Page County, Iowa Obituaries
from: Jerry Hamm - h4547@aol.com
 
 

Virginia Ruth Coder

 

Virginia Ruth Coder, daughter of Frank D and Lola B Coder, was born at Burlington Junction, Missouri,, March 22, 1923 and departed this life March 3, 1924, age 11 months and 9 days.

 

Besides father and mother she leaves to mourn her departure, one sister, Mabel, three brothers, Ray, Boyd and Robert, her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C W Coder, Mr. and Mrs. L A Majors of Shambaugh and a host of relatives and friends.

 

Although of short duration little Virginia’s life was one not soon to be forgotten by those who knew her.  Her pleasant smile and sunny disposition reminded one of just a little bit of heaven.  A gentl hand, unforeseen by us has plucked our tender bud.  By this alone our grief is blest.  It was the hand of God.

 

The funeral was held at Burlington Junction Wednesday.

 

Retired Builder Dies at Nampa

 

Nampa – Ellsworth H Brown, 81, 816 Fourteenth avenue South, retired building contractor died at his home in Nampa Sunday afternoon, November 2, 1947.

 

Mr. Brown was born December 14, 1865 at Warsaw, Indiana, and married Edna Brown in Warsaw, Nebraska in 1890.  His family came from Cambridge, Nebraska in 1890 to Nampa where he worked as a building contractor, retiring in 1945.

 

Besides his widow, the former Edna Beery, he is survived by a son, C. M. Brown, Nampa, three brothers, Charles and Curtis Brown both of Indiana, and Irvin Brown of California; four grandsons, all of Boise and one granddaughter, Nampa.

 

Services will be conducted at 2:30 pm Friday at the Robinson-Alsip chapel by Rev Lester Jones of the Christian Church.  Burial will be at Kohlerlawn.

 

Roy R. Moore worked for County

 

Roy R. Moore, 82 of New Market died Friday, May 17, 1972, at the Municipal where he had been since Monday.

 

Mrs. Morrow was born April 27, 1892 at New Market, the son of Robert and Christina Bodenhamer Moore.  On July 6, 1914, he was married to Gold Burnham who survives.  Mr. Moore had farmed in earlier years and worked for Taylor County 33 years before his retirement.

 

Beside his wife of the home, he is survived by five children, Raymond Moore of Clarinda, Mrs. Walter (Verla) Coston, Mrs. Jack (Evon) Wyckoff, Mrs. Jim (Ardith) Clark and R. Dean Moore, all of New Market.  There are 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.  Mrs. Myrtle Hipsley is a sister.

 

Services for Mr. Moore were held this Monday at Walker Funeral Home with Carl Cummings and Loren Daly officiating.  Shirley Larson was soloist and Lois Moore Organist.  Casket bearers were grandsons, Harold Coston, Willis R. Schollian Jr., Keane Thummel, Chris Moore, David Moore, and Kenneth Clark.  Burial was in Memory Cemetery at New Market.

 

Goldie Marie Moore

 

Goldie Marie Moore was born July 6, 1896 south of New Market, in Mason Township and passed away April 21, 1975 at the Clarinda Municipal Hospital at the age of 78 years, 9 months, and 16 days.

 

She was the fourth daughter of William and Malinda Hutchinson Burnham.  At an early age, August 1910, she was baptized at the Church of Christ in New Market and faithfully lived up to her faith by being a good wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  She attended schools in Mason Township.

 

Goldie was married on July 6, 1914 to Roy R. Moore.  They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1964.  She was looking forward to celebrating their 60th in 1974, but Roy passed away two months earlier.

 

To this union were born eight children.  Two passed away in infancy and one daughter, Wanda Bernice passed away March 13, 1925.  She has five living children, Raymond Moore, Clarinda, Verla (Mrs. Walter) Coston, Evon (Mrs. Jack Wyckoff, Ardith (Mrs. Jim) Clark, and Dean Moore all of New Market.  She has 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. 

