Donna Irene Shipp
Donna I. Shipp, 69, of Chariton died Sept. 6, 2003, at Lucas County Health Center in Chariton. Private family services will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Shipp was preceded in death by her father, Don Horton; husband, Darvin Shipp; daughter, Darva Sue Kranz and a brother, Roger Horton.
She is survived by her mother Doratha Horton of Chariton, a daughter, Dana Louise Wages of Omaha, a son-in-law, Gary Kranz of Monroe, Mich.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her four brothers and sisters, Louise Sponsler and her husband, Roy Sponsler, Annie Shanks and her husband Ed Shanks, all of Chariton; Charlie Horton and his wife, Linda Horton, of Humeston and Sue Jones and her husband, Gene Jones of Des Moines.
Pierschbacher Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Phyllis Redman
Phyllis Louise Redman, daughter of Murl Weeks and Wilma Lucille Conard Weeks, was born April 15, 1939, in New Virginia and died of respiratory failure Sept. 16, 2002, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. She was 63.
She received her education in the New Virginia schools and married Keith O. Davis on July 1, 1956. They became the parents of two children, Denise and Danny.
She later married Norman Redman on June 8, 1985, at Osceola. Mr. and Mrs. Redman spent most of their married life in Clarke County, except 1984 to 1989 when they lived in Afton before they moved to Osceola. The couple had operated Redman’s Restaurant in Osceola since 1988. She was a tireless worker at the restaurant, striving to see that everyone was taken care of and stopping to say “Hello,” even though some days the aches and pains were there. She was a devoted wife and mother and her memory will live in the hearts of those who loved her.
She was a member of the Ladies Legion Auxiliary and United Methodist Church in Osceola.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mrs. Redman is survived by her husband, Norman Redman of Osceola; daughter, Denise Williams and her husband, Mark Williams, of Osceola; a son, Danny Davis, of Detroit, Mich;. three sisters, Marilyn Reed of New Virginia, Carolyn Todd of Des Moines and Marge Allard and her husband, Paul Allard, of Newton; five stepchildren, Randal Redman and his wife, Pam Redman, of Adel, Rhonda Brammer and her husband, Kenny Brammer, Rodney Redman and his wife, Beth Redman, Ramona Redman and friend, Donny Thompson, and Robin Redman and fiance, Aaron Smith, of Osceola; 17 stepgrandchildren; three great-stepgrandchildren; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Redman are at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 19) at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. The Rev. John Long of Indianola will officate. Recorded musical selections are by her children, Threads of Love is by Denise Williams on piano and Beyond the Horizon Line, written and performed by Danny Davis.
Casket bearers will be Lanny Robins, Leonard Strange, Merrill Thornton, Wayne Weeks, Al Hildreth and Jim Reed. Honorary casket bearers are Jack Caldwell, Vern Davis, James Ramsey, Dean Brandt, Dick Weaklend, Darrel Lingle, Randy Brown, K. C. Vansen, Kenny Emerson, Wayne Cully, Mark Crawford and Bob Courtney. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.
Open visitation is after 9 a.m. Wednesday at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. The family will be present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a memorial to be decided at a later date.
Kale Funeral Home of Osceola was in charge of arrangements.
Joe Macy
Maurice A. “Joe” Macy, son of Fay and Alice Macy and long-time resident of Clarke County and Osceola, died Tuesday, Sept., 10, 2002, in Canton, Texas.
Mr. Macy was born in Leon in 1921, graduated from Osceola High School, married Lorraine Pfander, and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
He worked for Dan Doran Plumbing until 1958 when he joined Fulton Mechanical Contractors in Leon and did plumbing for building construction until he retired.
In 1996 Mr. Macy sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He had a moderate heart attack several months after the spinal cord injury and moved to a nursing home in Canton, Texas to be near his older son, Dan.
Mr. Macy suffered a major stroke in the summer of 2001, which left him almost completely disabled, and then underwent double leg amputation in May 2002 to combat bone infection from gangrene. The immediate cause of death was a two-day bout of pneumonia.
