Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Donald Simmonds, retired pastor, officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 1:45 p.m. Thursday.

Interment will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, with a flag presentation and taps conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., where other arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Winter Funeral Home in Buffalo Center.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home, where other arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 120 Third St. S., Rockwell.

Funeral services are tentatively set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Northwood.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 99-11th St. S., Northwood.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ted Stowers officiating. Interment will be in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

There will be no visitation. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar, is in charge of arrangements.

Jack Lee Koster was born June 18, 1927, in Coatesville, Ind.

Survivors include two sons, Jeff Koster, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jon Koster, of Austin, Minn.; four grandchildren; two brothers, George Koster Jr., Silverton, Colo., and Gary Koster, Worthington, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one infant son and one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Trinity Reformed Church, with the Rev. Virgil Dykstra officiating. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, rural Bristow.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Allison.

Merville Dean Eberline was born Sept. 16, 1921, in Butler County.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Eberline, rural Allison; three sons, Arlin Eberline, Alan Eberline and Rolin Eberline, all of rural Bristow; and one daughter, Merra Lou Krukow, rural Bristow; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake, with the Rev. Ken Suetterlin and the Rev. Walter Phelps officiating. Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ewing Funeral Chapel in Britt, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Richard E. Larson was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Iowa Falls.

Survivors include his wife, Naomi Larson, of Crystal Lake; one daughter, Judy Gjerde, of Forest City; two sons, Gary Larson, of Lander, Wyo.; and Dennis Larson, Owatonna, Minn.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one granddaughter and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Belmond, with the Rev. Lowell Halvorson officiating. Interment will be in St. Olaf Church Cemetery in Belmond.

Visitation will be held from 3 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Tenold Funeral Home in Belmond, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy may direct them to the Esther Halverson Memorial Fund.

Esther Loretta (Meints) Halverson, the daughter of William and Tillie (Henn) Meints, was born April 29, 1927, on a farm in rural Belmond. She graduated from Belmond High School.

She was united in marriage to Gus Halverson on Jan. 27, 1946, at her parents’ home in Belmond. To this union, three children were born: Leslie, Curtis and Mary.

Esther was a member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church and associate member of the Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Ariz.

She enjoyed her children and grandchildren, and also enjoyed genealogy and making quilts for both her churches.

She is survived by her husband, Gus; one son, Leslie Halverson and his wife, Katie, of Fresno, Calif., and their children, Adam, Kristin and Emily; a son, Curtis Halverson, of Belmond; a daughter, Mary and her husband, Bruce Wilham, of Russell Springs, Ky., and their children, Nicholas and Amanda; her mother, Tillie Meints, of Belmond; sisters, Grace, Mrs. Harold Haugen, of Dows; Marion and her husband, Merrel Carpenter, of Alexander; Karen and her husband, John Ofstethun, of Clarion; sister-in-law, Naomi, Mrs. Conrad Meints, of Duluth, Minn.; brothers, Glenn Meints and his wife, Jan, of Belmond; and Bill Meints and his wife, Ayoka, of Kansas City, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, William Meints; brother, Conrad; and a brother in infancy.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church in rural Osage, with the Rev. Thomas Hughes officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at the Champion Funeral Home in Osage, and will continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Adelaide was born Feb. 17, 1915, in Chickasaw County, the daughter of Jno "Jack" and Ida (Anderson) Betts.

She attended schools in Mitchell County. She married Melvin O. Lindley on July 1, 1933, in Osage.

The couple farmed in the Osage area until retiring to Osage in 1970.

She was an active member of Rock Creek Lutheran Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Barbara and her husband, Paul A. Christiansen, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; grandsons, Dana Christiansen and his wife, Elizabeth, of Iowa City, and Scot Christiansen and his wife, Jane, of Edgewood; and great-grandsons, Carl Lindley Christiansen and John Clemons Christiansen, of Edgewood, Iowa; a sister, Josephine Shrode and her husband, Donald, of Littleton, Colo.; a half brother, Hilding Lindley and his wife, Darlene, of Humboldt; eight nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin, in 1995; a sister, Gladys; and four brothers, Arthur, Andrew, Marshall and Ervin "Bud."

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. Douglas Anderson, of the First United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from noon until time of services on Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or Multiple Sclerosis in memory of Pearl V. Schiffman.

Pearl V. Schiffman was born Dec. 4, 1903, in Cerro Gordo County, the daughter of Maude and Jesse Keel.

Pearl moved to Mason City at the age of two and was a life-long resident of Mason City.

Pearl was a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary and So What Club.

She also volunteered for the Red Cross, Exceptional Children and Iowa City Heart Clinic for children.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry Schiffman, of Clear Lake; and Reed Harr, of Minneapolis; grandchildren, J. Scott Harr and Susan Harr Stanek; four great-grandchildren, Kelsey Harr, Caroline Stanek, Ricky Harr and Katy Jo Stanek.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Schiffman, in 1960; and one brother.

Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 1997, at First United Methodist Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Dr. John Meyer, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Dr. Steven Pohlman, chaplain at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by airmen from Offutt Air Force Base.

Visitation was held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25, 1997, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the family present from 7 to 9 p.m.

Staff Sgt. Call was born Feb. 24, 1963, in Sioux City, the son of the Rev. Dr. Allen D. and Sandra L. (Sager) Call.