 

She was such a devoted wife and mother.  She lived for her family.  nothing pleased her more than to have one of her grandchildren to happen in for an ice cream bar candy or cookies at Grandmas.

 

She was so thankful that she was able to take care of her companion of nearly 60 years up until his death 11 months ago, May 17, 1974.  She loved working in her vegetable garden and was making big plans for another one this spring.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, her husband, three children two grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

 

She leaves to mourn her passing her five children, Raymond, Verla, Evon, Ardith, and Dean, two daughters-in-law, Wanda Moore and Vera, Moore, three sons-in-law, Walter Coston, Jack Wyckoff, and Jim Clark, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and host of friends.  She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

 

Thelma McCowen

 

Sept. 27, 1922 - Aug. 24, 2001

 

A Paradise resident since 1960, Thelma Marie McCowen died Friday. She was 78.

 

Born in Clarinda, Iowa to Jennings and Geneva Beery, Mrs. McCowen lived in Chico before moving to the Ridge. She married Raymond McCowen on Jan. 2, 1942, in Marysville, Mo.

 

A widowed homemaker, she was also a cook in a local nursing home. A member of the Gem and Mineral Club of Paradise, she loved gardening and cooking.

 

She is survived by son, Raymond of Nevada; daughter, Janet Wolfer of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Margaret Whitehill of Chico; brothers, Donald Beery of Iowa, and Lowell Beery of Paradise; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her special friend, Chuck Orgovan.

 

She is predeceased by her husband, Ray, who died in Paradise on Nov. 4, 1996. Visitation hours are 8 to 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Chapel of the Pines Mortuary followed by graveside services at Paradise Cemetery at 10 a.m. Chapel of the Pines of Paradise is handling the arrangements.

 

Emily Violet Rupp

 

Emily Violet Rupp of Corvallis, Oregon died on October 31, 1994 at an adult foster care home of natural causes at the age of 85.

 

Emily was born to David and Regina Mitchell on June 25, 1909 in Russia. As a small child she moved to Argentina and then at age 9 to the United States.

 

She and her family settled in the German Community of Walla Walla, Washington where she grew up and became a National Merit Scholar.

 

She married John Harold Rupp on May 27, 1928 in a Ryan five passenger airplane in Walla Walla.

 

They settled in Richland and she lived there, other than ten years in Puyallup, until moving to Corvallis in 1993.  She enjoyed being a homemaker and a mother.

 

She served on the election board in Benton County, Washington.

 

She was a member of the Lutheran Church and later became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

 

Emily is survived by three sons, Tracy Allen Rupp, Corvallis, Oregon, Roger Eugene Rupp, Anchorage, Alaska, Glen Laverne Rupp, Sunnyside, Georgia; three brothers, David Mitchell, Fred Mitchell, and Alex Mitchell, all of Walla Walla; 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren.

 

Emily was preceded in death by her husband, John Harold Rupp, April 3, 1990 in Puyallup, Washington.

 

Memorial services well be held Friday, November 4, at 10:00 am at the Christ Lutheran Church in Walla Walla.

 

Arrangements are under the direction of DeMoss-Durdan Garden Chapel of Corvallis.

 

Mahlon M. O’Dell

Mahlon Monroe O’Dell was born in Crawford County, Ohio, October 6, 1868 and passed away at his home in New Market, Iowa December 26, 1936 at the age of 68 years, 2 months, and 20 days.

He moved to Iowa when a small child with his parents, two sisters and four brothers.  They are Elmer and Noah O’Dell of New Market, Mrs. Jim Hazelbaker of Clarinda, and Mrs. Retna Pointer of Minden, Kansas.  He also leaves two half-sisters, Mrs. Hulbert Corbin of Cherokee and Mrs. Ralph Kendrick of New Market.  His father and mother and two brothers Sherman and Grant, preceded him in death.

