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AUTHOR: Deb Bowen
DATE: 4/4/2005 at 01:26:37
Surnames: LOHMANN AND REESE
Died March 2, 1915. Obituary from Burlington Hawk Eye of March 3, 1915.
"GRANDMOTHER" LOHMANN
Beloved Mother of German Editor Summoned Yesterday.
Shortly after noon yesterday, Mrs. Friederike Lohmann, the beloved mother of
the editor and publisher of the German Volksfreund-Tribune slumbered away into
the better land. She had not been ill, but the burden of the years was
weighing heavily upon her and she went to well-earned rest. She passed away,
solaced by her faith and absolute assurance of a reawakening in a better
world, where eventually she will be reunited with all her loved ones.
Friederike Reese was born at Ottenstein, on the Weser, in the Duchy of
Brunswick, Germany, May 27, 1819, and consequently was nearing her 96th
anniversary. In November 1865, she came to this country and to Burlington with
her husband and five children. Her oldest son, Mr. Carl Lohmann had preceded
the other members of the family and was teaching in the parochial school here,
at that time. This city remained the home of the good woman and of the
majority of the members of her family. The husband preceded her to the beyond
44 years ago, and the surviving children are Carl, Frederick, Henry, Mrs.
Minnie Meyer and Mrs. P. C. Jordan, all of this city. One daughter (Friederike
Snyder (Mrs. Conrad Snyder), had passed away a number of years ago and two
sons who died in childhood are sleeping in German Soil. Mrs. Lohmann is also
survived by 30 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 4
great-great-grandchildren. In the family circles she found rare love and
devotion and nothin was left undone that could contribute to her comfort and
happiness. During many years, she lived with her son Carl, but of late she had
been making her home with Mr. Fred Lohmann. No 913 Ash Street. In addition to
the wide circle of relatives, many friends hold her in the highest esteem.
Mrs. Lohmann was a faithful member of the German Baptist church (later Oak
Street Baptist Church; Burlington, Iowa), and the funeral will be held from
that place of worship tomorrow,the hour of the services to be anounced later.
She will sleep in Aspen Grove besides loved ones gone before.
Surnames: Sutcliffe, junker, Poland, Gerst
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/606
Message Board Post:
February 27, 2003 The Wapello Republican. I am not related and have no further information.
Kenneth Sutcliffe
Kenneth “Kenny” H. Sutcliffe, 67, 204 N. Birth St., Danville, Iowa, formerly of 5506 K. Ave., Wapello, died Thursday, February 20, 2003 at his home.
A memorial service was held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lunning Chapel in Burlington. The family met with friends prior to the service.
Born December 16, 1924 in Burlington, he was the son of John H. and Minnie L. Junker Sutcliffe. He was raised by his sister, Pat, after his parents died when he was young.
He married Marilyn Poland in November, 1957; they divorced. He married Lynnette Gerst, April 15, 1983, Mount Pleasant.
He was retired, after having operated a saw mill in Fort Madison.
He was affiliated with the Catholic church.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Shirley and husband Jim Hancock, New London and Lena and husband Everett Fye and Tina and husband Tom Smith, all of Burlington; three sons, Kenneth Sutcliffe Jr., Burlington and Ryan Sutcliffe and Curtis Sutcliffe, both of Wapello; six grandchildren; a brother, Harvey Sutcliffe, Burlington; a sister, Patricia Wenke, Argyle, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial has been established for the children’s college education.
Surnames: Rocke, Schlegel, Steiner
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/628
Message Board Post:
October 23, 2003 The Wapello Republican. I am not related and have no further information.
Verna M. Rocke
Verna Mae Rocke, 87, of Mediapolis, died Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2003, at her home. The daughter of John Menno and Caroline Melinda Schlegel Steiner, she was born February 7, 1916, near Morton, Illinois. She married Orttie O. Rocke on May 4, 1941, at Morton. He preceded her in death on May 12, 1997.
She had attended schools in Morton and later received her GED in 1962.