He had lived in Harcourt, Iowa, before moving to Delaware, Ohio. He started school in Marshalltown, Iowa, and finished elementary school in Davenport, Iowa.

He graduated from North Central High School in Manly, Iowa, in 1981. He attended North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, then entered the U.S. Air Force in 1982.

He married Robin Gordon on Nov. 14, 1987, in Jefferson, Iowa.

He was stationed at SAC Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb., Panama, Germany and Vandenburg Air Force Base in California prior to being stationed in South Korea.

He enjoyed baseball and golf. He was active in Special Olympics and a member of the Gun Club.

Survivors include his wife, Robin, of Sioux City; a daughter, Corteney, of Sioux City; his parents, of Sioux City; a sister and her husband, Teresa and Todd Mathers, of Clear Lake, Iowa; his paternal grandmother, Glee Call, of Broken Bow, Neb.; and his parents-in-law, Carl and Arlen Gordon, of Hagerstown, Md.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Everett and Bonnie Sager; and his paternal grandfather, Cleon Call.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, at the Harper City Cemetery in Harper, Kan., with the Rev. Jerry Calvert, officiating.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Williamson Funeral Home, Cassville, Mo., where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.

Mr. Williams, son of E. E. "Earl" and Elva Lee Williams, was born on July 1, 1933, in Hutchinson, Kan.

He was a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Williams was employed at the Holiday Island Golf Course as a ranger.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Harper, Kan.

He married Christine Jeffrey on June 26, 1955, in Wakefield, Mass.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, of Eagle Rock, Mo.; one son, Jeff Williams and his wife, Lisa, of Denver, Colo.; four daughters, Terrie Peterson and her husband, Richard, of Manila in the Philippines; Carla Smith and her husband, Allen, of Garner, Iowa; Christie Williams, of Pittsburg, Texas, and Traci Remington and her husband, Rick, of Bedford, Texas; his mother, Elva Williams, of Corvallis, Ore.; and seven grandchildren.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one sister, Doris Jo Stephen.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Grace United Methodist Church, 200 14th St. N.W., Mason City, with the Rev. Harlan Stenberg officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, and will continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Esther LaGue Memorial Fund.

Esther was born Aug. 16, 1917, the daughter of William and Meta (Floy) Johnson in Sheffield.

Esther attended the Thornton school system and was a life-long resident of the area.

On Aug. 20, 1953, Esther was united in marriage to Prosper Claire LaGue in Albert Lea.

Esther was very active in church functions and organizations, including being the past president of her church circle. She also was a volunteer at the Senior Citizen Center and a past president of the PTA. When her son, Rick, was growing up, Esther was a den mother for his Boy Scout troop. She also designated herself as the family historian.

Esther was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church.

Esther is survived by one son, Rick and his wife, Pat LaGue, of Manly; two sisters, Leola Hansen, of Sacramento, Calif., and June Gordon, of Buffalo Center; one brother-in-law, William Drabek; and three grandchildren, Rick, Kristine and David LaGue, all of Manly.

Mrs. LaGue was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Prosper; one infant son, Duane; five sisters, Wilma Stites, Lorraine Drabek, Lucille Johnson and Verlo and Phyllis Johnson; and two brothers, Howard and Kenneth Johnson.

A celebration of Lou’s life and funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at the First United Methodist Church in Rockford, with the Rev. Rosemary Rohde-Frank officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, with military honors by the Walker-Graper American Legion Post No. 338 of Rockford.

The family will greet friends and relatives from 4 until 8 p.m. today at the Schumburg Funeral Home in Rockford.

Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, is in charge of arrangements.

Lloyd was born Sept. 15, 1927, at Rock Falls, Iowa, the second child of Marc and Ida (Schnartz) Fullerton. He graduated from the Rockford High School in 1945.

He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served honorably until his discharge in 1953. He served in Germany as a mechanic in the Motor Transportation Division.

Following his service to his country, he was united in marriage to Shirley J. Trettin on July 2, 1955, at the First United Methodist Church in Rockford, where they remained lifetime members. To their union were born four children.

During his early years, he farmed west of Rockford on a farm he was especially proud of. The family farm was originally owned by his grandfather, J.E. "Ed" Fullerton and they lived in the house that was built by Ed. In 1992, the farm was designated as a Century Farm.

Lou always enjoyed walking the fields and checking the crops. He worked for more than 25 years for Mosher Electric as a plumber and an electrician.

Lou enjoyed reading all types of books, helping his children with plumbing and electrical projects and spending quality time with all his favorite grandchildren.

Lou is survived along with his wife, Shirley, of Rockford; four children, Jane and her husband, Duane Schultz, Iowa Falls; Mary and her husband, David Steuben, Jesup; Kathy and her husband, Markley Biggs, Rockford; and David and his wife, Janet Fullerton, of Rockford; 13 grandchildren, Eric and Megan Schultz, Jack, Mikki, Hannah and Peter Steuben, Trevor, Kacie and Jessie Biggs, and Laura, Jennifer, Marc and Amy Fullerton; also his one brother, Roger and his wife, Maxine Fullerton, Rockford; many nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home with the Rev. Michael Tolles officiating. Burial will be in the Maynes Grove Cemetery, rural Bradford.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home.

Stanley Bailey was born July 10, 1913, in Iowa Falls.