Mr. Macy is survived by wife, Pat, and family of Las Vegas, Nev.; his two sons, Robert Macy and his wife, Adaline Macy, of San Jose, Calif., and Dan Macy and his wife, Sara Macy, of Canton; and grandchildren Kirsten, Eric, Gerard and Christopher of Wills Point, Texas; his brother, Mike Macy, and former wife Lorraine Macy Hardy of Edgewood, Texas.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola. Call Joann Wilson for transportation assistance. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Woodburn.
Janice Rae Turk Matthews
Janice Rae Turk Matthews, the daughter of Clarence and Lucille Turk, was born Feb. 5, 1937, in Osceola and was raised in Iowa and northern Missouri and died Sept. 14, 2002, at her home in Princeton, Mo.
She married John Eugene Mathews on Nov. 10, 1957. The couple lived in the Mount Moriah, Mo. and Newtown, Mo. communities before moving to Princeton where she and her husband raised their six children.
Mrs. Mathews served on 4-H committees and was a community leader for the Ravanna Workers 4-H Club. She was a secretary at the Post Telegraph and the University of Missouri Extension Office. She also worked at PSF and collected taxes for two terms. She was a board member and secretary of SonRise Children’s Home.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Gene Turk.
Mrs. Mathews is survived by her husband of Princeton; six children, Debbie Clark and Darla Mathews, both of Princeton, David Mathews and his wife, Betty Mathews, and Danny Mathews and his wife, Tina Mathews, all of Trenton, Mo., Diana Hernandez and her husband, Antonio Hernandez, of Milan, Mo. and Doug Mathews and his wife, Crystal Mathews, of Ravanna; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Roger Turk and his wife, Dale Turk, of Creston.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Sept. 17, 2002, at Ravanna Baptist Church where she attended. The Rev. Marc Knapp and Brother J.C. Davis officiated. Burial was in the Ravanna Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to SonRise Children’s Home, in care of Georgetta Young, 206 Ballew, Princeton, Mo. 64673.
Slater Funeral Home of Trenton was in charge of arrangements.
Marion Guy Reed
Memorial services to celebrate the life of Marion Guy Reed were Sept. 15 in California and will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Osceola Assembly of God. Mr. Reed died of cancer Sept. 8, 2002, at his home in Fallbrook, Calif. A private cremation is planned.
Mr. Reed was born June 26, 1931, in Osceola. He lived in Hacienda Heights and Fallbrook, Calif. for 40 years.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He received a doctorate in soil chemistry from Iowa State University. He retired from Chevron Oil Field Research Company as a senior research chemist in 1992.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mamie Reed and brother-in-law, Larry Hart .
Mr. Reed is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betty Reed of Fallbrook; two daughters, Karen Reed and Janet Cusimano, both of Fallbrook; father Guy Reed of Osceola; two brothers, Darald Reed and his wife, Bettie Reed, of Winchester, Va. and Ronald Reed of Osceola; two sisters, Marilyn Dorland and Shirley Hart, both of Osceola.
The family suggests memorial contributions in his name to the San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Ave., San Diego, CA 92103-1407
Darlene H. Bartholomew
Darlene H. Bartholomew, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Grimes and Vanatta Ruth Gordon Grimes was born June 18, 1923, in Winterset and died Sept. 20, 2002, at Discovery Care Center in Hamilton, Mont. She was 79.
She attended Truro High School and following graduation she married Clark Robert Bartholomew on Oct. 2, 1944, in New York City.
Mrs. Bartholomew lived in Puyallup, Wash. for 28 years before moving to Montana four years ago. She lived at Discovery Care Center for nearly a year.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stevensville, Mont. She enjoyed sewing, ceramics, playing cards, traveling and spending time with her friends.
Her parents; husband, Clark; a son Charles “Rick” Bartholomew and a sister, Juanita Gentry preceded her in death.
Mrs. Bartholomew is survived by her two daughters, Chyrl R. Wagar and her husband, Brian Wagar, of Stevensville, Micky K. Osburn and her husband, Steve “Max” Osburn, of Neodesha, Kan.; two granddaughters, Kelly A. Osburn of Independence, Kan. and Elizabeth R. Osburn of Spokane, Wash; two grandsons, Christopher Wagar serving in the U.S. Air Force and Shane Wagar of Stevensville; nephews and other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral sevices were held Sept. 24 at Kale Funeral Home in Truro, Father Joe Keibel of the Dalles, Ore. officiated. Organist was Doris Johnson and musical selections were How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Terry Gentry, Randy Gentry, Brad Gentry, Dwight Johnson, Christopher Wagar and Jerry Clarke. Honorary bearer was Fred “Butch” McCuistion. Interment was in Ebenezer Cemetery at Truro.
