GELNER, Nova Theo (1915-2001)

GELNER, LAU, KOENER, STOKESBARY, JANSSEN, RENNER, THORSON, GILLAND, SCHUPANITZ, CAGLE, BEST, HARRISON, GREIMAN, BRIDGES, WHITEHURST, FEAVER, RIDDER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/27/2013 at 00:04:40

Life long Klemme resident, Nova T. Gelner, died on Monday, December 17, 2001, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. She was 86.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 22, at the United Methodist Church in Klemme, with the Rev. Paddy Druhl officiating. Music was provided by organist, Margaret Tue who accompanied congregational hymns. Special music
was presented by pianist, Sue Gilland who accompanied a vocal duet of Bill Renner and Crystal Greiman. Ushers were John Schwichtenberg and Lance Arnold.

Honorary bearers were Jill Thorson, Sue Gilland, Sandra Schupanitz, Jodi Cagle, Angela Best, Stacie Harrison, Crystal Greiman and Sheryl Stokesbary. Casket bearers were Dr. Steven Stokesbary, Todd Thorson, Tom Gilland, Brent
Schupanitz, Jason Cagle, Michael Best, Lance Harrison and Wade Greiman.

Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Nova Theo Gelner, the daughter of Albert G. and Lillie M. (Lau) Koerner, was born on July 7, 1915 at Klemme, where she grew up and spent her entire life. She graduated from the Klemme High School in 1932.

On September 5, 1935, she was united in marriage to Orville Thomas Stokesbary at Lakota. The couple had three children, Janice, Jerry and Julie. Orville Stokesbary died on December 9, 1950.

Nova married Leon Karl Gelner on March 2, 1956 at Albert Lea, Minnesota. They lived in Klemme until her health failed and she became a resident at the
Concord Care Center in Garner on June 4, 2001.

Mrs. Gelner enjoyed her family and grandchildren, their friends, camping, square dancing, traveling to the Hawaiian Islands, flowers and their pet cats. She was a member of the Klemme United Methodist Church and had been a member of UMW and Circle, Square Dancers and Campers, garden club and was previously a Cub Scout Leader and a 4-H Leader.

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Leon Gelner of Klemme; three children, Janice Janssen and her husband, Marvin of Garner, Jerry Stokesbary and his wife, Sharon of Mason City and Julie Renner and her husband, Bill of Garner; eight grandchildren, Dr. Steven Stokesbary and his wife, Sheryl, Jill Thorson and her husband, Todd, Sue Gilland and her husband, Tom, Sandra
Schupanitz and her husband, Brent, Jodi Cagle and her husband, Jason, Angela Best and her husband, Michael, Stacie Harrison and her husband, Lance and Crystal Greiman and her husband, Wade; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are a brother, Gerald Koerner and his wife, Bernice of Klemme; a sister, Valeria Bridges of Garner; six sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; 11 nieces and eight nephews. Also, Leon's family, his three children, Janice Whitehurst and her husband, Orvin of Clear Lake, Jerald Gelner and his wife, Suzee of Laveen, Arizona and Shirley Feaver of Aguanga, California; his ten
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Orville Stokesbary; her parents; a brother, Kermit Koerner; and a sister, Dolores Ridder.