Survivors include three sons, Carl Bailey of Dows, Dale Bailey of Hampton, and Lowell Bailey of Bradford; one daughter, Delores Early of Waterloo; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, five brothers, three sisters and one granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ronald Bolinger officiating. Interment will be in the Rockwell Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the Fullerton Funeral Home.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Woodrow Bergman Memorial Fund.

Woody was born Oct. 6, 1914, at Rockwell, the son of Edward and Kate Catherine (Thies) Bergman. He graduated from Rockwell High School. He served as a sergeant in the Army Air Force during World War II as an airplane mechanic. He served honorably from 1942 until 1945, when he was discharged.

Woody owned a gas station for 10 years with his brother, and then drove a cookie delivery truck, until driving for George Simon. For close to 25 years, he was the school custodian at the Rockwell Schools, where he met his future wife, who was a cook there. Woody, a bachelor for 58 years, was united in marriage with Ruth E. Ficken on April 17, 1973, in Rockwell. Woody continued working for the school system until ill health retired him at the age of 62.

Woody was an excellent bowler, and an expert fisherman who enjoyed his trips to Baudette, Lake of the Woods and Canada. Woody was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, the Gallagher Post of the American Legion, and he enjoyed playing Pitch, Cribbage, 500 and Pinochle card games.

Woody is survived by his wife, Ruth; three daughters, Christy and her husband, Danny Walker of Litchfield, Minn., Kathy and her husband, Brad Ames, and Carl and her husband, Roger Myers, all of Rockwell; six grandchildren, Katie and Nich Walk, Trenton and Heather Ames, and Kristen and Joseph Myers; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Kay Gibson and her daughter, Marlis "Alden" Palvik; three brothers, Eddy, Clarence, and Milo Bergman; and one grandson, James Myers.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church, Northwood, with the Rev. Richard Jensen of the United Methodist Church, and Rev. Lynn Conner, son of Marjory Conner, officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today with a public Eastern Star Service at 7 p.m. by the Northernlight Eastern Star Chapter of Northwood, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 99 11th St. S., Northwood. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday.

The family of Marjory Emily Conner has requested that memorial contributions be made to the United Methodist Church in Northwood in her memory.

Marjory Emily Conner was born on Sept. 16, 1910, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Harry A. and Dora M. (Abbey) Ashenfelter. She attended and received her education in the Manly School System, graduating from Manly High School in 1928. She also received her Normal Training Teachers Certificate from Mason City Junior College in 1938. After completing her education she taught rural country school in the Manly area.

She was united in marriage to Ansel J. Conner in 1941. He preceded her in death on June 25, 1962. After their marriage, she helped her husband Ansel in the funeral service business. She also helped her husband when he was sheriff in Worth County in 1948, by cooking for the prisoners. They also owned and operated the "Conner’s Sundry" Store in Northwood, changing the name to "The Gift Box" after her husband’s death in 1962.

After her husband’s death she continued to operate the Conner Chapel along with Al Bremer, and in 1968 she sold her interest in the funeral home to Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel in Mason City, but remained very involved in serving the needs of those who lost loved ones through death. In 1984, she moved to Helena, Mont., to be close to her son, Lynn Conner, and in 1989, she moved to Vista, Calif., to be close to her daughter, Lynette Myhre.

She enjoyed quilting, sewing and crafts.

She was a very dedicated member of the United Methodist Church in Northwood, 50 year member of the Northernlight Chapter of the Eastern Star in Northwood, and also did numerous volunteer work, some of which include St. Francis Academy Pre-School Day Care, helped at the children’s waiting room at the courthouse, and served meals for the homeless in Vista.

Left to cherish her memory are four children, David Johnson and his wife, Judy, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Eve Conner of Oakland, Calif., Lynette Myhre and her husband, Marty, of Vista, Calif., and Rev. Lynn Conner and his wife, Barbara, of Guadalajara, Mexico; four grandchildren, Cynthia Webber of Gilbertville, Dan Conner and Mike Conner, both of Ames, and Laura Conner of Guadalajara, Mexico; as well as other relatives and many friends.

Besides her husband, Ansel Conner, who died on June 25, 1962; she was also preceded in death by her parents; one granddaughter, Stephanie Johnson; and two brothers, Harlyn and Erwin Ashenfelter.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ken Suetterlin and the Rev. Walter Phelps officiating. Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Ewing Funeral Chapel, Britt, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.

Richard E. Larson was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Iowa Falls.

Survivors include his wife, Naomi Larson, Crystal lake; one daughter, Judy Gjerde, Forest City; two sons, Gary Larson, of Lander, Wyo.; and Dennis Larson, Owatonna, Minn.; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Otto Larson of Crystal Lake; and two sisters, Darlene Thompson of Crystal Lake and Virginia Neely of St. Ansgar.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one granddaughter and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, with Dr. Jennifer Edinger officiating. Interment will be in West Cemetery, Rake.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Cora Amanda Heath was born Nov. 11, 1906, in Rake.

Survivors include one son, Glen Heath Jr. of Mankato, Minn.; two daughters, Lois Halvorson and Sharon Erickson, both of Rake; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother, Dr. Martin Nesheim; and two sisters, Della Underdahl of Blue Earth, Minn., and Ione Jones of Lime Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, four sisters and two brothers.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Donald Simmonds, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Flag presentation and "Taps" will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Private family committal services will be held at the cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Major-Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa or First Presbyterian Church.