Ward Duckworth
Ward Duckworth, the son of George and Laura Abrahamson Duckworth, was born March 19, 1916, in Chariton and died of cancer on Sept. 16, 2002, at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton. He was 86.
Mr. Duckworth was raised in Lucas County and lived there except for 10 years when he lived in the Omaha area. He moved back to Lucas County in 1942 and purchased a farm. Mr. Duckworth was a carpenter and farmer for 45 years. He enjoyed camping, crafts and was active in his church.
Mr. Duckworth is survived by his wife, Wyoma Etter Duckworth of Chariton; a son, Alan Duckworth and a daughter, Sharel Jurgens, both of Chariton; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Sept. 19 at the First Baptist Church and burial was in Bethel Cemetery, both in Chariton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Fielding Funeral Home of Chariton was in charge of arrangements.
Joe Macy
Maurice A. “Joe” Macy, son of Fay and Alice Macy and long-time resident of Clarke County and Osceola, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, in Canton, Texas.
Mr. Macy was born in Leon in 1921, graduated from Osceola High School, married Lorraine Pfander, and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
He worked for Dan Doran Plumbing until 1958 when he joined Fulton Mechanical Contractors in Leon and did plumbing for building construction until he retired.
In 1996 Mr. Macy sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He had a moderate heart attack several months after the spinal cord injury and moved to a nursing home in Canton, Texas to be near his older son, Dan.
Mr. Macy suffered a major stroke in the summer of 2001, which left him almost completely disabled, and then underwent double leg amputation in May 2002 to combat bone infection from gangrene. The immediate cause of death was a two-day bout of pneumonia.
Mr. Macy is survived by his two sons, Robert Macy and his wife, Adaline Macy, of San Jose, Calif., and Dan Macy and his wife, Sara Macy, of Canton; and grandchildren Kirsten, Eric, Gerard and Christopher of Wills Point, Texas; his brother, Mike Macy, and former wife Lorraine Macy Hardy of Edgewood, Texas.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola. Call Joann Wilson for transportation assistance. Following the Mass the family will join with friends in fellowship before everyone leaves for the cemetery. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Woodburn.
Marion Guy Reed
Memorial services to celebrate the life of Marion Guy Reed were Sept. 15 in California and will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Osceola Assembly of God. Mr. Reed died of cancer Sept. 8, 2002, at his home in Fallbrook, Calif. A private cremation is planned.
Mr. Reed was born June 26, 1931, in Osceola. He lived in Hacienda Heights and Fallbrook, Calif. for 40 years.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He received a doctorate in soil chemistry from Iowa State University. He retired from Chevron Oil Field Research Company as a senior research chemist in 1992.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mamie Reed and brother-in-law, Larry Hart .
Mr. Reed is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betty Reed of Fallbrook; two daughters, Karen Reed and Janet Cusimano, both of Fallbrook; father Guy Reed of Osceola; two brothers, Darald Reed and his wife, Bettie Reed, of Winchester, Va. and Ronald Reed and his wife, Linda Reed, of Osceola; two sisters, Marilyn Dorland and her husband, Merrill Dorland, and Shirley Hart, both of Osceola.
The family suggests memorial contributions in his name to the San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Ave., San Diego, CA 92103-1407.
John Franklin Smith
John Franklin Smith, son of Frank P. Smith and Mary Etta Green Smith, was born July 29, 1929, in Decatur County and died of respiratory failure Sept. 22, 2002, at the Clarke County Hospital. He was 73.
He was educated in the country schools of Decatur County and attended high school in Lamoni. He lived in Decatur City before moving to Osceola.
He married Monica Leahy on Nov. 14, 1953, and they became the parents of four children. He married Rosie Irene Gibbens on Sept. 4, 1987.