He gave his heart to God when a young man and united with the Methodist Church at Gilead.  He grew to manhood on a farm near New Market and in 1889 was married to Alice Dugan.  To this union was born eight children, George of Bedford, Harry of Brady, Nebraska, Mrs. F. W. Farlow of Siam, Mrs. W. A. McClelland of Corning, Mrs. J. H. Wehrkamp of Clarinda, and Mrs. Carl Hopson of Gravity.  Alfred and Louis preceded him in death as did his wife.

In 1907 he was united in marriage to Mrs Rhoda Cooper.  To this union two daughters, Theo Evon and Thelma of Chicago.  There were also two step-children, Mrs. William S. Hall of San Francisco, California and Doyle Cooper of near New Market. 

He leaves his wife, the above mentioned children, 16 grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends to mourn his passing.

George O’Dell Rites at Clarinda

George O’Dell, son of Mahlon and Alice Dugan O’Dell, was born April 5, 1894 at New Market, Iowa.  He grew to manhood in the community and spent all of his life in Taylor County, except the time he served in World War I.

He was united in marriage to Lela Wahl on June 1, 1920 at Clearfield, Iowa.  To this union one son who died in infancy.

Soon after George was discharged from the army, he started farming and continued to do so until the time of his death.  He passed away at Veteran’s hospital in Omaha February 21, 1960 at the age of 65 years, 10 months and 16 days.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother and two brothers.  He is survived by his wife Lola and his step-mother, Mrs. Rhoda O’Dell of Clarinda, one brother, Harry O’Dell of Nampa, Idaho, Mrs. Happilona Farlow of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Mrs. Maude McClelland of Creston, Mrs. Mary Wehrkamp of Bedford, Mrs. Cynthia Hopson of Anderson, California; two half sisters, Mrs. Thelma Rapp of Chicago, Mrs. Theo Squair of Long Island, New York; one step sister, Fern of Washington State; one step brother, Doyle Cooper of New Market.

Funeral services were held at Clarinda with Clarence M. Potter, preacher for the New Market and Siam churches of Christ in charge.  Burial was in the Old Memory Cemetery in New Market.

Bruce Victor Nesser

Bruce Victor Nesser died at his home on a beautiful summer day on August 6th 2011 at the age of 74. He had a wonderful spirit that remained throughout his over 3 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on November 11th, 1936 at Grant Hospital in Chicago, IL to Fred and Frieda (Lucke) Nesser. His middle name of Victor was suggested by the delivering doctor in a nod to his date of birth, then known as Armistice day.

He always thought it was fun as a kid to have his birthday off from school, and this year, Bruce would have hit the birthday milestone of 75 years on 11-11-2011. In 1944 the family moved out of the city into rural Palatine where he spent many wonderful years living in the country on Woodland Road. His mother used to tell him that he could tell a Dodge from a Chevrolet when he was about two years old by pointing to one on the street and identifying it as Uncle Norm’s car, or Uncle Bob’s car. Thus began his lifelong love of cars and all things mechanical….. In 1958 he decided that he should get serious about a career, and was hired by Fairbanks Morse in their sales training program, having decided that his best bet for a successful career would involve mechanical things and sales.

In the summer of 1966 he met Sally Caldwell, through a last minute dinner invitation from a friend, and thus began a 45 year adventure. They were married on October 14th, 1967 in Chicago IL, and had some fun years living in Lincoln Park before heading out to the suburbs in 1971.

