Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Sunday, September 28, 1997
Merle Koontz
Merle A. Koontz, 82, formerly of Sioux City, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1997, at a nursing home in Omaha, Neb.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Onawa Veterans of Foreign Wars Chaplain and Post Honor Guard, Onawa, Iowa. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Bellevue Memorial Funeral Home in Bellevue, Neb.
Mr. Koontz was in the barbering profession in Sioux City. He opened his own shop in Dunlap, Iowa. He retired to Bellevue.
Survivors include his wife, Coletta; three stepsons and their wives, William and Cathy Robinson of Omaha, Clyde and Beverly Robinson of Sioux City and Tommy Robinson of Oakland, Calif.; and a sister, Fran Larkin of Onawa.
Clarita Rocky
Clarita M. "Creta" Rocky, of Houston, Texas, died Thursday, July 24, 1997.
Funeral Mass was held Monday, July 28, 1997, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Houston, with the Rev. Xavier Dieter, O.C.S.O. of New Mellary Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa and the Rev. Roger Prefontaine, S.S.S. of Corpus Christi, and deacon Frank Dieter, D.V.M. of Redondo Beach, Calif. Burial was in Memorial Oaks Cemetery. Vigil service was held Sunday, July 27, 1997.
Mrs. Rocky was born in Vail, Iowa.
She married Edward M. Rocky of Sioux City.
She was a registered nurse devoted to caring for patients, relatives and friends. Following retirement, she volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Survivors include a son, Martin J.; a daughter and her husband, Michele M. Rocky and James Knight; son-in-law, Robert Uresti; grandson, Edward Zachary Uresti; three brothers, Cy Dieter and his wife, Ruth and Frank Dieter and his wife, Kathy, and the Rev. Xavier Dieter; four sisters, Cathy and her husband, Jack Goodrich, Geri Laney, Margie and her husband Wayne Maiefski and Theresa and her husband, Bob Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years; a daughter, Janice Uresti and her unborn child; a son, Dennis E. Rocky; and a sister, Elizabeth Fitzsimmons.
Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.
Helen Stewart
Helen Stewart, 86, of Sioux City, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, at Indian Hills Care Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Christy, Smith & Hockenberry Funeral Home in Sioux City, with the Rev. Stephen Mitchem of Faith Missionary Church of South Sioux City officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Ms. Stewart was born Sept. 17, 1911, in Max, N.D. She moved to Sioux City as a youngster with her parents.
She attended Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa, and received her degree in teaching. She taught school for several years and was deeply concerned with religious causes and missionary work.
Survivors include several cousins.
She was preceded in death by a brother, as a young child.
Nancy Bergman
LITTLE ROCK, Iowa - Nancy Bergman, 97, of Little Rock died Friday at George Good Samaritan Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday with the family present at 7 p.m. at the Bolin Funeral Chapel in Little Rock.
Albert Bertrand
SCOTLAND, S.D. - Albert J. Bertrand, 85, of Scotland died Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, at Landmann-Jungman Hospital.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. George Catholic Church in Scotland, with the Rev. John Maliyekal and Armand Bertrand, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Calvary Cemetery in Vermillion, S.D. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. today at the Petrik-Kelley Funeral Home in Scotland and prior to the service at the church.
Mr. Bertrand was born Sept. 5, 1912, at Clay Center, Kan., the son of Julius and Mederise (Tranum) Bertrand. He attended grade school at Pleasant Valley rural school in Clay County and graduated from Wakonda, S.D. High School in 1931.
He served as Clay County clerk of courts and register of deeds for 13 years up to the late 1930's.
He married Luella Christenson on Jan. 12, 1937, in Vermillion. The couple moved to Scotland in 1944, where they owned and operated Gambles and a shoe store for 16 years. They moved back to Vermillion in 1960, where they owned Al's Real Estate. In 1992 they retired and moved to West Winds Apartments in Scotland. He became a resident of Scotland Good Samaritan in August of 1996, due to ill health.
He was a member of St. George Catholic Church, Eagles Lodge in Vermillion and Moose Lodge in Yankton.
Survivors include his wife; a son and his wife, Wayne and Mary Jo of Scotland; three granddaughters, Kim, Michele and Kris; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert; a grandson, Rob; four brothers; and two sisters.