Mr. Smith was a self-employed carpenter and worked for ABILD Construction in Des Moines for many years.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War . He had been a former member of the Decatur City Masons.
Mr. Smith traveled a great deal in his line of work. He had been to every state except three and had traveled to Russia. He loved gardening, reading history, doing repair on almost anything; woodworking and helping people.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Fred; sister, Maxine Hampton Alley and brother, Harold in infancy.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Rosie Smith of Osceola; three daughters, Lynn Kilgore and her husband, Mark Kilgore, of Dubuque, Karin McBroom and her husband, Jerry McBroom, of Weldon and Diana Smith and her husband Mike Smith of Valrico, Fla.; a son Kevin Smith and his wife, Lonna Smith of Grand River; a stepson, John McVey and his wife, Linda McVey, of Atlantic; a stepdaughter, Linda Hinds and her husband, Ivan Hinds, of Independence, Mo.
Other survivors include 15 grandchildren, Royce Kilgore of Council Bluffs, Scott Kilgore of Cedar Falls, Erin McBroom of Clive, Skye McBroom of Weldon, Taylor and Matthew Smith of Valrico, Fla., Andrea Smith of Stevens Point, Wis., Cody and Tiffany Smith of Osceola, Dylan Smith of Grand River, Christopher McVey of Atlantic, Lynn and Nicole Cobb of Atlantic, Steven Halvorson and Josh Milsick of Independence, Mo.; two brothers, Rollie Smith of Fremont, Neb. and Wayne Smith and his wife, Bobbie Smith, of Van Wert; a sister, Betty Short of Osceola; a sister-in-law, Mae Smith of Leon; other relatives and a host of friends.
A memorial gathering for Mr. Smith was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. Honorary casket bearers were the grandchildren.
Interment of the cremains will be at a later date at Elk Chapel Cemetery in Decatur County.
FRANK L. ABBOTT
Frank L. Abbott, Fox Island, Wash. died Sept 27,1998, at a Tacoma, Wash. hospital. He was 101.
Mr. Abbott was hospitalized the afternoon before his death following a fall resulting in a broken hip. Cremation was conducted and his ashes are placed beside those of his wife in a vault at Gig Harbor, Wash. There were no funeral services.
Mr. Abbott was born Sept. 3, 1897, south of Thayer in Union County. His mother died when he was two-years old and he was raised by his grandparents on a farm south of Thayer and in Afton. He became intested in journalism while visiting with his uncle Frank M. Abbott who owned the Sentinel at the time.
At the start of World War I he enlisted in the Rainbow division and served in France as an infantryman. He was present at all of the major battles involving U.S. forces in France. He was gassed in action Oct. 16, 1918. While in France Mr. Abbott reported on front line conditions in letters to his uncle. These letters were published in the Osceola newspaper.
Mr. Abbott graduated from the University of Missouri with a major in journalism and immediately came to Osceola, working for and buying an interest in the Sentinel. In 1927 he and his uncle sold the newspaper to J.M. Grimes and Mr. Abbott moved to Tacoma where he worked for the Tacoma Times.
Mr. Abbott returned to Osceola, working with Mr. Grimes. He and Mr. Grimes were partners in the ownership and publication of the Osceola papers until their sale to Stan Samuelson in 1967. The partners built the present home of the Sentinel with bricks salvaged from Main Street when it was paved. Mr. Abbott fully retired in 1967, altough Mr. Grimes remained active at the newspapers for several more years.
Mr. Abbott was a charter member of the Osceola Rotary club and was a life member of the organization. He was active in the American Legion from the time of its founding and was a life member of the Legion. He was active in the founding of the Clarke County Telephone Company in Osceola and was president of the company at the time of its sale to GTE.
As editor of the Sentinel Mr. Abbott championed soil conservation and a prosperous growing Clarke County; the construction of the West City Reservoir and water filtration plant, the building of the Clarke County Hospital and the “new” courthouse. An avid quail hunter he worked with a number of conservation efforts to improve habitat and bird populations. He and his wife were active in Repulican politics and were members of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Abbott married Lucile Scherer in Afton in 1921. Mrs. Abbott worked at the paper for many years and wrote a weekly column in the Sentinel. She died in Washington in 1976.