Chester was born Nov. 11, 1908, in Des Moines, the son of Roy F. And Esther S. (Churchill) DeSart. Chet graduated from Mason City High School and Mason City Junior College. He married Helen Green on Dec. 29, 1938, in Mason City.

Chet served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, then upon his discharge returned to Mason City and was employed by Nichols and Green Shoe Store for 38 years, retiring in 1974. He was a member of the Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #375, a Red Cross volunteer, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he taught Sunday school and served as Elder and Deacon.

Survivors include his wife, Helen G. DeSart of Mason City; daughters, Judith Rosseth and her husband, Robert H., of Northampton, Pa., and Antoinette Saul and her husband, William G., of Sicklerville, N.J.; grandchildren, Bryan T. Monroe, Jason A. Monroe, Lynn M. Rosseth, and Jane A. Rosseth; great-granddaughter, Mackenzie L. Monroe; sister, Helen D. Beck of Mason City; and sister-in-law, Ruth J. DeSart of Mason City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Francis and Forrest.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, with the Rev. Lee Laaveg officiating. Burial will be in Madison Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home.

Ben Baker was born March 5, 1912, in Wright County.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Baker, of Armstrong; two sons, Dean Baker of Algona and Bob Baker of Swea City; three sisters, Emma Applehons of Thompson, Helen Smidt of Britt and Fan Katiun of Belmond; one brother, Albert Baker of Forest City; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. today at the Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church, Cedar Falls, with inurnment at a later date.

Additional services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 701 Lexington Parkway, St. Paul, Minn. There will be no visitation.

Richardson Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Galtier School Kathy Gunby Fund.

Kathy was born Dec. 20, 1961, in Troy, Mo., the daughter of Jon E. And Nancy Moen Bramhall. Kathy moved with her parents from Mason City to Cedar Falls.

She married Kevin Gunby on July 1, 1995, in St. Paul, Minn.

Mrs. Gunby was a special education instructor at Galtier Elementary School, St. Paul.

A 1980 Cedar Falls High School graduate, she earned a bachelor's degree from Mankato State University of Minnesota in 1984; and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1995.

She is survived by her husband, Kevin Gunby, of St. Paul, Minn.; her parents, Jon E. And Nancy Bramhall, of Cedar Falls; and a brother, David, of Oxnard, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Walter and Vivian Bramhall; and maternal grandparents, John and Pauline Moen.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home, Emmetsburg.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Peter Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ronald Bolinger officiating. Interment will be in the Rockwell Cemetery.

Visitation was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Fullerton Funeral Home.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Woodrow Bergman Memorial Fund.

Woody was born Oct. 6, 1914, at Rockwell, the son of Edward and Kate Catherine (Thies) Bergman. He graduated from Rockwell High School.

He served as a sergeant in the Army Air Force during World War II as an airplane mechanic. He served honorably from 1942 until 1945, when he was discharged.

Woody owned a gas station for 10 years with his brother, and then drove a cookie delivery truck, until driving for George Simon.

For close to 25 years he was the school custodian at the Rockwell Schools, where he met his future wife, who was a cook there.

Woody, a bachelor for 58 years, was united in marriage with Ruth E. Ficken on April 18, 1973, in Rockwell. Woody continued working for the school system until ill health retired him at the age of 62.

Woody was an excellent bowler, and an expert fisherman who enjoyed his trips to Baudette, Lake of the Woods, and Canada.

Woody was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, the Gallagher Post of the American Legion, and he enjoyed playing Pitch, Cribbage, 500 and Pinnochle card games.

Woody is survived by his wife, Ruth; three daughters, Christy and her husband, Danny Walker of Litchfield, Minn., Kathy and her husband, Brad Ames, and Carla and her husband, Roger Myers, all of Rockwell; six grandchildren, Katie and Nich Walker, Trenton and Heather Ames, and Kristen and Joseph Myers; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Kay Gibson and her daughter, Marlis "Alden" Palvik; three brothers, Eddy, Clarence, and Milo Bergman; and one grandson, James Myers.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, Klemme, with the Rev. Jerry Robertson officiating. Interment will be in the Ell Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, Klemme, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Harold Glenn Abele, the son of John L. And Esther (Schuldt) Abele, was born July 12, 1919, in Liberty Township, rural Klemme, Iowa.

He was united in marriage to Evelyn Hartwig on July 16, 1940. They farmed south of Klemme, and moved into Klemme in 1990.

Harold was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Klemme, where he held many offices.

He enjoyed farming, trucking seed corn, fishing and his grandchildren.

Surviving are his sons, John Abele and his wife, Pat, of Klemme; Robert Abele and his wife, Janet, of Garner; and David Abele and his wife, LaDonne, of Klemme; daughters, Linda and her husband, Roger Meyer, of Goodell, Iowa; and Virginia and her husband, Fred Edmunds, of Richmond, Texas; grandchildren Douglas Abele, Grant Abele, Dennis Abele, Deanna Abele, Brent Abele, Jeff Edmunds, Darci Edmunds and Ryan Meyer; stepgrandchildren Angela O'Donnell, Bobbi Mary, and Joseph Mary; great-grandchildren Erin Abele, Rachel Abele, Cory Abele; and stepgreat-grandchild, Hunter O'Donnell; sisters Ruth Pringnitz, of Klemme; and Hilda Greiman, of Garner; one brother, Harry Abele and his wife, Colleen, of Britt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn; three grandchildren; and sister, Madeline Abele.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., where other arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ted Stowers officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School, where other arrangements are incomplete.

