Globe-Gazette from Mason City, Iowa • 9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1998 GLOBE-GAZETTE A9 The Record 0 Obituaries Opal Bernice Mielke NORTHWOOD Opal Bernice Mielke, 83, died Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at the Lutheran Retirement Home. Funeral ser Martin Wetter OSAGE Martin Wetter, 85, died Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center West, Mason City. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m.

Thursday Helen M. Knudsen ST. ANSGAR Helen M. Knudsen, 69, of rural St. Ansgar, died Monday (Aug.

10, 1998) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, with the Rev.

Dr. David H. Palm and the Rev. Barbara Finley-Shay officiating. Burial will be in the St.

Peter Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Schroeder Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar. Helen M.

Knudsen was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Worth County, to Orlando H. and Ida G. (Johnson) Thompson. She was baptized on Nov.

11, 1928, at Shell Rock Lutheran Church, North-wood, and confirmed on May 7, 1944, at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter. She graduated from North-Wood High School and then from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught in various area schools. Helen married Darold Bless on Frank Diedrich Pruisman BELMOND Frank Diedrich Pruisman, 89, died Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at Belmond Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church with Pastor Celestyne DeVance officiating. Interment will be in the Amsterdam Cemetery, Kanawha. Public visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Tenold Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to service time at the church on Thursday.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy may direct them to the Frank Pruisman Memorial Fund. Frank was born Aug. 3, 1909, at Kanawha, the son of Emil and Grace (Cook) Pruisman. He graduated from Kanawha High School where he was very active in high school sports. He was united in marriage to Gertrude Meyers on July 11, 1938.

The couple made their home in Belmond and have three children. He was associated with the Belmond Creamery for 24 years, and then was the owneroperator of the Belmond Dairy for eight years before retirement. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Gertrude Pruisman of Belmond; son, Dean Pruisman and his wife, Marlys, excellent cooking and baking skills. She also served as a radio dispatcher when her husband, Russell, was taxi driver for Northwood until 1992. She enjoyed baking, gardening and needlework and sharing it with others, along with puzzle books and reading, but her greatest love and enjoyment was being with her family and seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.

She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church in Northwood. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Elaine Shepherd and her husband, Frank (Dick), of Des Moines, Duane Mielke and his wife, Jan, of Northwood, Ruth Anderl and her husband, Richard (Dick), of Norristown, Marilyn Nagle and her husband, John, of Northwood, and Lydia Elmer and her husband, Tim, of Albert Lea, her grandchildren, Karen Shepherd and Cindy Gruber and her husband, Mitch, of Des Moines, Chris Mielke of Northwood, Jessica Mielke and her fiance, Michael Bergsma, of Portland, Carrie Anderl of Norristown, John M. Nagle of Wichita, and Michael, Sara Jo and Samantha Elmer of Albert Lea, her greatgrandchildren, James and Shawn Shepherd of Des Moines, and Derek and Rachael Mielke of Northwood; sisters, Nora Pacey of Northwood, and Arlene Ham-sund of Kiester, brothers, Alton Flatness and his wife, Lavonne, of Northwood, Dale Flatness and his wife, Jean, of Northwood, and Earl Flatness and his wife, Marge, of Winona, and several nieces and nephews, as well as other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, Russell, she also was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, James Russell Shepherd; great-granddaughter, Morgan Mielke; sister, Doris Flatness, whq died in infancy; and a brother, Lavern Flatness.

I' Mary Lou Olson MASON CITY Mary Lou Olson, 66, of 149 16th St. N.W., passed away Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at her home after her illness. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at St.

James Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Olson Hogan-Bre-mer Colonial Funeral Chapel, 126 Third St.

N.E., and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Mary Lou Olson was born May 12, 1932, at Mason City. Mary Lou retired from the Clear Lake Bakery in 1983 after 12 years of employment. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She gained great joy from spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Her hobbies included her avid love of gardening and being an active neighbor and friend to all who knew her. Mary Lou's love for a talk with her family and neighborhood friends was well known and you would often find her on her deck with a cup of coffee in one hand and her telephone close by. She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends. She is survived by one son, Ricky Olson, Mason City; five grandsons, Tom Carlson of Minneapolis, Jared Olson of Minneapolis, Casey Olson of Mason City, and James Olson and Michael R. Olson, of Mason City; four great-grandchildren, Brooke Olson, Gideon and Katiana Carlson, and Jacob Halbe; cousins, DeAnn Baier of Marion, and Mila Gracia of Mason City.

She was preceded in death by one son, Mickel L. Olson, and her beloved aunt, Wilma Baier. Robert E. Groth GARNER Robert E. Groth, 55, died Tuesday (Aug.