She was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church at Oakville.
She was a homemaker, being a great cook. She loved her family for whom she occasionally played her harmonica.
She had done volunteer work, including helping with the second grade for the Mediapolis Community School District and helping residents at the nursing home in Mediapolis. She had also worked with the Home Health Care.
Survivors include three daughters, Doris and Jerry Kuntz of Burlington, Annette and Harold Massner of Burlington and Carol and Terry Miller of Mount Union; twelve grandsons; five granddaughters; thirteen great-grandchildren; three sisters, Marie Kaufman of Morton, Hilda Gerst of Mediapolis and Wilma Wiedman of Morton; and two half-brothers, Ivan Steiner and Melvin Steiner, both of Morton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orttie; daughter, Elizabeth Metzger; four sisters; and three brothers.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Apostolic Christian Church, Oakville, conducted by the ministers of the church. Burial will follow at the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, Oakville.
Visitation was Wednesday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral home in Mediapolis, where the family met with friends in both the afternoon and evening.
A memorial fund has been established for the benefit of the Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped at Morton.
Surnames: Mellinger, Casper, Thomas
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/629
Message Board Post:
October 30, 2003, The Morning Sun News-Herald. I am not related and have no further information.
Adrian J. Mellinger
Adrian Joseph Mellinger, 84, of Sperry, died Monday, October 27, 2003, at Prairie Ridge Care Center in Mediapolis.
The son of Crieger and Freida Casper Mellinger, he was born June 7, 1919 at Mediapolis. On November 21, 1946, he married Genevieve Thomas at Mediapolis; she died January 21, 1999.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the Mediapolis American Legion.
He was a member of the Kingston United Methodist Church.
He farmed in Des Moines County his entire life. He enjoyed horses and going to horse shows and pulls.
Survivors include his son, Steve Mellinger, and wife Judy of Sperry; two daughters, Connie Ralston, and husband Tom, of Burlington, and Debbie Kennedy and husband Mike of Yarmouth; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Howard Mellinger, Sperry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, and one brother.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis with the Rev. Beth Briggs officiating. Interment will follow at the Kossuth Cemetery, with graveside military rites by the Mediapolis American Legion.
Visitation was Wednesday from noon until 8 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family met with friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials have been established for the Kingston United Methodist Church and the Mediapolis Ambulance Service.
Surnames: Jones, Anderson, Eland
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/631
Message Board Post:
November 6, 2003 The Morning Sun News-Herald and The Wapello Republican. Accompanied by a photo. I am not related and have no further information.
Robert E. Jones
Robert Edward “Bob” Jones, 74, of Winfield, died Friday morning, October 31, 2003, at the Sunrise Terrace Care Center in Winfield. The son of Leonard D. and Evelyn Eland Jones, he was born March 30, 1929, at Burlington. He married Mary Joan Anderson on December 12, 1954, at Mediapolis. She preceded him in death on October 26, 1981.
He was a graduate of the Mount Union High School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
He was a farmer and had also been a school bus driver for the Morning Sun School District. He was a member of the American Legion and the United Methodist Church in Morning Sun. He liked to dance and was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed spending time with his family and simply visiting with friends.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathy and Randy Smith of Wapello; two granddaughters, Christa and Kelly; two brothers, Dick Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Darrel Jones of Burlington; a niece, and five nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joan; a son, Jeff; and a grandson, Ryan.
The funeral service was held Monday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello with the Rev. Mary N. Pugh officiating. Music was provided by Geneva Samuels as the organist, and Alana Poage, vocalist, singing “How Great Thou Art” and “In The Garden”. The pallbearers were Don Helphrey, Rick Venghaus, Randy Goetz, Mike Goetz, Randy Allred and Larry Smith. Honorary bearers were Jack Wheeler, Roger Heitmeier, Rusty Orr, Dwight Cornick and Gene Venghaus. Burial followed at the Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis.
The family met with friends Sunday evening at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has been established.
