Michael) McFee ; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lionel; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Rutz; four sisters; and a brother.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010

Jennie Baker
July 5, 1919-November 8, 2010

Jennie Baker, 91, formerly of rural Ventura, completed her journey of life surrounded by her family, Monday, November 8, 2010, at the Concord Care Center, Garner.

A funeral service will be held Friday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m., at the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor Dan Jordan officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, November 11, 2010, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Jennie Baker Memorial Fund; that will later be donated in Jennie’s memory to the local Christian Radio station KJCY.

Jennie Oswald was born on July 5, 1919, near Elmore, MN. Jennie joined Chadd L. Baker in marriage on November 12, 1944, and they welcomed five girls and one boy into the family. They farmed in rural Ventura for more than 35 years. Jennie's passion in life was her faith and family. Jennie was known for her generosity, gift of hospitality and nurturing ways. She was an accomplished seamstress, licensed beautician, excellent cook and "Baker", Jennie was most thankful for our Lord and Savior, she demonstrated her love, and passed on this love and faith to her family and loved ones.

Left to cherish her memories are her children and their spouses, Martha Gunderson (Jim); Mary Sawin (Bob); Julie Azeltine (Pat); Jane Suby (Rich); Joann Kroneman (Allan); and Alan Baker (Shirley);she has 11 Grandchildren and 12 Great-Grandchildren; sister Inga Nordaas; sisters-in law Donna Oswald and June Oswald and many nieces and nephews.

Jennie is preceded in death by her parents, husband Chadd, brothers Swen, Gordon and Alf and one Great-Grandson.
© Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 2010

Walter Harold Eggerth
October 29, 1926-November 14, 2010

GARNER - Walter H. Eggerth, 84, of Garner died Sunday, November 14, 2010, at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Graveside services will be held 10 A.M., Wednesday at Concord Township Cemetery in Garner with Rev. Will Hunsaker of the Open Bible Church in Clear Lake officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St. in Garner.

Walter Harold Eggerth, the son of Emil and Christine (Attig) Eggerth, was born October 29, 1926 at Renwick. He attended school at Renwick and then moved with his family to Galt and later to Garner. On August 20, 1950, he married Verna Mae Hanson at the United Methodist Church in Garner. They farmed northeast of Garner where Walter also operated a farm machinery repair shop. In 2005, they moved into Garner.

Walter enjoyed his family, hunting, fishing and working on machinery. He was a member of the Open Bible Church in Clear Lake.

Walter is survived by his wife of sixty years, Verna Mae of Garner; six children, Dave (Patricia) Eggerth of Forest City, Nancy Eggerth of Ventura, Gary (Donna) Eggerth of Clear Lake, Larry (Cj) Eggerth of Mason City, Diane (Tim) Jones of Ventura and James Eggerth of California; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Merle Eggerth.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010

Steven J. Foster, 1948-2010

November 24, 2010

Steven Jay Foster, 61, of Mansfield, Texas, died unexpectedly on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 at Methodist Mansfield Hospital.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Blessing Funeral Home in Mansfield. A private burial service will take place at DFW National Cemetery.

Steve Foster was born on Nov. 22, 1948, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Marvin and Mildred Foster, Garner. He met his future wife, Nancy Gabelmann, during his junior year of high school. During high school, he enjoyed playing football and golf. He graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in May 1967. In September 1967, Steve enlisted in the United States Air Force, stationed in Texas, Colorado and the Philippines as a Communications Specialist. He was honorably discharged in May 1971 and had a lifetime of passion towards the Air Force and service to his country.

On Dec. 21, 1968, Steve and Nancy married at Faith Lutheran Church in Miller, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1978 with a degree in Business Administration, starting a lifelong career in Insurance with his first company, All-State. He worked for a variety of insurance companies throughout his career but was most proud of the past 20 years spent with Wells Fargo Insurance.

Steve was, above all, an extremely loving and caring husband and father to his four children. In the past five years, he was most happy spending time with his 8 grandchildren. He also enjoyed golfing, woodworking and playing games on the computer in his spare time. Steve was devoted to his family and church with his faith and love of God carrying him through life.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Dan Brady.

Steve is survived by his wife, Nancy; four children, Stephanie Shkolnikov and her husband, Leo, of McKinney, Texas, William Foster and his wife, Jill, of Omaha, Neb., Sarah Kostis and her husband. Michail, of Arlington, Texas, and Molly Nelsen and her husband, Dan of Warrensburg, Mo.; two sisters, Gloria Eccles of Tuscan, Ariz. and Glenda Brady of Ankeny, and one brother, Richard Foster and his wife, Helen, of Grundy Center; and grandchildren Maximilian and Yves Shkolnikov, Nathaniel Foster, Alexander and Dylan Kostis, and Kristian, Oliver and Sophia Nelsen.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Samuel E. Schlicht, 1947-2010

November 24, 2010

Samuel Ernest “Sam” Schlicht, 63, of 711 N. Monroe, Mason City, Iowa died Friday Nov. 19, 2010 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa.

Services were held Tuesday Nov. 23, at the Concord Cemetery, Garner, Iowa with Rev. Dan Gerrietts of Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa officiating. Military honors were provided by the Garner Ceremonial Unit. The Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel of Mason City was in charge of the arrangements.

Sam was born July 1, 1947 in Boone, Iowa the son of Samuel and Helyn (Crouthamel) Schlicht. He graduated from Garner High School in 1965. Following high school he started working at Winnebago Industries, Forest City, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968 during the Vietnam War. After the service he moved back to Garner and continued to work at Winnebago Industries until he retired in 2006. He married Linda Ruby Sept. 29, 1979 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa.

He enjoyed watching Minnesota Twins, Vikings and the Hawkeye’s. He was an avid reader of newspapers.

He is survived by his wife Linda Schlicht, Mason City, Iowa; mother-in-law Ocella Ruby, Mason City, Iowa; three sisters Jackie (Robert) Eden, Woden, Iowa, Marilyn (Ralph) Vazzino, Coralville, Florida and Elaine (Richard) Schreiber, Garner, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.
©The Garner Leader & Signal 2010

Dean A. Abele
January 13, 1945-November 26, 2010

Dean A. Abele, 65, of Garner, died on Friday, November 26, 2010, at his home in Garner.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. David Wagner officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Monday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Dean Arthur Abele, the son of Carlyle and Marion (Dockstader) Abele, was born January 13, 1945 at Forest City. He graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1963. On July 25, 1964 he married Eva Braun at the Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. To this union three children were born, Michael, Cathy and Jeremy. They later divorced. Dean lived and worked in the North Iowa area as a building contractor and mechanic. He enjoyed playing card games like solitaire on his computer, riding his motorcycle, woodworking and building things for people.

Dean is survived by his mother, Marion Blank of Garner; three children, Michael (Sandy) Abele of Ames and their two children, Linnea and Teagan, Cathy (Bryan) Stiernagle of Brooklyn Park, MN and their two children, Kimberly and Andrew and Jeremy Abele of Garner and his four children, Michael, Katelyn, Desirae and Dominick; a brother, Robert E. Abele of Sturgis, SD; and two sisters, Beverly (Ron) Kester of Greene and Caryl (Roger) Faulkender of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carlyle; and step-father, Cecil Blank.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2010