Services are pending at Champion Funeral Home, Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. David Shogren officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Vera Mae Rucker was born May 26, 1913, at Mason City, the daughter of Frank and Martha (Schiff) Welsh.

On Dec. 1, 1932, she was united in marriage to Wilbur "Putty" Rucker at the Oliver Church, Mason City.

Those left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Belva Keenan and her special friend, Mac Allen, Bullhead City, Ariz., and Linda Gratias and her husband, Gordon, Des Moines; five grandchildren, Janell Hafner and her husband, Bret, Rancho Cucamunga, Calif., Jay Keenan and his wife, Kelly, Alta Loma, Calif., Kelly Cubit and her husband, Mark, Pleasant Hill, Jeff Gratias and his wife, Kathi, West Des Moines, and Scott Gratias and his wife, Laura, Waukee; nine great-grandchildren, Brock Keenan, Whitney Hurley, Trevor Hurley, Ryan Hafner and Stephanie Hafner, Jason Collins, Andrew Cubit, Kaitlyn Cubit, Noah Gratias; and one brother, Vincent Welsh and his wife, Olive, Clear Lake.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son-in-law, Fred Keenan; and one brother, Verl Welsh.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society in memory of Vera M. Rucker.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home with the Rev. Carl Gearhart officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, rural Bristow.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home.

Lyle G. Hilliker was born Sept. 26, 1916, in Allison.

Survivors include one son, Glenn Hilliker of Aplington; one step-daughter, Alice Beatty of Ionia; one step-son, Calvin Hardman of Spirit Lake; one sister, Velma Santee of Dumont; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death his parents, one step-son, one brother, one sister and one great-great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kiester, Minn.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Winter Funeral Home, where other arrangements are incomplete.

Memorial services are pending at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. James B. Norem, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Engleman was the daughter of Elmer and Irene (Ward) Engleman and was born March 27, 1943, in Mason City. She attended school in Mason City. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church. On Aug. 28, 1959, she was united in marriage to Jackie L. Engleman Sr., and to that union were born four sons. They moved to Morris, Ill., 12 years ago. Susan loved to play Bingo and to make people laugh.

Susan's memories will be cherished by her faithful husband of 38 years, Jackie Sr.; her four boys, Jackie Jr. of Manitowoc, Wis., Timothy of Cincinnati, Ohio, Steven of Butlerville, Ind., and Christopher of Morris, Ill.; her mother, Irene Wildebor of Mason City; a sister, Shirley Huff of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Tiffany of Madison, Ind.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Elmer, and her brother, Timothy.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home, with the Rev. Clifford Isaacson officiating. Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, with a 7 p.m. V.F.W. Auxiliary service.

Susan K. Crapser was born June 7, 1900, in Rockwell.

Survivors include two sons, Russell Crapser of Waterloo, and Charles Crapser of Snohomish, Wash.; two daughters, Vivian C. Walker of Silver Springs, Fla., and Evelyn Mains of Algona; 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, four sisters and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 Fourth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. David Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Fullerton Patterson James Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitation will one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Dorothy Harriet Hain was born Nov. 17, 1915, in Rockford, Iowa, the daughter of Fred Bell and Mary (Haggerman) Coons.

She was raised in Nora Springs by her grandparents, Fanney and Augusta Franke, and her aunt, Helen Drager. She attended school in Nora Springs. She was united in marriage to Claud Hain.

Dorothy was noted for her generous ability of hospitality. During the time she was raising her family in the Central Heights area of Mason City, she was known to many of the neighborhood children as "Ma Hain," as many of the children looked to her as their second mother. She also possessed a special knack for quilting, as she made quilts for each of her great-grandchildren. Dorothy was a member of the Glory Baptist Church in Aitkin, Minn.

Dorothy's faith in God was deep rooted. She was a "prayer warrior" for the church, spending her time so often in prayer for her family and other people.

Living family members include three daughters, Mrs. Clara Frank, of Mason City; Joan Jones and her husband, Gene, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Mary Nutting and her husband, Larry, of Aitkin, Minn.; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Shirley Hain, of Mason City; the father of her children, Claud Hain, of Ventura; a sister, Mrs. Winifred Hobson, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ione Coons, of Denver, Colo.; a special cousin, Jackie Ballhagen, of Albert Lea, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was anticipating becoming the great-grandmother of two additional great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents; and aunt, who raised her; a son, Marshall Gene Hain; a son-in-law, Joseph Frank; and two brothers, Curtis and Richard Coons.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to St. James Lutheran Church or Glory Baptist Church, RR #1, Aitkin, Minn. 56431.

Private memorial services will be held at a later date.

There will be no visitation, her body was donated to the University of Iowa.

Bernetta F. Burger was born July 18, 1909, in Onawa.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Anna Mott, of Mason City; two sons, Bernard Burger of Orange, Calif., and William James Burger Jr. of Burbank, Calif.; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and one nephew, John Rowlings of Miller.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William, in 1990; and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave., with the Rev. Frederick J. Wood officiating. Inurnment will be held at Elmwood Columbarium, Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Melvin H. Hippen was born July 28, 1924, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, the son of Lammert and Anna (Jutting) Hippen. Melvin graduated from Buffalo Center High School in 1942.