Rosalia Brooks
MARCUS, Iowa - Rosalia Brooks, 87, of Marcus died Friday, Sept. 26, 1997, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, Iowa, after a brief illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, with the Rev. Richard Remmes officiating. Burial will be in Grand Meadow Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. today with a wake service at 8 p.m. at the Earnest and Roethler Funeral Chapel in Marcus.
Mrs. Brooks was born on Aug. 1, 1910, in Long Prairie, Minn., the daughter of Sebastian and Alice (Dinkel) Helmbrecht. She was a Catholic.
She married Harold E. Brooks on Jan. 22, 1943, at Chanute Field Air Force Base in Chanute Field, Ill. The couple moved to Marcus in 1962 from the Grand Meadow area.
She was employed in the hot lunch program at Grand Meadow School and helped her husband in custodial work at the school. He died Aug. 7, 1981.
She enjoyed flowers, crafts and spending winters in Mission, Texas with her husband.
She was a resident of Heartland Care Center since Sept. 14, 1994 and participated in activities there.
Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Bonnie and Fred Wilkens of Marcus and Mary Jane and James Deters of Sauk Centre, Minn.; a son and his wife, Michael and Shirley of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; two sisters, Elizabeth Woods of Austin, Minn. and Mary Ann Polipnick of Sauk Center; two brothers, James Helbrecht of Havre, Mont. and William Hembrecht of Sauk Center; 10 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Ulna and three brothers, Clarence, John and William.
Lulu Frey
MELVIN, Iowa - Lulu Frey, 93 of Melvin died Thursday at Country View Manor in Sibley, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at United Methodist Church in Melvin. Burial will be in Baker Township Cemetery. Visitation will be after 9 a.m. today with the family present from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Sanborn Funeral Home in Sanborn.
Anna Fries
IDA GROVE, Iowa - Anna C. Fries, 89, of Ida Grove died Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, with the Rev. Andrew Currao and the Rev. John Schauer officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Denison. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Christensen-Ciha Funeral Home in Ida Grove.
Mrs. Fries was born Dec. 30, 1907, in Crawford County, Iowa, the daughter of Emil and Sophia (Nulle) Meggers. She attended country school in Crawford Township.
She married Ernest Meeves on Oct. 2, 1929, in Manning, Iowa. He died May 2, 1936.
She married Bill Fries on Jan 12, 1949, in Denison. The couple farmed on the home farm southeast of Ida Grove until retiring in 1973 and moving into Ida Grove. He died Nov. 27, 1991.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aide. She enjoyed card club, crocheting, the company of her family and her grandchildren.
Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Albertsen of Denison; a son and his wife, Robert and Margene Meeves of Ida Grove; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; two brothers-in-law, Herbert Rowedder of Manning and Adolph Fries Jr. of Ida Grove; four sisters-in-law, Ardis Meeves of Denison, Agnes Gustafson of Odebolt, Iowa, Margaret Oxendale of Arthur, Iowa and Lucille Fries of Ida Grove.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Ed Meggers; twin infant brothers; two sisters, Wilhelmine Gruhn and Edna Rowedder; and her son-in-law, Maynard Albertsen.
Margaret Gleeson
O'NEILL, Neb. - Margaret Jean Gleeson, 73, of O'Neill died Friday, Sept. 26, 1997, in a Sioux City hospital.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Church in O'Neill.
Mrs. Gleeson was born on April 22, 1924, in Bonesteel, S.D., the daughter of Patrick and Anna Donahue. She graduated from Bonesteel High School and attended Duchesne College in Omaha, Neb. In 1945, she graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
She married Dr. Edward Gleeson in 1947 at Omaha, Neb. In 1953, the couple moved to O'Neill.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Altar Society and an associate of the Francesean Sisters.
Survivors include four sons, Michael and his wife, Scarlett of Fairfax, Va., Patrick and his wife, Ann of Hopkins, Minn., John of Ventura, Calif. and Thomas of San Ramon, Calif.; four daughters, Ann and her husband, Barry Trump of Mason City, Iowa; Dr. Mary Catherine and her husband, James Dvorak of Woodbridge, Va., Elizabeth Gleeson of Lexington, Ky. and Grace and her husband, Dr. Wieman of Lexington; nine grandchildren; and four sisters, Ava Clare Honke of Sioux City; Mary Ava Rudersdorf of Sioux City, Patricia Devoy of O'Neill and Kay Maxon of Tucson, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers, Dr. Edmund Donahue and Parnell Donahue.