Surnames: Harmon, Walker, Kester
Classification: Pension
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/630
Message Board Post:
October 30, 2003 The Wapello Republican and The Morning Sun News-Herald. I am not related and have no further information.
Marion “Kie” Harmon
Marion Frank “Kie” Harmon, age 87, of Mediapolis, died Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at the Great River Medical Center. The son of Robert and Grace Walker Harmon, he was born January 23, 1916, at Aledo, Illinois. On May 14, 1943, he married Mildred Kester at Chicago, Illinois.
He was a 1935 graduate of Mediapolis High School and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He worked for Walkers Brothers plumbing and Heating before purchasing the business himself in 1962. The business then became known as Harmon’s Plumbing and Heating and is still operated by his son, Larry Harmon, in Mediapolis.
He was a former member of the Lions Club, a former city councilman of Mediapolis, and a former Mediapolis Fireman. He was a member of the Mediapolis American Legion and the Mediapolis United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of Mediapolis; one son, Larry and Valerie of Mediapolis; three grandchildren, Matthew Harmon, Christopher Harmon and Alicia McLaughlin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and four sisters.
There was no visitation or public service.
A private family service was held Saturday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis. Interment will be at a later date. Mr. Harmon donated his body to the University of Iowa.
Memorials have been established for the Mediapolis United Methodist Church and the Mediapolis Fire Department.
Surnames: Flaar, Smith, Sorenson
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/599
Message Board Post:
July 17, 2003 The Morning Sun News-Herald and the Wapello Republican. I am not related and have no further information.
Verla M. Flaar
Verla Mae Flaar, 80, Mediapolis, died July 10, 2003, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. The daughter of Clarence and Gertrude Sorenson Smith, she was born January 22, 1923, at Yarmouth, Iowa. She attended the Yarmouth and Burlington schools. She married Burdell William Flaar on October 18, 1941, at Hannibal, Missouri; he died September 24, 1994.
She was a homemaker as well as had worked at the IAAP during World War II, cleaned houses, and did in-home daycare work. She enjoyed gardening, orchard care and playing cards. She was of the Christian faith.
Survivors include one daughter; Barbara and Jeff Kerr of Mediapolis; one son, Larry Flaar of Yerrington, Nevada; six grandsons; four great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons; two sisters, Elizabeth Mowell of Burlington and Sandra King of LaHarpe, Illinois; sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, and four brothers.
The funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis with the Revs. John Gaulke and Frank Beaty officiating. Interment followed at the Kossuth Cemetery.
Visitation was Sunday at the funeral home and the family met with friends in the evening.
Surnames: Betts, Garrett, Luerman
Classification: Obituary
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kk.2ADE/619
Message Board Post:
September 18, 2003 The Morning Sun News-Herald and the Wapello Republican, accompanied by a photo. I am not related and have no further information.
Pastor Brian K. Betts
Pastor Brian Keith Betts, age 44, of Yarmouth, died suddenly of unknown causes, Thursday afternoon, September 11, 2003 at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. The son of LeRoy and Vivian Garrett Betts, he was born February 2, 1959, at Memphis, Tennessee. He married Trudy D. Luerman on August 12, 1978, in Salina, Kansas.
He graduated from Dorrance High School in Dorrance, Kansas. He attended Kansas State University and Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming, where he received a degree in photography. He attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, where he received his BA degree in Theology and also completed his master’s degree in Pastoral Theology in May of 2003.
He served in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. and continued as a photojournalist in Germany and later in Kuwait during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He was currently serving in the Iowa National Guard with the Public Affairs directorate having just returned on September 3 from a three-week tour with the National Guard in Korea.
Pastor Brian has served his Lord as Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Yarmouth for the last 5 ½ years. He was also a Chaplain for the Des Moines County Hospice. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a member of the National Guard Enlisted Association.
He enjoyed the outdoors through fishing, hunting, and the mountains. He also enjoyed photography, woodworking, and most importantly sharing his love with his family and his dog, Lovee.