11, 1998) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. James Lutheran Church, Mason City, with the Rev. David Anderson officiating.

Burial will be in Memorial Park Ceme Groth tery, Mason City. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, Garner, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Memorial donations may be made to the Garner Public Library Foundation, St. James Lutheran Church, or the Mercy Cancer Center.

Robert Ernest Groth was born June 20, 1943, in Mason City. Survivors include one brother, John Groth of Hamilton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Herbert C. Wagner STACYVILLE Herbert C.

Wagner, 93, died Tuesday (Aug. 11, 1998) at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Schroeder Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar. 1 vices will be at 1 p.m.

Thursday at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Wall officiating. Burial will be in the South Shell Rock Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 Mielke p.m. today at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 99-llth St.

South, and one hour prior to service time on Thursday at the church. The family of Opal Bernice Mielke has requested that memorial contributions be made to First Lutheran Church or to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood in her memory. Opal Bernice Mielke was born Aug. 12, 1914, in Worth County, near Northwood, the daughter of Hans and Anna (Pederson) Flatness. She was baptized on Sept.

20, at South Shell Rock Lutheran Church by the Rev. David Stoeve, and reaffirmed her faith of her baptism through confirmation on May 12, 1929, at the Northwood Lutheran Church by the Rev. J.W. Ylvisaker. She attended and received her education in the Grove Township School System.

She was united in marriage to Russell E. Mielke on June 8, 1937, at Northwood Lutheran Church by the Rev. Arthur J. Tolo. He preceded her in death on Aug.

5, 1995. After their marriage together, they farmed on the Mielke family farm three miles north of North-wood, until they moved to town in 1972. After moving to North- wood, she worked as a cook at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood from 1972 until 1985, and is still remembered for her Virginia Courson BELMOND Virginia Courson, 81, died April 21, 1998, in Rockwell, Md. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at United Methodist Church, Belmond, with the Rev.

Celestyne Devance officiating. There will be no visitation. Dugger Ewing Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Virginia Encie Courson was born April 24, 1916, in Keokuk, to Pearl and Wilbur Hughes. She graduated from high school in Hamilton, 111.

She earned a B.A. in music from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, and continued graduate studies at Drake University. She was united in marriage with Ronald W. Courson on June 22, 1937. After living a brief time in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, they made their home in Belmond, where Ron was in the insurance and real estate business for more than 50 years.

Virginia was an avid musician and composer. She was an instructor of piano, accompanied for high school students at state music contests and the community chorus, organist at the United Methodist Church and an actor in the community theater. the American Heart Association. Melvin Fredrick Tegner was born March 17, 1928, in Floyd County. Survivors include his wife, Roberta, of Charles City; a son, James Tegner of Irving, Texas; a daughter, Denise Jutting of Ames; four grandchildren; his mother, Velma Tegner of Charles City; and a brother, Donald Tegner of Dundee, 111.

He was preceded in death by his father. at Our Savior Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dennis Hanson and the Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Burial will be in the Orchard Cemetery, Orchard.

Visitation will be from 5 Wetter to 9 p.m. today at the Champion Funeral Home, where a Masonic service will be held at 7 p.m. Martin was born Dec. 29, 1912, at Mason City, the son of George and Mary (Hirsch) Wetter. The family lived for a short time at Rockwell, and moved to Orchard in 1914.

Martin attended Orchard schools. He married Marcella Knudson on Sept. 28, 1939, at Osage. The couple made their home west of Osage. Martin was a partner in Seeber Wetter Sand Gravel Company for many years.

He also farmed and raised Angus cattle. He enjoyed woodworking and had his own saw mill. He was widely known for his ability to fix clocks. Martin was a veteran serving during World War II. Survivors include a niece, Karen Piatt and her husband, Roy, of Bettendorf; two great-nieces, Lori Angus of St.

Paul, and Kari Neathery and husband, Doug, of St. Paul; also other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marcella; an infant son; four brothers, Walter, Alvin, George and Russell Wetter; and four sisters, Amy Walling, Myrtle Heller, Erma Wetter and Jessie Wetter. Alice Crimmings GRAFTON Alice Crimmings, 95, died Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Plymouth, with the Rev. Thomas McAndrew officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Manly.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. today at the Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E. Spring Manly, where a Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Alice Crimmings was born May 5, 1903, at rural Grafton, the daughter of James E. and Bertha (Molsberry) Crimmings.

