Telbert Arlyn TONDERUM

TONDERUM, CHRISTIANSEN, CHRISTENSEN, STEBBINS, ROSTENBACH, SCHMALZRIED

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/6/2011 at 11:14:27

October 26, 1931 --- July 1, 2011

DOWS, IA — Telbert A. Tonderum, age 79, of Dows died Friday, July 1, 2011 at his home near Dows. Funeral services for Telbert A. Tonderum will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday July 6, 2011, at the First Lutheran Church in Dows. Pastor Ron Yarnell will officiate. Burial will take place in the Fairview cemetery in Dows. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the Dows American Legion Watson-Beach Post No. 523. Visitation for Telbert A. Tonderum will be held from 5-7 p.m. today, Tuesday July 5, 2011, at the First Lutheran Church in Dows and will continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Telbert Arlyn Tonderum, the son of Carl and Helena Christiansen Tonderum, was born October 26, 1931, at Otteson, Iowa. At the age of six, the family moved to Dows. Telbert was educated in the Dows Community School. On November 3, 1951, Telbert was united in marriage to Eleanor Christensen at the First Lutheran Church in Dows. To this union two sons were born: Arlyn in 1953 and Larry in 1957. On September 3, 1952, Telbert began serving his country in the U.S. Army. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on August 4, 1955. In 1955 he started to farm and retired in 1997. Telbert farmed his entire life in Dows. He then worked for Hagies in Clarion from 1995 until 1999. Telbert was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Dows and the Dows American Legion Watson-Beach Post No. 523. He helped coach Arlyn’s and Larry’s softball games. Telbert was a key figure in the restoration of the Quasdorf Museum for the Dows Historical Society and has volunteered there since it opened. Telbert always had a friendly smile and was willing to help everyone. He could fix anything, and fixed multitudes of projects for all over the years. Telbert will be remembered by many friend and family for his quiet and caring spirit.

Tellbert is survived by his wife, Eleanor; brother, Merle and his wife, Loa Dell of Dows; grandchildren, Aaron and Laura; and numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Arlyn in 1999 and Larry in 2001; three sisters, Jean Rostenbach, Evelyn Stebbins and Clareen Schmalzried. Dugger Funeral Home, 100 N. Lee St., Dows, IA 50071.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
July 5, 2011