Bernice Truesdell

January 11, 2012

Bernice Maxine Truesdell, 95, of Clear Lake, formerly Ventura, died on Thursday, January 5, 2012, at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.

Memorial services will be held at a later time. The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of the arrangements.
©The Garner Leader 2012

Leean “Leigh” M. Gustin

January 11, 2012

Leean “Leigh” M. Gustin, 69, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Garner and Lake Mills, died on Sunday, January 8, 2012.

Visitation with the family will be held at the Cypress Fairbanks Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 10, from 5-8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. Tributes and condolences to the family may be made at www.cyfairfunerals.com. 

In 1963, Leigh was married to Lawrence Ackarman and they had three children. In 1988, she married Tim Gustin. She was an insurance agent, working for Maben Insurance and later Farm and City Insurance.

Leigh was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Mildred Lowe; sister, Miona Rilma Lowe; and father-in-law, James R. Gustin.

She is survived by her husband, Tim Gustin; children, Michele Schwickerath and husband, Kevin of Garner, Brenda Ackarman-Sioson and husband, Rudy of Georgetown, Texas and Todd Ackarman and wife, Sarah of Riverside, California; grandchildren, Ben Goll and wife, Mai Mai, Miranda Schwickerath, Keith Schwickerath, Nick Sioson, Jackson Sioson, Taviana Cain, Tanner Chriske, Tatum Ackarman and Tucker Ackarman; great-grandson, Dionysus Goll; sister, Marnie Boatman and Charles Scarmardi; mother-in-law, Madge Gustin; brother-in-law, Jerry Gustin and wife, Karen; and many nieces and nephews.
©The Garner Leader 2012

Lucille M. Klesel
June 6, 1937 - January 12, 2012

Lucille M. Klesel, 74, of Garner, died on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, January 16, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner, with Fr. Paul Lippstock officiating. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-6:00 p.m., on Sunday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, with a CD of A rosary at 3:00 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Memorials may be directed to the St. Boniface Catholic Church.

Lucille Marie Klesel, the daughter of Francis and Tillie (Pavel) Kriz, was born on June 6, 1937 at Brainerd, Nebraska. She graduated from the Grafton High School in 1956 and continued her education at the La'James Beauty School in Mason City. Lucille then worked as a beautician in Mason City for a number of years. On January 23, 1960, she was married to Robert J. Klesel at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. They lived all of their married life on the Klesel family farm northeast of Garner. Besides helping on the farm and raising their three children, Lucille also was a beautician in the area for twenty years. In 2009, she retired from the Housekeeping Department at the Hancock County Courthouse after twenty years of employment.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and annual trips with her daughter, Julianne. She also was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Minnesota Vikings fan. She was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, St. Boniface Parish Family and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Lucille is survived by her husband, Bob of Garner; three children, Michael (Traci) Klesel of Garner, David (Liz) Klesel of Mason City and Julianne Klesel of Garner; four grandchildren, Colter, Melissa, Shannon and Nathan Klesel; and a brother, Gene (Becky) Kriz of Waterloo.

She was preceded in death by her parents.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Elaine Margaret Buzicky
June 23, 1933 - January 15, 2012

Elaine Buzicky, 78, of Britt, passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2012, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan, with Rev. Dennis Miller officiating. Burial will be in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery near Duncan. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 19, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt, with a FCSLA (Catholic Workmen) and Rosary Society rosary at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Elaine, the daughter of Joseph and Ella (Kalis) Nowak, was born on June 23, 1933 at Wells, Minnesota. She attended the St. Casimir’s Catholic School and the Wells High School in Wells. She attended St Mary’s School of Nursing at Rochester, Minnesota. Upon graduation, she worked at the Wells Hospital as a nurse’s aide for 4 yrs and Immanuel Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota for a year. On June 28, 1960, Elaine was married to John F. Buzicky at the St Casimir’s Catholic Church in Wells. They farmed south of Duncan and raised their five children. Later in life, Elaine worked at the Prairie View Apartments in Garner, for 3 years and at Duncan Heights as a nurse’s aide for 12 years. 

Elaine was a member of the St Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Rosary Society in Duncan and a member of the Catholic Workman FCSLA branch #51 where she served as reporter for 15 years. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #315 in Britt. Elaine enjoyed her family, grandchildren, cooking and baking, embroidery, gardening and flowers.