Memorials may be directed to Retired Francesean Sisters in O'Neill of St. Mary's School in O'Neill.
Melvin Gustafson
DENISON, Iowa - Melvin Edward Gustafson, 67, of Kiron, Iowa died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron. Burial will be in Kiron Cemetery. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gustafson was born May 19, 1930, in Sac County, Iowa, the son of Richard and Minnie (Nelson) Gustafson. He was raised in the Kiron area where he attended school and graduated from Kiron High School in 1947. As a teenager he was employed at the Hardware and Electric Store.
He married Emeline Schultz on Sept. 8, 1951, in Kiron. The couple made their home in Kiron. They operated the Sundries store in Kiron until 1957 when he went to work in Schleswig at Hollander Motors until 1968. He also delivered Sioux City Journal bundles around to various towns for 18 years. In 1986 he was employed at Johnson Motors in Denison where he remained until retiring on Oct. 1, 1996.
He was a Lutheran and an active church member and served on the church council.
He served in the National Guard for nine years and served on flood duty at Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1950. He was mayor of Kiron from 1968 to 1973 and again from 1976 to 1983. He was on the fire department for over 20 years and served as fire chief for a time. He was president of the Community Club and Crawford County Conservation Board.
He enjoyed golfing and bowling.
Survivors include his wife; two sons and their wives, Joel and Kim of Denison and Rick and Vicki of Ogden, Iowa; a daughter and her husband, Cindy and Tracy Buck of Carroll, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Vernon and DeArliss Gustafson of Denison; a sister and her husband, MayDelle and John Hoefling of Rockford, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mary Hansen
GAYVILLE, S.D. - Mary E. Hansen, 95, of rural Gayville died Wednesday at Pioneer Nursing Home in Viborg, S.D.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Gayville Lutheran Church in Gayville. Burial will be in Danish Cemetery in rural Gayville. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home.
Chris Knaack
CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa - Chris Knaack, 85, of Correctionville died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, at Correctionville Nursing and Rehab Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church in Correctionville. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Barker Funeral Home in Correctionville.
Mr. Knaack was born Sept. 1, 1912, in Correctionville, the son of Volrath Ford and Minnie (Rock) Knaack. He attended country school in the Rock Branch area.
He married Sylvia Hagemann on Dec. 15, 1937, in Ida Grove, Iowa. The couple moved to a farm near Rock Branch. They later moved north of Correctionville in 1944. In 1967, they moved into Correctionville.
He did self-employed carpentry work and later worked for Coop Lumber in Correctionville. He retired from carpentry work in 1990.
Previous to his marriage he preformed in one act plays. He enjoyed dancing, playing the fiddle, playing cards and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Larry and his wife, Junille, Duane, Dale and his wife, Vicki, all of Correctionville, and Tim and his wife, Diana of Cherokee, Iowa; two daughters, Vernita Manship of Mountain Home, Ark. and Donna Hanslip of Fremont, Neb.; a brother, Alfred and his wife, Rhoda of Kingsley, Iowa; a sister, Alma Mitchell of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by and infant son, Richard; two sisters, Leona Knaack and Gladys Holtkamp; and an infant brother.
Harold "Fritz" Lansink
ODEBOLT, Iowa - Harold "Fritz" Lansink, 64, of Odebolt died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997, at his residence.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Martin Catholic Church in Odebolt, with the Rev. Daniel Lynch officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today and a Scripture service at 7 p.m. with a rosary following, all at the Christensen-Ciha Funeral Home in Odebolt.
Mr. Lansink was born June 10, 1933, in Ida Grove, the son of Henry and Esther (Roeder) Lansink.
He married Alitta Gehling on Sept. 8, 1962, in Carroll, Iowa. He farmed for 35 years, retiring in 1986.