He is survived by his wife, Trudy; two daughters, Amber and David Dina of Eagle, Idaho, and Ashlee and Trevor Hartman of Clearfield, Utah; his parents, LeRoy and Vivian Betts of Russell, Kansas; two brothers, Alan and Rikki Betts of Antonino, Kansas, and Roger and Sheila Betts of Shattuck, Oklahoma; and his wife’s parents, Rev. Harlan and Darlene Palser of Russell, Kansas.
The family met with friends Sunday evening at the First Baptist Church of Yarmouth.
The funeral service for Pastor Brian Betts was at 2 p.m. Monday, at the First Baptist Church with the Revs. Jeff Crawford, Dean Graber, Joe Hayes and Harlan Palser officiating. Other participants included musicians Gayle Carleton, organist, Marcia Johnson, pianist, Rose Schneider, Vocalist and Gretchen Winfrey, flautist. Pallbearers were Randy Kongable, Rod Whitaker, Alan Giese, Dr. David Hull, Larry Harmon, Stan Schneider, Dr. Dan McClure and Craig Remick. Honorary bearers included Michael Coppes, Roger Sharp, Ken Brown, Gary Kolkman, Paul Drinkall, Nelson Cowles, John Tolander and Ed Kolkman.
Following transportation to Kansas, a funeral service was also held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church at Wilson, Kansas. Burial followed at the Dorrance City Cemetery with full military rites.
A memorial fund has been established for the stained glass window of the current building project at the First Baptist Church of Yarmouth.
Funeral arrangements and care were provided by the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home at Mediapolis and the Pohlman-Heise Mortuary at Russell, Kansas.
Kate Shelley, heroine of Iowa, was born in Loughaun Co. Offaly, Ireland, of
Michael Shelley and Margaret Dwan.
These newspaper abstracts tell her story...
Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
March 30, 1882
Des Moines Register
How very few of the many acts of great bodies live after them. The only
thing the late legislature of Iowa did-with its one hundred and fifty wise men
at work for three months-that will go into history, or be remembered more than
ten years probably, was the gold medal that it voted to Kate Shelley in
recognition of a girl's heroism. It did a great deal else, a large detail of
things, but all that were temporary in their nature and will be fleeting in
their existence. But the little hoop of gold, an heir-loom in the Shelley
family, will grow greater with the lapse of time. After five years there will
probably be no public library in the world that will not contain a sketch of the
story of the medal, and no collection of historic medals that will not contain a
copy of this one of Kate's. A medal of honor, worthily won and worthily
bestowed, is the most enduring as well as the most grateful of mortal baubles.
The medallic history of the world is of remarkable interest. The mother of this
Iowa heroine, sitting in the poverty of her humble home, and yet with a pride
that came in her blood of some ancestor whose valor had been proved by field and
fire-perhaps centuries ago-perhaps by a Sir Galahad or an Arthur himself-in
saying she would rather have the state giver her daughter a medal than a home,
was right. The circle of gold she knows is more than money, and means more in
the present, and very much more in the future. She could work for money.
Potatoes would bring money, eggs would -even begging But this shining stamp of
gold, expressing the appreciation and admiration of a state, and preserving the
record of heroism to history, mere labor could not earn nor money buy. Such
tokens of immortality are only won by mortals of more than mortal courage or
merit. So a double lesson has been taught here: A great legislature perpetuating
its name in history by the one act of recognizing heroism-and next, a simple
Irish woman, born from lowliest peasantry of poor and mendicant Ireland,
verifying anew the quality of human nature at its best; by saying even in her
poverty that the gold of honor is more than the gold of bread. It teaches
further, that in the humblest breast and in the poorest home, as well as in
prouder breasts in higher life, there is still burning yet the sparks of the
living fire of noblest human purpose. It is this light falling on Kate Shelley's
medal, that will give its purest radiance.
Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
April 6, 1882
Since the action of the legislature in recognizing the heroism of Kate
Shelley, an effort is being made to increase the fund for her benefit, so that
she may go to school. The postmaster at Boone has been selected as custodian of
all funds.
Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
May 4, 1882
It is said Kate Shelley, the heroine, is not engaged to be married, but it
is intimated that when the time does come for venturing upon the matrimonial
sea, there was a switchman in the yards at Moingona who was with her in the
sickness following her terrible adventure, and who, although wearing the clothes
of a laborer and carrying a hand crippled in the service of the railroad
company, will probably put in the first and best claim.
Daily Iowa State Press
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
Feb 17, 1899
Stories of Brave Girls.
On July 6, 1881, a storm of wind and rain burst over Iowa, and in an hour's
time every creek was out of its banks. So sudden was the flood that houses,
barns, lumber and all portable objects within reach of the waters were carried
away. Looking from her window, which in daylight commanded a view of the Honey
creek railroad bridge, Kate Shelley saw, through the darkness and storm, a
locomotive headlight. A second later it dropped; she knew that the bridge had
gone and that a train of cars had fallen into the abyss. There was no one at
home but her mother and her little brother and sister, and the girl understood
that if help was to be given to the sufferers and the express train, then nearly
due, warned, she would have to undertake the task alone.
Hastily filling and lighting an old lantern and wrapping herself in a
waterproof, she sallied out in the storm. She climbed painfully up the steep
bluff to the track, tearing her clothes to rags on the thick undergrowth and
lacerating her flesh most painfully. A part of the bridge still remained, and
crawling out on this to the last tie, she swung her lantern over the abyss, and
called out at the top of her voice. It was pitchy dark below but she was
answered faintly by the engineer, who had crawled upon some of the broken
timbers, and though injured, was safe for the time being. From him the girl
learned that it was a freight train that had gone into the chasm, and that he
alone of that train's hands had escaped. He urged her, however, to proceed at
once to the nearest station, to secure help for him, and to warn the approaching
express train of the fall of the bridge.
The girl then retraced her steps, gained the track and made her way toward
Moingona, a small station about one mile from Honey creek. In making this
perilous journey it was necessary for her to cross the Des Moines river, about
five hundred feet in length. Just as she tremblingly put her foot on this
structure, the wind, rain, thunder and lightning were so appalling that she
nearly lost her balance, and in the endeavor to save herself, her sole
companion-the old lantern-went out. Deprived of her light she could not see a
foot ahead of her, save when dazzling flashes of lightning revealed the grim
outlines of the bridge and the seething waters beneath. Knowing that she had no
time to lose, the brave girl threw away the useless lamp, and dropping on her
hands and knees, crawled from tie to tie across the high trestle. Having gained
the ground again, she ran the short distance remaining to the station, told her
story in breathless haste and then fell unconscious. She was, however, in time
to save the express with the scores of lives it carried.
Chief Reporter
Perry, Dallas Co, IA.
June 14, 1900
Kate Shelly.- Mrs. Benj. Swisher, living east of Perry, is enjoying a visit
from her mother and sister, Mrs. Shelley and Miss Kate, of Moingona. Kate
Shelley is well remembered in this part of the country as the young heroine who
saved the express train from a terrible calamity at the bridge near Boone some
sixteen years ago.
Daily Iowa State Press
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
October 17, 1903
KATE SHELLEY REMEMBERED
The Northwestern Railway company has given the station at Moingona in
charge of Miss Kate Shelley, to whom their gratitude can never be wanting. As
all the telegraph instruments have been removed from this office, her work will
be entirely the sale of tickets. Many times before the Northwestern has offered
her high salaried positions on their road, but as each one would necessitate her
removal from the home town at Moingona, where her aged mother is enjoying the
last years of her life, she refused them all. This in part shows her unselfish
devotion to her parent. Now as passengers go to and from this little station,
they may see from this station, they may see and grow better acquainted with the
woman whose bravery "saved the train."-- Ames Intelligencer.
Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
June 7, 1911
Kate Shelley, who prevented a loaded Northwestern passenger train from
going into an open bridge near Boone 25 years ago, is at the point of death in a
hospital at Carroll.