He entered the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific from 1943-46 during World War II.

Melvin married Genevieve Schoewe on Aug. 8, 1948, at Immanual Lutheran Church, in Plainview, Minn.

Melvin graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa in 1952 and practiced pharmacy at Medical Arts Pharmacy in Mason City until his retirement in 1989. He continued to be involved in pharmacy until his death.

Melvin was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he served as treasurer and elder.

Survivors included his wife, Genevieve Hippen, of Mason City; two daughters, Lynn Good and her husband, Dan, of Newport News, Va., and Sara Clark and her husband, Jeff, of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Andrew, Elizabeth, Timothy and Rebecca Good; Emily and Allison Clark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Fred and Arnold; two sisters, Fanna and Margaret.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Major-Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ted Stowers officiating. Burial will be in St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home.

Survivors include one son, Dennis of Midland, Texas; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one daughter.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Major-Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mona Lutheran Church, Mona, with the Rev. Russ Wangen officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School St., St. Ansgar.

Hattie L. Haugen was born Feb. 18, 1910.

Survivors include one sister, Clarice Eggen, of Mankato, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Michael Schueller officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, at St. Mary's Cemetery, Fennimore, Wis.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. today at Hogan Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., with a Scriptural prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Iowa, in memory of Vera M. Skyles.

Vera M. Skyles was born Sept. 4, 1904, in Woodman, Wis., daughter of Frank and Jeanette B. (Betz) McGuigan.

She married Tom Manning on Jan. 2, 1939, in Cedar Rapids. He preceded her in death on Jan. 20, 1950.

On May 5, 1955, Vera married Leo J. Skyles in Mason City. He preceded her in death on Oct. 9, 1976.

Vera graduated from High School in Boscobel, Wis., in 1922. She came to Iowa in 1939, living at Clear Lake and having a riding academy. Her family then moved to Mason City where she worked for Peoples Gas and Electric for 10 years before retiring.

Vera lived at The Shalom Towers since 1977 until moving into Willow Creek Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

She enjoyed crocheting and needlework. She was a member of St. Ann's Circle and St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Survivors include one sister, Evelyn Gourlie and her husband, Merlin, Madison, Wis.; two brothers, Virgil "V.T." McGuigan, Concord, Calif., and Frank McGuigan and his wife, Velma, Plainfield, Wis.; sister-in-law, Irene McGuigan, Madison, Wis.; her stepfamily, Jack Skyles, Temple, Texas; Gerald Skyles, Portland, Ore.; Peggy Gallagher and her husband, Harold, Hampton, Iowa; Sister Annette Skyles, Algona, Iowa; Janet Sturges and her husband, Ralph, Muritta, Calif.; Marwood "Woody" Mulert, Mason City; and Nona Skyles, Cedar Falls, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; stepgrandchildren; and stepgreat-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; one brother, Donald McGuigan; two sisters, Elizabeth Juisto and her husband, Tony, Helena Schmalowsky and her husband, Carl; one sister-in-law, Gerry McGuigan; a stepdaughter, Virginia Mulert; and two stepsons, Bob and Don Skyles.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. Douglas Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

Visitation will be held prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Martin-Mattice Funeral Home, Emmetsburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Novella Taylor Cork was born April 23, 1906, in Altoona, Kan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, two brothers, and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, with Loren Quick and Dennis Falb, officiating. Burial will be in West Cemetery, Rake. Burial will be in West Cemetery, Rake.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Winter Funeral Home.

Joseph B. Nowak was born May 30, 1940, in Winnebago, Minn.

Survivors include three sons, David Nowak, of Caddogap, Ark., Tim Nowak of Alden, Minn., and Dan Nowak, of Rake; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, foster parents and one infant daughter.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, 1998, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, near Kensett.

Norman was born in Kensett to Lowell Norland and the former Donna Kingland, on March 8, 1954.

Norland attended Northwood-Kensett High School, where he was a drummer in the marching band and was a recipient of a Swensrud Scholarship.

Norland graduated from Drake University in 1976, majoring in geography and history.

He served on the staff of the Iowa Migrant Action Program from 1978-1980, prior to joining the Department of Justice. As an investigator in the consumer protection division, Norland fielded thousands of calls from consumers and opened hundreds of official inquiries into allegations of consumer fraud.

Attorney Tom Miller called Norland "one of the most knowledgeable consumer advocates in the nation... . Norman's work in consumer education, consumer assistance and preventing scams has saved Iowans countless thousands of dollars. It's a great achievement."

Miller also called Norland, "an inspiration and a wonderful example of what it means to serve your fellow citizens."

Norman Norland was known for his many varied interests, including classical music, jazz and folk music; international and ethnic cuisine; ice hockey and baseball; and lake fishing. He had traveled to Norway in 1987.

Norman is survived by his parents; father, Lowell Norland, of Cedar Falls, and mother, Donna Norland, of Waterloo; his brothers, Paul, of Northwood, and Jack, of Fargo, N.D.; his sister, Louise "Lucy" Heikner, of Kensett; nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends who will mourn his loss deeply.

In lieu of flowers, Norman had requested memorials to be made in his name to KUNI Radio, the Des Moines Symphony, and the Civic Music Association, Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. James B. Norem, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation was held at 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Engleman was the daughter of Elmer and Irene (Ward) Wildebor and was born March 27, 1943, in Mason City. She attended school in Mason City.