He was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife; two sons and their wives, Roger and Amy of Odebolt, and Duane and Kathy of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; four daughters and their husbands, Renea and Steve Boerhave of Ashton, Iowa, Mary and Marv Klein of Primghar, Iowa, Karen and Mark Lile of Des Moines, Iowa and Karla and Matt Portz of Hospers, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; his mother; three brothers, George of Odebolt, Merle of Ida Grove and Ron of Danbury; and six sisters, Alvera Arbegast of Arthur, Iowa, Bernadine Meisinger of Plattsmouth, Neb., Helen Ludwig of Des Moines, Audrey Hostert of Omaha, Neb., Donna Mae Kennebeck of Carroll, and Catherine Donavon of Omaha.
He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Milford; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Klein.
Marlin Rath
ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa - Marlin A. Rath, 77, of Rock Rapids died unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, at Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids with the Rev. Dennis Nicholson officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday with the family present from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Roste Funeral Home in Rock Rapids.
Mr. Rath was born May 25, 1920, in Rock Rapids, the son of Albert and Minnie (Rolfe) Rath. He was raised and attended school in Rock Rapids where he graduated high school in 1939. After his education he farmed with his parents until entering the United States Army in 1941. He served during World War II in Italy and North Africa and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in combat. He received an honorable discharge in 1945.
He married Helen George on June 21, 1946, in Rock Rapids. The couple farmed near Rock Rapids for many years, raising cattle and hogs along with crops. They retired in 1982. In 1985, they moved into Rock Rapids.
He enjoyed bowling, fishing and traveling with friends and his son for fishing expeditions.
He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He became a conservationist on the family farm, developing an interest in tilling and terracing of the land.
Survivors include his wife; five sons and their wives, LeRoy and Charlotte of Rock Rapids, Norman and Norma of Calumet, Iowa, Leland and Vicki of Larchwood, Iowa, Ron and Diane of Rock Rapids, and Rod and Linda of Sanborn, Iowa; his mother; 13 grandchildren; and three sisters, Dorothy Snyder of Larchwood, Betty Roach of Rock Rapids and Edna Mae Wyland of Hutchinson, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Wilbert; and a sister.
Bradley Smith
CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa - Bradley Ernest Smith, 43, of Correctionville died Friday, Sept. 26, 1997, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Church of Christ in Correctionville with the Rev. Elmer Hodge and Clif J. Cockburn officiating. Burial will be in Correctionville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. and a prayer service at 3 p.m. all at Barker Funeral Home in Correctionville.
Mr. Smith was born Nov. 23, 1973, in Sioux City, the son of Wilbur Earnest and Aletha Louise (Casey) Smith. He graduated from Eastwood High School in Correctionville in 1972.
He married Mary Cope on Nov. 23, 1973, in Holstein, Iowa.
He lived most of his life in the Correctionville and Moville, Iowa areas. He was employed in the maintenance department at IBP inc. for the past 20 years, most currently as superintendent.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ where he greatly enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher and one of the church pianists.
He enjoyed his family, woodworking, fishing, camping, restoring his home and was active in promoting music.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Amy and KayCee of Correctionville; mother-in-law, Alice Cope of Holstein; two brothers-in-law, Roger Cope and his wife, Sara of Hornick, Iowa, and John Cope of Holstein; and three nieces, Erin, Tara and Lexie Cope.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers will be Don Casey, Phil Casey, Curtis Cockburn, Larry Meinen, Phil Sevening and Dennis Smith.
Marie Wohlers
DANBURY, Iowa - Marie C. Wohlers, 94, of Danbury, Iowa, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997, at Willow Dale Nursing Home in Battle Creek, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, with the Rev. Daniel Torkelson officiating. Burial will be in Liston Township Cemetery in Danbury. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton, Iowa.
Mrs. Wohlers was born March 4, 1903, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the daughter of Kastus and Kristina Petersen. She was a Lutheran.
She worked as a telephone operator in Council Bluffs.
She married Harry Henry Wohlers on Jan. 18, 1928, in Council Bluffs. The couple resided and farmed near Missouri Valley, Iowa until March of 1938, when they moved northwest of Danbury. They continued farming until 1961 when they retired and moved into Danbury. He died Dec. 1, 1971.
She was talented in designing and sewing clothing and enjoyed sewing for others.
Survivors include a son, Donald Wohlers of Danbury; a daughter and her husband, Ardis and Bob Ackerson of Fairfield Bay, Ark.; two grandsons, David and Mark Ackerson; and two great-grandchildren, Brian and April.
She was preceded in death by two infant sons, Harry Jr. and Harley; a brother; and a sister.