He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter Pat Kingrey and son-in-law B.W. Kingrey of Douglas, Wyo. and a son-in-law Rodney Ash of Gunnison, Colo.
Mr. Abbott is survived by a daughter, Anne Ash of Gunnison; a son, Alan Abbott and his wife, Carol Davenport Abbott of Loveland, Colo.; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.
FREDA WAUNITA BENBOW
Freda Waunita Benbow was born on a farm in Clarke County on July 9, 1916 to Chester and Grace Nicholson Benbow and died Sept. 27, 1998, at Osceola Nursing and Rehab Center. She was 82.
She received her education in the rural schools in Clarke County and worked in the restaurant at the Garner Hotel. The family moved to Osceola and she joined the First Christian Church in October 1977. She enjoyed her neighbors and church family. She was an active member of the Senior Social Center in Osceola.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Miss Benbow is survived by four first cousins, Vera McKay, Joe and Mary Oller of Knoxville, Helen McGee of Las Vegas, Nev. and James Schaffer of Wisconsin who was raised by the Benbows. Local relatives are Andy and Dorothy Jeffreys and Clara Benbow and other relatives and friends.
A graveside service for Miss Benbow is today (Oct. 1) at 1 p.m., in Fremont Cemetery in Clarke County, the Rev. Fred Rohlfs of First Christian Church officiating.
Arrangements were by Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
ETHEL PEARL BOYD
Ethel Pearl Boyd, daughter of Elijah J. and Bertha E. Little Evans, was born in Eden Township, Leon on March 31, 1901, and died Sept. 24, 1998, at the Lamoni Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lamoni where she had lived since April. She was 97.
Mrs. Boyd had lived in her own home until she was 91when she moved to the Leon Care Center before moving to Lamoni.
She married James Alfred Boyd on May 17, 1950.
She was a member of the Leon Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Boyd liked to collect and show buttons and was a member of the Button Club until her eyesight failed so she could no longer participate in club activities. She also enjoyed working in her yard and collecting antiques.
She was a loving person, who was always ready to lend a helping hand. She helped her sister, May, raise their brothers and sisters, James, Lois, Carl and Clarence after their parents died.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; five sisters, Minnie, Hattie, Vesta, Florence and May; two brothers, Roy and Raymond and nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Boyd is survived by three stepdaughters, Nettie Powers of Omaha, Neb., Helen Dingman of Lakview and Marie West and her husband, Raymond West, of Portland, Ore.; three stepsons James Boyd and his wife, Beatrice Boyd, of Sanger, Texas, Warren Boyd and his wife, Nadine Boyd, of Leon and William Boyd and his wife, Betty Boyd, of Earlham; stepgrandchildren; great-stepgrandchildren; great-great-stepgrandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Boyd were Sept. 28, 1998, at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, the Rev. Jack DePond officiating. Organist and soloist Vicki Saxton played and sang Going Down the Valley and How Great Thou Art.
Casket bearers were Danny Boyd, Terry Boyd, Warren Lee Boyd, Bill Evans, Carl Evans and Clarence Evans. Interment was in the Leon Cemetery.
EUGENE DEVORE
Van Wert native, Eugene DeVore, 77 of Bussey, died Sept. 19, 1998, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines. Services were Sept. 23 at Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. Burial was in Coal Creek Cemetery southwest of Oskaloosa.
Mr. DeVore, the son of Alta and Harry DeVore, was born March 19, 1921, in Van Wert.
He was a plant foreman for Hallett Construction in Boone until 1981 when he moved to Oskaloosa and operated Dun Rovin Antiques N’ Things until 1989. He moved to Bussey three years ago.
He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Delores; a daughter, Reta Stone of Granger and two grandchildren, Chad Stone and Doug Stone.
ELDON ‘BUD’ G. MC KNIGHT
Eldon “Bud” McKnight, the son of Ivan Clarence McKnight and Edna Nora Garner, was born Feb. 21, 1919, in Liberty and died Sept. 27, 1998, at his home. He was 79.
Mr. McKnight attended school in Osceola and graduated with the class of 1938. He joined the U.S. Army in 1941 and then farmed in Clarke County until he married Mary Lingle on July 9, 1944, at her parents’ home in Osceola.