She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church. On Aug. 28, 1959, she was united in marriage to Jackie L. Engleman Sr., and to that union were born four sons. They moved to Morris, Ill., 12 years ago.

Susan loved to play Bingo and to make people laugh.

Susan’s memories will be cherished by her faithful husband of 38 years, Jackie Sr.; her four boys, Jackie Jr. of Manitowoc, Wis., Timothy of Cincinnati, Ohio, Steven of Butlerville, Ind., and Christopher of Morris, Ill.; her mother, Irene Wildebor of Mason City; a sister, Shirley Huff of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Tiffany of Madison, Ind.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Elmer, and her brother, Timothy.

Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. today at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 Fourth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. David Anderson, officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church this morning.

Dorothy Harriet Hain was born Nov. 17, 1915, in Rockford, Iowa, the daughter of Fred Bell and Mary (Haggerman) Coons.

She was raised in Nora Springs by her grandparents, Fanney and Augusta Franke and her aunt, Helen Draeger. She attended school in Nora Springs. On Dec. 7, 1935, in Nora Springs, she was united in marriage to Claud Hain.

Dorothy was noted for her generous ability of hospitality. During the time she was raising her family in the Central Heights area of Mason City, she was known to many of the children as "Ma Hain", as many of the children looked to her as their second mother. She also possessed a special knack for quilting, as she made quilts for each of her grandchildren. Dorothy was a member of the Glory Baptist Church in Aitkin, Minn., where she was a member of the Grandmothers Club of the church. Dorothy's faith in God was deep rooted. She was a "prayer warrior" for the church, spending her time so often in prayer for her family and other people.

Living family members include three daughters, Mrs. Clara Frank, of Mason City; Joan Jones and her husband, Gene, of Kansas City, Mo., and Mary Nutting and her husband, Larry, of Aitkin, Minn.; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Shirley Hain, of Mason City; the father of her children, Claud Hain, of Ventura; a sister, Mrs. Winifred Hobson, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ione Coons, of Denver, Colo.; a special cousin, Jackie Ballhagen, of Albert Lea, Minn.; 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was anticipating to become the great-grandmother of two additional great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents and aunt, who raised her; a son, Marshall Jene Hain; a son-in-law, Joseph Frank, and two brothers, Curtis and Richard Coons.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to St. James Lutheran Church or Glory Baptist Church, R.R. #1, Aitkin, MN, 56431

She was born July 30, 1921, in Midlothian, Ill.

Because of her father’s love for Minnesota and the effects of the depression, the family moved back and forth from Waskish, Minn., to Illinois.

Wherever they lived, music was a big part of Laverne’s life. A self taught piano player, Laverne also enjoyed harmonizing with her sisters, Muriel and Eunice. Along with the family band, they entertained regularly.

On June 27, 1964, Laverne married Maurice Nunemaker, of Mason City, Iowa. The couple lived in Mason City until 1972, when Maurice retired from State Brand Creameries.

The 1970s and 1980s were spent in the Apple Valley, Calif., area. In 1995, they moved to Prescott, Ariz., to be near family.

Because of her outgoing personality and wit, Laverne made good friends easily wherever she lived. She will be surely missed.

Survivors include sons, Roger Nunemaker, Waterloo, Iowa; and Woody Okerlund, Prescott, Ariz.; daughters, Roxanne Michaels, Chatsworth, Calif., Charlene Witvoet, Midlothian, Ill., and Debi Pitney, Prescott, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by Maurice in early 1997.

The family suggests contributions to the Samaritan Village, c/o Endowment Fund, 1030 Scott Dr., Prescott, Ariz. 86301, Attn: Linda Shebeck.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 419 N. Delaware Ave., with the Rev. Frederick Wood officiating. Interment will be arranged at a later date.

There will be no visitation. Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., is in charge of arrangements.

Those wishing to send an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a donation in Joseph’s memory to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Building Fund.

Joseph A. Bittner was born March 15, 1908, at Clarinda, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Anna (Lund) Bittner. They moved to Springfield, Minn., where he attended parochial school and was confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church.

From 1923 to 1925, he attended Concordia Academy in St. Paul, Minn. He studied for two years with Federal Schools, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., and was employed in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, S.D., in retail sales and advertising.

He was recruited by Dan Klempnauer to join him in Mason City at Damon’s. He was employed in advertising and display, sales and later as assistant manager. He was with Damon’s from 1936 until 1964, when he joined Tyler-Ryan in interior decorating from 1964 to 1978.

He married Theada Thomas in Kansas City, Mo., on April 4, 1942. She joined him in San Diego, Calif., where he served in the Navy from April 1942 until October 1945, returning to Mason City and Damon’s.

Joe was a member of the VFW Post 733, a charter member and past president of the Mason City Exchange Club, past member of the Chamber of Commerce and Executive Club.

He joined Bethlehem Lutheran Church, first attending only the German services. A special joy for Joe was working at the church in the wee hours, creating the beautiful Resurrection Garden for the Easter sunrise services, starting in April 1952. This has been continued by the Altar Guild for the past few years.

Joe also looked forward to working with fellow members of the Exchange Club in creating the signs and floats through the years for the North Iowa Band Festival, the Mr. Toot, posters, signs and floats for the July 3rd celebration.