Washington Post
Washington, D.C.
Jan 22, 1912
HONEY CREEK HEROINE DEAD
Kate Shelly Crept Across Bridge in Storm to Save Train.
Boone, Iowa, Jan. 21- Kate Shelly, heroine of the Honey Creek flood in 1881,
died today at her home, a quarter of a mile from the Moingona bridge across the
Des Moines River, the scene of her heroic act. Six months ago she was operated
on for appendicitis, and before she recovered, Bright's disease set in.
During a violent storm 30 years ago Miss Shelly, who was station agent at
Moingona, crossed the bridge on her hands and knees at midnight to flag a
passenger train on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and save it from
plunging into Honey Creek, over which the bridge had been washed away.
For her bravery the Iowa legislature awarded her a medal and a sum of
money. She also received substantial recognition from the railroad.
Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
Jan 24, 1912
The funeral of Miss Kate Shelley, the Iowa heroine, will be held at Boone
today. The Northwestern railroad company will furnish a special train to convey
the remains and relatives to Boone.
For a biography and picture of Miss Shelley see:
http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/offaly/people/shelley_kate.htm
Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm
Iowa Old Press
http://www.IowaOldPress.com/
DeSPAIN, Willis N.
Author: Nancy Wagner Date: 25 Dec 2002 3:15 AM GMT
Surnames: DeSpain, Hutchcroft, Miller
Classification: Obituary
Willis N. DeSpain, 86, of Mediapolis, Iowa, and Fort Myers, Fla., died Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at the Fort Myers Care and Rehabilitation Center.
The son of Perry and Clara Miler DeSpain, he was born December 19, 1915 at New London. He married Thelma Hutchcroft on June 30, 1939, at Mediapolis. She preceded him in death on January 5, 1998.
He was a 1933 graduate of New London High School and attended college at Cedar Falls for two years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a sergeant.
He operated the DeSpain Insurance Agency in Mediapolis for many years where he not only was an insurance salesman but was an active real estate agent and appraiser.
Mr. DeSpain was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mediapolis, the American Legion of Mediapolis and was a 50 year member of the Mediapolis Lions Club. He was an avid Hawkeye fan and enjoyed reading.
Survivors include his daughter, Gwen and husband Fred Scholer of Burlington; son, Brian and wife Linda DeSpain of Mount Pleasant; nine grandchildren; sis great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ralph DeSpain of New London.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a daughter, Nancy Miller; and two brothers, Glen and Lorraine.
Visitation was Friday at the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Mediapolis.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, Mediapolis, with the Rev. John Gaulke officiating.
Burial followed at the Kossuth Cemetery with military rites by the Mediapolis American Legion.
Pallbearers were Matt Robie, Ben Robie, Adam Miller, Brian DeSpain Jr., Tom Hutchcroft and Tim Hutchcroft.
A memorial fund has been established for the benefit of the First United Methodist Church of Mediapolis.
December 19, 2002 Wapello Republican and Morning Sun News Herald. A photo accompanied the obituary. I am not related and have no further information.
The Daily Dispatch, Moline Illinois Tuesday Nov 20, 2001 Ralph Webb Ralph E. Webb, 75, Alamogordo, N.M., formerly of Moline, died Friday, Nov 16, 2001, at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, Alamogordo. Memorial services are 1 p.m. Friday at Community Christian Church, Moline. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Esterdahl Mortuary, Moline is in charge of arrangements. Ralph was born Sept. 28, 1926 in Burlington, Iowa the son of Seth Calvin and Adra Rebecca Holcom Webb. He married Joyce Rundall Feb. 12, 1966, in Moline. Ralph joined the Army Dec. 15, 1945 and was discharged July 17, 1947 serving in Japan in 1945. He received a World War II Victory Ribbon. He was a member of the National Guard from Feb. 21, 1951, to Feb 21, 1959. Ralph worked for Deere & Co. as a machine repairman, retiring in 1963. He was an Elk member for 25 years. His loves were golf and fishing and he was a private pilot owning his own airplane for many years. Surviving include his wife, Joyce, Alamogordo; daughter, LaRetta Britton, Cocoa, Fla; two grandchildren; a brother Harry Webb, Coal Valley; and sisters, Cleta Lucas, Hayward Wis., and Janet Eklof, East Moline. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Wayne Webb.