He worked at Johnson’s Produce and Rhinehart Furniture Store in Osceola before working for Iowa Packing Company in Des Moines where he was a meat cutter for 17 years.
He and his father were the first school bus drivers for the Osceola School system. After working at the packing company he worked for the Clarke School District as a bus driver for 29 years before retiring in 1991.
Mr. McKnight enjoyed restoring and selling Ford tractors. He also enjoyed doing custom cabinetry and built his own home.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marie Wing.
Mr. McKnight is survived by his wife, Mary of Osceola; two sons, Stan McKnight and his wife, Sherry McKnight, of Wallace, Neb. and Gary McKnight and his wife, Lisa McKnight, of Osceola; seven grandchildren, Shelly and Joel Cross, Curtis and Sonya Deines, Gary McKnight Jr., and Chris and Robert McKnight; two stepgrandchildren, Justin and Josh Parson; six great-grandchildren; Megan, Brett and Brady Cross, Colin and KayLeah Deines and Tiffany McKnight; and two sisters, Arlene Steele of Corydon and Fairy Johnson of Des Moines..
Services were Sept. 30 at Samuelson Funeral Home in Osceola with Pastor Dale Bean and Pastor Chuck DeVos officiating. Organist Donna Sloan accompanied Chuck and Helen DeVos as they sang How Great Thou Art and Precious Memories How They Linger.
Casket bearers were Shelly Cross, Gary McKnight, Gary McKnight Jr., Chris McKnight, Bobby McKnight and Josh Parson. Honorary bearers were Stan McKnight, Sonya Deines, Trenneth Johnson, Don Stuva, John Asmus and Pete Sheesley. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola.
DALE CLIFFORD MCKNIGHT
Dale Clifford McKnight, son of John Henry and Eithel Pauline Depperman McKnight was born Aug. 9, 1924, in Clarke County and died Sept. 27, 1998, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. He was 74.
Mr. McKnight attended the Liberty schools.
He married Helen LaVaun Christensen on March 8, 1947, in Leon and the couple became the parents of five children.
Mr. McKnight was always a self-employed farmer, heavy equipment operator and owner operator of a convenience store on Interstate 35. He was the first president of the Osceola Eagles and a member of Davis Pence American Legion Post No. 69 in Osceola. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Dwight McKnight and twin daughters, Karen Kae and Sharon Rae.
Mr. McKnight is survived by his wife Helen of Osceola; two daughters, Carolyn McCain and her husband, John McCain, of Des Moines and Linda Rasmussen and her husband, Jerry Rasmussen, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a son, Gene McKnight and his wife, Kathy McKnight, of Osceola; four grandchildren, Michelle Gillaspy, Ryan McKnight, Tanya Turner and Dale Rasmussen; three great-grandchildren, Steven Gillaspy, Samantha Gillaspy and Austin Turner; three brothers, Glen McKnight and his wife, Hilda McKnight and Raymond McKnight and his wife, Faye McKnight, of Osceola and Earl McKnight and his wife, Odean McKnight, of New Virginia; three sisters, Phyllis Stump and her husband Neil Stump, of New Virginia, Helen Day and her husband, Buford Day of Bondurant and Betty Downard and her husband Roger Downard, of Osceola; a sister-in-law, Zola McKnight of Osceola; along with other relatives and friends.
Services for Mr. McKnight were Sept. 30 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Fred Rohlfs officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied Emil Rinderspacher as he sang The Old Rugged Cross and In the Garden.
Casket bearers were Steven McKnight, Mike Stump, Jerry McKnight, Terry Day, Bruce Christensen and Brian Christensen. Honorary bearers were Richard McKnight, Charles McKnight, Vernon McKnight, Steve Christensen, Craig Stump Bryon Stump, Doug Downard, Robert Christensen and Gary McKnight. Interment was in Liberty Cemetery.
JOSEPH 'JOE' MCPHERSON
Services were Sept. 25 at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, Calf. for Joseph “Joe” McPherson, who died at home in Los Altos Hills, Calif. on Sept. 21. He was 82.