Joe enjoyed working with and assisting the several refugees Bethlehem sponsored, helping in the early years of Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, and until the last few years, walking a cart in the grocery stores where he would see his many friends and old customers.

He loved his work, people and sunflowers.

Survivors include his wife, Theada Bittner, of Mason City; one son, Joe Bittner Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Mason City; one grandson, Pete Lauritson, of Mason City; and one sister, Mildred Wendt, of Springfield, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gerald; sisters, Agnes and Ada; and infant twin brothers.

He was diagnosed with a serious illness in September 1997. He then made his home with his son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Jerri Bagley, of Dalton, Minn., where he died.

Gayhard E. Bagley was born Sept. 19, 1914, in Forest City, Iowa, the son of Hellick H. and Lena (Severson) Bagley. He farmed in southern Minnesota.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

On Jan. 1, 1948, he was united in marriage to Clara T. Mathison. They resided in Princeton, Minn., for several years, and then moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he was employed as custodian for Iowa Hardware Mutual Insurance Company (later named Iowa Kemper Insurance Company).

In 1967, they moved to Fergus Falls, where he was employed as custodian of Fergus Falls Junior High School.

Gayhard and Clara shared 43 years of marriage and raised five children.

Survivors include his children, Gary and Durita Bagley, Effingham, Ill., Darrell and Jerri Bagley, Dalton, Minn., Brian and Pat Bagley, Amhearst, Wis., Kevin Bagley, Fergus Falls, and Gaileen Bagley, Perham, Minn.; and 17 grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Mrs. James (Dorothy) Bagley, Mason City, Iowa; a nephew, Raymond Bagley, Mason City, Iowa; and three nieces, Mrs. Lyle (Janet) Buehler, Westgate, Iowa; Mrs. Ed (Sandra) Frazier, Republic, Wash.; and Brenda Bagley, Des Moines, Iowa.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Clara in 1991; an infant daughter, Gail; three sisters, Ella Black and Cora and Eunice Bagley; and five brothers, Palmer, Kenneth, Harry, Alman and James Bagley.

Burial was at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Fergus Falls, with arrangements by Olson Funeral Home, also in Fergus Falls.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen and the Rev. Fred Lewis officiating. Inurnment will be in Noble Center Township Cemetery in Griswold.

Memorials may be given in memory of the Iona Merle Schuler Memorial Fund.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

Iona was born March 8, 1903, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Francis and Loretta (Phelps) Kraemer. She graduated from Atlantic High School, Atlantic, Iowa.

Iona married George J. Schuler on July 27, 1920, in Atlantic, Iowa. They lived in Griswold, Iowa, where she helped him operate the C.W. West Dry Goods and Ready to Wear Store. They later owned and operated the Griswold Candy Store.

Iona was very active in the Faith Lutheran Church in Griswold, a church she and her husband helped establish. She also enjoyed singing in the church choir and as a soprano soloist, she also was active in civic and social activities.

She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, visiting with people and being with her family.

In 1988, Iona moved to Clear Lake, Iowa, to be closer to her family.

Iona is survived by her son, Louis E. Schuler and his wife, Teeny, Clear Lake; five grandchildren, George Richard "Rick" Schuler, Clear Lake, Dr. Louis E. Schuler Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, Burtonsville, Md., Herbert "Ted" Schuler, Gainsville, Va., Mark Luther Schuler, Columbia, Md., and Helen E. Kaufmann and her husband, Kenneth, Mashpee, Mass.; four great-grandchildren, Laura Caitlin Schuler, Louis F. Schuler III, Kayla Elisabeth Kaufmann and Kenneth Theodore Kaufmann.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one sister, Mildred Lynch.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester, Minn., with the Rev. Dani Jo Ninke-Greaver officiating. Interment will be in the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Kiester.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Clara Matilda Larson was born April 2, 1908, in Eden Township, Winnebago County.

Survivors include one daughter, Linda Landheer, of Des Moines; one son, James Larson, of Buffalo Center; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Clarence Varland, of Albert Lea, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five sisters and three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Champion Funeral Home in Osage, with the Rev. Dennis Hanson officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Champion Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Faith Hope and Charity Home in Storm Lake, with the Rev. David Grinberg officiating.

Richard Vance was born March 14, 1986, in Osage.

He is survived by his father, John Vance, Osage; his mother, Merry Vance, Sac City; two sisters, Jenny Vance, of Clear Lake, and Becky Vance, of Sac City; paternal grandmother, Dorothy Vance, Osage; maternal grandparents, Warren and Iola Isenberger, of Osage; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather and one aunt.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church, with the Rev. James Mattson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, with military rites by the Britt Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Cataldo Funeral Home, 178 First Ave. S.W., Britt.

Harold Leroy Holck was born Oct. 5, 1933, at Britt.

He is survived by his children, Troy Holck, of Olathe, Kan., Taun Papp, of Logan, and Teresa Holck Cox, of Omaha, Neb.; two grandchildren; two sisters, Lucille Dewey, of Clear Lake, and Verna Alke, of Britt; a brother, Maynard Holck, of Britt.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church, 318 N. Adams Ave.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., where other arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 507 S. Carolina Ave.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., where other arrangements are incomplete.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Milford Cemetery, Milford, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., where other arrangements are incomplete.