Frederick W. SUNTKEN

SUNTKEN, GRUIS, WALTZING, BONIN, PLAGMAN, CHRISTIE, BIRKENHOLZ, GUHL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/3/2007 at 16:26:00

Mason City Globe Gazette
February 7, 2001

Frederick W. Suntken, 85, of Belmond, passed away Monday (Feb. 5, 2001) at the Belmond Medical Center in Belmond. The funeral for Frederick W. Suntken will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Immanuel Reformed Church east of Belmond, with the Pastor Rob Ford officiating. Burial will take place in the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be conducted by Hanson-Have American Legion Post No. 658 of Latimer. Visitation for Frederick W. Suntken will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond.

Fred, the son of John and Yettie Gruis Suntken, was born March 15, 1915, on the family farm in Iowa Township. He grew up in the Meservey, Alexander and Belmond area. Fred attended school in Meservey, graduating from Meservey High School in 1932. Following graduation, Fred farmed with his father until he entered the United States Army on March 11, 1941. He served as a radio operator in southern France during WW II. He returned home in 1945 after serving his country for 4 years, 7 months, and 10 days. Fred was united in marriage with Lorene Waltzing on Dec. 29, 1949, at Lorene's parents' home in Belmond. The couple made their home on the family farm until moving to Belmond in 1984. Farming was Fred's life; he raised grain and livestock, which included purebred Shorthorn cattle. Fred truly had a family farming operation and instilled a good work ethic in his children. He never really retired from farming - it was in his heart. Farming never left "Farmer Fred." A favorite hobby of Fred's was going to the elevator. He also enjoyed playing cards and teaching his children new games. Fred was a member of Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond, where he has served as deacon, elder and catechism teacher. He was a member of the Hanson-Have American Legion Post No. 658 in Latimer.

Fred is survived by his wife, Lorene; four daughters, Joy Bonin and her husband, David, of Belmond, Charlene Plagman and her husband, Rod, of Storm Lake, Shirley Birkenholz and her husband, David, of Newton, and Sandy Guhl and her husband, Roger, of Gahanna, Ohio; one son, Jonathan and his wife, Tami, of Belmond; 11 grandchildren, Michelle Bonin, David and his wife Brook Bonin, Jeremy and Jason Plagman, Sara and Brian Birkenholz, Lindsey and Jordan Guhl, Katelyn, Kellen, and Kendrick Suntken; one great-grandchild, Colton Bonin; one sister, Viola Christie and her husband, Leroy, of Willmar, Minn.; two brothers, Jesse Suntken, of Meservey, and Herman and his wife, Berniece, of Belmond; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ben. Dugger Ewing Funeral Home