The adopted son of Edward and Emma McPherson, Mr. McPherson grew up in Osceola and graduated from Osceola High School. He lived with Josie and Doctor William Dean when he was a senior in high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and did his graduate study at the University of Chicago. At one time he taught at the Mud Sock School, a rural school in Clarke County.
His wife Dorothy and he were the parents of two children, Donald and “Mary” Catherine.
Mr. McPherson was the director of Innovations and Programs at Stanford Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif. for twenty years.
Local survivors are his cousin, Maxine Kimball and second-cousin, Dr. Jim Kimball.
ALETHA KAY PAGE
Aletha Kay Page, daughter of Earl Stephen and Oma Arnold Page, was born Sept. 19, 1947, in Osceola and died Sept. 23, 1998, at Osceola Nursing and Rehab Center in Osceola. She was 51.
Aletha Page graduated from Osceola High School and attended Des Moines Area Community College where she completed a two-year-course in culinary arts.
A lifelong resident of Osceola, she was a member of the seamstress union. She liked anything to with cooking and loved doing crafts.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Jerry Leeps.
Aletha Page is survived by a daughter, Crystal Mace and her husband, Greg Mace, of Silver City; a granddaughter, Brittany Mace of Silver City; three stepgrandchildren, Carla Mace and Joseph Mace of Sioux City and Donald Mace in the Air Force stationed in Texas; a sister, Shirley Flowers of Garden Grove; three brothers, Herb Arnold and his wife, MaryAnne Arnold of Des Moines; Cecil Leeps of Des Moines and Larry Page of Milo; along with other relatives and a host of friends.
Services for Aletha Page were graveside Sept. 25 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola, the Rev. Hearold McElwee of Indianola officiating. Casket bearers were Ronald Carney, Greg Mace, Doug Garner, Joe Flowers, David Garner and Steve Garner.
Arrangements were by Kale Funeral Home in Osceola.
EARL N. STUBBS
Earl Newnam Stubbs, son of Alfred D. Stubbs and Ida Mae McCarl Stubbs, was born Dec. 20, 1911, in Clarke County and died Sept. 24, 1998, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Des Moines. He was 86.
Mr. Stubbs was educated in the rural schools of Clarke County and married Eva Berniece Carson on Dec. 1, 1934, at the Methodist Church parsonage in Osceola. The couple became the parents of three children, Shirley, Merrill and Joyce.
Mr. Stubbs was a heavy equipment operator for the Iowa State Highway Commission for 40 years. He lived most of his life in Clarke County before moving to Carlisle 10 years ago.
Mr. Stubs was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. While in Clarke County Mr. Stubbs was active in the VFW in Osceola and was a past post commander of the organization.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl “Ike” Stubbs and Clyde D. “Rusty” Stubbs and two sisters-in-law, Wilma Stubbs and Revena Stubbs.
Mr. Stubbs is survived by his wife, Berniece of Carlisle; two daughters, Shirley Geisler and her husband, Ken Geisler of Des Moines and Joyce Dodge and her husband, Tom Dodge, of Carlisle; a son, Merrill Stubbs and his wife, Pauline Stubbs, of Des Moines; a brother, Homer Stubbs of Osceola; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Louise Busick of Osceola; Lela Mae Butler and her husband, Art Butler and Rita Stubbs of Des Moines; a brother-in-law, Charles Carson and his wife, Margaret Carson, of New Virginia; other relatives and a host of friends.
Services for Mr. Stubbs were Sept. 29 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Fred Rohlfs officiating. The organist was Pennie Gonseth and soloist was Emil Rinderspacher. Music selections were Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Will the Circle Be Unbroken and The Old Rugged Cross.
Casket bearers were Justin Geisler, Jason Cattell, Chad Dodge, Matthew Geisler, Phillip Stubbs and Jesse Geisler. Honorary casket bearers were Donnie Geisler, David Geisler, Michael Geisler and Randall Stubbs. Interment was in the New Virginia Cemetery.
Mary H. Kirby
Mary Harriet Kirby, daughter of George Alva and Lizzie Kirk Simmerman, was born June 1, 1911, in Murray and died Sept. 23, 2003, at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry. She was 92.