She is survived by her five children, Myron Buzicky and Loida Martinez and son, Christopher of Queen Creek, Arizona, Karen Connor and husband, Brad and son, Ian of Britt, Mark Buzicky and wife, Julie and daughter, Ashlea and son, Austin of Queen Creek, Arizona, Sharon Jannusch and husband, Matt and son, Luke of Hudson, Wisconsin and Mike Buzicky and wife, Tina and sons, Chase and Lake of Hudson Wisconsin. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2006; her parents; grandson, Nicholas Connor; brothers, Ray, Ambrose and Jacob Nowak; and sisters, Jane Schultz and Alvera Formanek.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials, which will be donated in Elaine’s name to charity.
© Ewing Funeral Home 2012

Clarence Seebeck
September 2, 1924 - January 18, 2012

Clarence Seebeck, 87, of Britt, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 21, at 10:30 a.m., at the Britt Christian Reformed Church, with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt. The Britt Ceremonial Honor Guard will provide military graveside services. Visitation will be on Friday, January 20, from 5-7:00 p.m., at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt and continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

William Clarence Seebeck, was born on September 2, 1924 in Wright County, Iowa, to Charles and Cora (Abbas) Seebeck. He was baptized in the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church. When Clarence was four years old, his family moved to a farm south of Britt. He received his education in the Erin Township Country School. Clarence entered the United States Army in 1948 and was stationed at Keyuchi, Japan. He was honorably discharged from the Army in late 1949. Clarence was united in marriage with Genevieve Ruter on March 5, 1951. To this union was born four daughters. The family made their home on the Seebeck family farm. In September of 2005, after living 77 years on the family farm, Clarence and Gen moved to Britt.

Clarence was a member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, where he had served as a deacon. He became a member of the Britt Christian Reformed Church when the couple moved into Britt. Clarence enjoyed going to church, farming, fishing, playing cards and talking politics.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gen; four daughters, Peggy (Ron) Eisenman, Vicki (Mike) Matern, Jane (Jon) Swenson, all of Britt and Jean “Buff” (Larry) Wolters of Prosser, Washington; eight grandchildren, Dave (Sarah) Eisenman, Joel (Paige) Eisenman, Steve Eisenman, Rachel (Cory) Schrank, Tyler Swenson, Molly Swenson, Luke Wolters and Jacob Wolters; five great-grandchildren, Cole, Campbell and Reed Schrank, Paxton and Cooper Eisenman; brother, George (Pearl) Seebeck of Sunnyside, Washington; sister-in-law, Tillie Seebeck of Minneapolis, Minnesota; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Charles in 1985, Louie in 1996, Ben in 2000 and Henry in 2005; sisters, Marie Prull in 1991 and Cornelia in infancy.
© Ewing Funeral Home 2012

Velma L. Lau
August 22, 1927 - January 21, 2012

Velma L. Lau, 84, of Garner, died on Saturday, January 21, 2012, at the Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, January 24, at the Madrid Home Chapel in Madrid, Iowa, with Rev. Carla Werre officiating. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 26, in the Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme, with Rev. Brian Lund of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner.

Velma Lorene (Larsen) Lau, was born on August 22, 1927, to Martin and Minnie (Jennings) Larsen on the Larsen farm west of Titonka. Velma attended grades 1-8 in the Portland Township #1 rural school and high school at the Buffalo Consolidated in Titonka. She graduated from Waldorf College and later attended summer classes at Mankato State College and Iowa University. She taught elementary grades at Lakota, Burt, Garner and Clear Lake. On June 4, 1958, she was married to Verner Lau of Klemme at the Titonka Methodist Church. Verner and Velma had two daughters, Barbara Jean (Lau) Burket and Debra Sue (Lau) Dunn. The couple engaged in farming in Avery Township near Klemme until retiring to Garner in June of 1988.

Verner and Velma were very involved in activities in their church, the Klemme United Church of Christ. The couple enjoyed each other's company very much and could be found together doing everything from housework to traveling. In 2002, they moved to the Prairie View Apartments in Garner. Velma later moved to the Madrid Home Apartments in 2006. In January of 2011, she became a resident of the Madrid Home nursing center.

Velma is survived by her two daughters, Barb (Greg) Burket of Minburn and Deb (Jess) Dunn of Grimes; three grandchildren, Mikaela Dunn, Blake Dunn and Heidi Burket who have brought much joy to her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Verner in 2004; her parents; three brothers, Vernon, Glenn and Lewis Larsen; and one sister, Elsie Moore.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012

Linda Hamilton
October 25, 1955 - January 22, 2012

Linda M. Hamilton, 56, of Garner, died on Sunday, January 22, 2012, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, January 27, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner, with Rev. Dale Glawatz officiating. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church.

Linda Marie Hamilton, the daughter of Omar and Shirley (Seims) Lenning, was born on October 25, 1955 at Estherville. She attended the Fenton High School. On November 2, 1973, was married to Michael Hamilton at the First Congregational Church in Spencer. They lived in Arnolds Park for four months before moving to a family acreage near Cylinder. In October of 1978 they moved to Clear Lake and in 1992 to Garner. In May of 2000 they moved to Lost Island where they lived until August of 2008 when they returned to Garner.

Linda was a homemaker and day-care provider for many years. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, reading and being with her grandchildren. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught Christian Education, LWML and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Club.

Linda is survived by her husband, Michael of Garner; three children, Noelle Hamilton of Britt, Cory (Danita) Hamilton of Britt and Barbra (Kurt) Petersen of Plainfield; three grandchildren, Makayla Hamilton and Jarrett and Dawson Petersen; many other relatives and a special friend, Nancy Tammen of Garner.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant grandson, Reilly Petersen; and her maternal grandparents, George and Frieda Seims.
© Cataldo Funeral Home 2012