Virgie B. Johansen by Peggy Carey <genbug@infostations.com>
Mrs. Virgie B. Johansen, 73, of 604 Hedge, died at 11:10 p.m. Sunday, May 13, 1979 in University Hospital, Iowa City View Image of Obituary
She was born at Manito, Ill., Nov. 8, 1905, the daughter of Wilbur and Edna Essex. She married Joseph L Johansen June 2, 1923, in Burlington, IA. He died Jan 22, 1976.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Senior Citizens, King's Daughters, Railroad Veterans auxiliary, RSVP, Royal Neighbors, and Women of the Moose, of which she was past senior regent.
Surviving: Daughter, Betty Reinking, Eugene, OR.; sister, Geneva Williams, Rocklin, Calif.; and one grand daughter.
Funeral: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Prugh's Chapel, Rev. Laurence L. Garnett; Aspen Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for Grace Church and the Easter Seal Foundation.
May 14, 1979 View Image of Obituary
02/12/06
Joseph L. Johansen View Image of Obituary by Peggy Carey <genbug@infostations.com>
Joseph L. Johansen, 74, of 604 Hedge Ave., died in Burlington Medical Center at 11:15 a.m. Thursday Jan 22.
He had retired after 49 1/2 years of service as a Railway Express Co. driver.
He was born Aug. 11, 1901, in Burlington, the son of Johannes and Christine Olsen Johansen.
He married Berneice Essex June 2, 1923, in Burlington.
He was a member of Railroad Retirement Group, Hawkeye Natives, Burlington Senior Citizens, and Native Senior Citizens.
Surviving: The wife; daughter Betty Reinking, Eugene, Ore.; sister Cora Johansen, Burlington; and one granddaughter.
The body is at Prugh's Chapel, where an Easter Seal memorial has been established.
02/12/06
Andrew M. Watson View Image of Obituary by Peggy Carey <genbug@infostations.com>
Andrew M. Watson of Danville. Danville, IA April 9, who died in Danville, IA., April 6 last, was born in Salem, Washington County, New York, November, 5, 1826.
He came to Danville in 1866, having prior to this time lived in Burlington, and was a well respected citizen.
He was a member of the Twenty-Fifth regiment, Iowa volunteers, in the Civil War and served his country well.
His wife preceded him to a better world more than two years ago and his last months were spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Wilcox, where kindly hands ministered to him in his decline of life.
His funeral was conducted by Rev. W.H. Bickers from the Congregational Church, to Jagger Cemetery, where in peace he awaits the coming of the King. Peace to his ashes.
Burlington, (IA) Daily Hawkeye 10 April 1914.
02/12/06
Surnames: Raker, Wilton, Mehaffy
Classification: Obituary
February 13, 1997 Morning Sun News-Herald. I have no further information and am not related.
Sarah L. Racker See Racker page
Sarah LaVerne Racker, 95, of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, February 8, 1997, at Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls.
Born June 30, 1901 in Des Moines County, she was the daughter of william Wilson and Parthena Jane Coker Mehaffy. On June 16, 1925, she married Dewey E. Racker in Morning Sun. He died May 31, 1983.
Mrs. Racker was a graduate of Mediapolis High School and a 1923 graduate of Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school in Bremer County.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, two brothers, and two sisters.
Visitation was at Dahl-Van-Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls.
The funeral for Mrs. Racker was at Dahl-Van-Hove-Schoof Funeral Home with the Rev. Walter Phelps officiating. Burial was at the Harlington Cemetery in Waverly.
A memorial has been established for Cedar Falls Western Home in Cedar Falls.