She graduated from Murray High School in 1928 and attended Drake University. She married Howard Vernon Kirby on Jan. 17, 1931, in Indianola and they became the parents of three daughters, Joyce, Janis and Susan.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirby lived in the Murray area and she was a teacher in the Truro and Interstate 35 Schools until she retired in 1973. Following her husband’s death in 1974, Mrs. Kirby sold the farm and moved to Truro and helped Denis and Sandra Kale at Kale Funeral Home before moving to Osceola in 1976. She moved to the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home six years ago.
Mrs. Kirby was a member of the First Christian Church in Osceola.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; four brothers, Aubrey, Robert, George and David Simmerman; four sisters, Nellie Housh, Helen Spellerberg, Gladys Drew and Bessie Burnett.
Mrs. Kirby is survived by her three daughters, Joyce Roberts and her husband, Warren Joe Roberts of Rippey, Janis Dorman and her husband, Jim Dorman, of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Susan Cronin and her husband, Mike Cronin, of Riverside; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Arlene Simmerman and Genevieve Simmerman, both of Murray; other relatives and friends.
Services for Mrs. Kirby were Sept. 27 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Pastor Charles Compton of Perry officiating. Organist Belva White accompanied Emil Rinderspacher as he sang His Eye Is On the Sparrow and Amazing Grace and the congregation as they sang How Great Thou Art.
Casket bearers were her grandsons, Brent Dorman, Craig Dorman, Kevin Dorman, Scott Roberts, Rod Magerkurth, and Patrick Cronin. Honorary bearers were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Katie Cronin, Kerry Cronin, Kelly Dorman, Danielle Dorman, Jamie Dorman, Debra Magerkurth, Joricia Schneider, Lara Schneider, Dennis Dorman, Joseph Dorman, Matt Roberts, Grant Magerkurth, Ben Magerkurth and Dan Magerkurth.
Interment was in Union Cemetery in rural Clarke County.
Walter Miller
Walter James Miller, oldest child of Phillip Andrew and Nellie Mae Boles Miller, was born May 2, 1923, in Decatur County and died Sept. 25, 2003, in Mount Ayr.
He attended the Woodard and Brick country schools in rural Decatur County through eighth grade. After completing his schooling he started farming north of Grand River with his uncles, Everett Lowell and Orel Dale Boles. During this time he met Marjorie Eileen Jackson of Kellerton, a teacher at the Foland School. They were married June 10, 1945, at the Methodist Church in Osceola and became the parents of four children.
Mr. Miller continued farming in northern Decatur County when the family moved onto the Walter and Susie Boles family farm in 1954. While working the family farm and farming with with Orel Boles he also worked for Center Milk of Creston, the Rural Electric Cooperative and Miller Manufacturing, both in Osceola, as a bus driver for the Grand Valley School District and the Grand River Mutual Telephone Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller sold the farm in 1971 and moved to Kellerton where he lived until his death. He worked as janitor for Grand Valley High School and began his own carpentry business that he continued until he was limited by poor health.
Mr. Miller enjoyed the outdoors. His favorite times were pheasant and coon hunting and fishing trips to Canada with friends. He also loved his four-legged companions, especially a border collie, Tippy and a Brittany spaniel, Lady. Later in his life, he enjoyed doing woodworking projects for friends and family and working in his flower and vegetable gardens.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
Mr. Miller is survived by his four children, Katheryn Scoville and her husband, Dennis Scoville, of Ozark, Mo., Carol Andreas and her husband, Earl Andreas, of West Des Moines and James Miller of Westwood, Kan. and Rex Miller of Kellerton; two grandchildren, Paul Scoville of Columbia, Mo.and Sheri Denise Scoville of Grandview, Mo.; two great -grandchildren.
Other survivors include two sisters, Loretta Fae Duff and her husband, Hubert Duff, of Van Wert and Annetta Mae Wayman and her husband, Larry Wayman, of Indianola; three stepgrandchildren, Andrea Caliger and Scott Andreas both of Ankeny and Brian Andreas of Clive; great-stepgrandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
No services will be held. Interment will be in the Munyon Cemetery near Grand River.
Memorial contributions can be sent in his name to the American Heart Association.
Wilson-Watson and Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of arrangements.