She received her education in the Grafton school system. She taught school her entire life, first in the rural Grafton schools, then later in Mason City, Minneapolis, Benson, and Tucson, Ariz. Alice was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Plymouth, and also the Catholic Daughters of America, Algona. Survivors include one brother, James Crimmings and his wife, Bernece, of Prescott Valley, many nieces and nephews, George Galloway and his wife, Dian, of Sterling, Michael Crimmings and his wife, Aida, San Diego, Mary Jo Fitzgerald, Waterloo, Timothy Crimmings, Mason City, John Dailey and his wife, Cynthia, Charles City, Dr.

Ray Brinker and his wife, Marlene, Toledo, Ohio, Tom Dailey and his wife, Evelyn, of Greene, Jack Crimmings, Phoenix, and Marilyn Koole, Phoenix; one sister-in-law, Ruby Crimmings; and one special friend, Don Ruffridge, Manly. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Morris, Linus, John and Marion; and three sisters, Bernadine, Grace and Loretta. Mil 4 dtefc hi of Mason City; daughters, Wilma Nuehring and her husband, Keith, of Webster City, and Lois Eliason and her husband, Richard, of Kanawha; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, John, Klaas and Herman; one sister in infancy; one brother in infancy; and twin great-granddaughters. Maxine E.

LaVille MASON CITY Maxine E. LaVille, 85, of 643 S. Carolina died Tuesday (Aug. 11, 1998) at the Villa Del Sol Nursing Home, Marshalltown. A funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m.

Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., with the Rev. Carl A. Ries officiating.

Burial will be in Elm-wood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Friday at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., with a Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary at 4 p.m., followed by a scriptural prayer service at 7 p.m., and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 p.m.

Other arrangements are incomplete at the funeral chapel. Family of Funeral Homes Frances I. Zbornik CHARLES CITY Frances I. Zbornik, 80, died Monday (Aug. 10, 1998) at St.

Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. F.

Todd Yeaton of the First Baptist Church, and Dr. Thomas F. Johnson, Dean of George Fox University, Portland, officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m.

Thursday at the Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, and one hour prior to services at the church. Other funeral arrangements are incomplete. June 14, 1952, at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter, in a double ceremony with their brother and sister, Marion and Howard.

Helen and Darold were married for 31 years until the time of Darold's death in 1983. Helen then married Thomas Knudsen on Jan. 1, 1991, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville. Helen was a member of the St.

Ansgar Garden Club and also a state flower show judge. She was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, serving in various church offices. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother. She is survived by her husband, Thomas, of St.

Ansgar; two sons, Doug Bless of Toeterville, and Dennis Bless of Edina, two daughters, Bonnie Bless-Boenish of Sequim, and Kimberly Taets of Basalt, one brother, Harvey Thompson of Fairfield Bay, one sister, Marion Bless of St. Ansgar; eight grandchildren; two step-sons, Anders Knudsen of St. Ansgar, and James Knudsen of St. Ansgar; step-daughter, Ruth Smillie of Atlantic; 11 step-grandchildren; and two foster sons, Cam VanLam and Binh VanLam, both of Sioux City. Paul J.

Brackey ST. HELENS, Ore. Paul J. Brackey, 56, died Thursday (July 9, 1998) at a hospital in Portland, Ore. Memorial services were held in St.

Helens. Paul was born Sept. 30, 1941, in Mason City and graduated from St. Joseph's High. School.

He was a longtime employee and manager of Kinney Shoe Stores and lived in Ohio, Colorado and Oregon. He was a member of the VFW, North American Hunting Club and a life member of the 2-10 Foundation. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping, golf and working with stained glass. Paul is survived by his son, John Paul Brackey of Texas; his brother, Craig James Brackey, of Dodge City, and two sisters, Nancy Watskche of Bedford, N.H.; and Joan Johanneson of St. Helens, Ore.

Paul was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia (Kelley) Brackey, and father, Telford Brackey. Melvin F. Tegner CHARLES CITY Melvin F. Tegner, 70, died Sunday (Aug. 9, 1998) in Weslaco, Texas.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Vallery officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Hauser Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Memorials may be directed to JACKPOT She founded the original Animal Rescue League in Belmond, and was instrumental in the formation of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association. She spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the purchase of the pipe organ at the Methodist Church. She was a member of P.E.O. and the Belmond Area Arts Council.

She will be remembered for writing many songs. She wrote the music for "The Belmond Song" which was performed at Belmond's Centennial and Quasquicentennial celebrations. The high school chorus performed the song, "I Would Be Crucified of Self in 1958. Other inspirational songs include, "Only Believe," "God's Eternal Music," "We Are All Rising to the Sun" and "My Soul Wait Thou Only Upon God." She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Jane Courson of Arvada, Robert and Lyn Courson of Belmond, Timothy and Maru Courson of Centerville, a daughter and son-in-law, Melody and Michio Ishihara of Rockville, nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ron; and her son, Steven.

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