They began their family life at 927 Cedar Street in Deerfield, IL. Joy Caldwell Nesser was born May 10th, 1973. In 1975 he co- founded Combined Fluid Products, distributing vacuum pumps and air compressors. A natural peddler, Bruce enjoyed the traveling, shop talking and new people and situations. By 1978, it was time to move around the corner to a larger house on Greenwood Avenue to make room for Bruce Caldwell Nesser (Chip) born August 6th 1978. Bruce was a great father; one of the rare few to hardly ever miss a swim meet, game, dance recital or performance of one of the kids. Teaching the kids how to ride bikes, and later to drive a stick shift, trying to coach softball, chaperoning church mission trips and taking the family on endless summer road trips were some of the highlights of fatherhood for him. Bruce and Sally were always a good team. They enjoyed many years of activity and life in the North Shore area before retiring to Door County in 2002. After vacationing in the area for years with the family, they settled on a piece of land just outside of Ephraim, and built a welcoming home for family and friends to all enjoy. When they retired, Bruce was a little worried that they would not find any new friends…boy was he wrong. Whether while hiking, biking, church, Lions, or at concerts and other arts events, he and Sally developed the most wonderful circle of friends who are all such diverse, interesting and caring people. While the length of his life was shorter than we all would have liked, he truly embodied the belief that it’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years. Bruce and Sally believed that they had the best 9 years of retirement together. (Three of those years we owe to the fantastic care he received starting with eagle-eye internist, followed in Madison and concluded by the impeccable Unity Hospice.) He began life as a devoted son and brother and ended it as the most wonderful husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather anyone could ask for. He will be forever missed, and we will never cease to think of him everywhere; when we are on a bike ride, sipping a Manhattan, driving around Door County, or just hanging out at the drive in theatre.

He is survived by his wife of over 43 years Sally, daughter Joy and her husband Joe Tunnicliff, son Chip Nesser and sister Nancy Guelzow and husband Ron. Granddaughters Lauren Joy and Sarah Grace Tunnicliff of Clarinda, IA dearly loved their ‘Boo’! A Memorial service will be held Friday, September 2nd at 11:00 at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay, WI. Memorials may be directed to Guest Musicians Fund or Bridges Bicycle Program c/o Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church PO Box 27 Ellison Bay, WI 54210 or Unity Hospice 30 North 18th Ave. Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Marion Hope Kelley Rhodabarger

MARION HOPE KELLEY RHODABARGER died Wednesday, August 4, 2004 in Houston,TX. She was born to Wilbur Tetrick Kelley and Ella Farrens Kelley at Clarinda, Iowa, on May 14, 1921. Mrs. Rhodabarger was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1943 and a MSW from the University of Kansas School of Social Work in 1953. She served with the American Red Cross in the Philippines and in Japan from 1945 to 1947.

She and Thomas Dale Rhodabarger were married in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1955. His career as a writer and editor took them to Little Rock, St. Louis, and to northern New Jersey. He died in 1981. She retired from the North Jersey Developmental Center in 1986 and moved to Houston to be near her daughter and family. She held membership in the National Association of Social Workers and in the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She had worked in child welfare and as a psychiatric social worker, and as a program coordinator with the developmentally disabled. Among her many interests were travel, genealogy, history, watching tango dancing, and the novels of Marcel Proust. Her dearest associations during her 18 years in Houston were with the men and women of Sixty-Plus at Northwest Assistance Ministries. She served as a volunteer in various projects of this organization.

Mrs. Rhodabarger was a descendant of English, French, Welsh and Scotch-Irish immigrants, some of whom settled in Maryland and Virginia as early as the 1630s. In the 1850s, family members were among the first settlers of Page County, Iowa.

A brother Kenneth B. Kelley of Des Moines died in 1992.

She is survived by her daughter Hope Rhodabarger DuBois and Hope's husband, Ralph Alan DuBois, granddaughters Christine Anne and Caroline Ashley DuBois, and by David Wiggins, a special friend, all of Houston. Other survivors include a sister, Eleanor Maxine Kelley Lutz of Claremont, California, and a niece Joan Kelley Lutz of Fountain Valley, California.

A memorial service will be held Monday, August 9 at 2:00 at Northwoods Unitarian Church, 1370 North Millbend Drive, The Woodlands. Burial will be in Clarinda, Iowa. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Sixty-Plus at Northwest Assistance Ministries, 15555 Kuykendahl Rd., Houston TX.

 

Baby interment at College Springs

Clayton D. Hamm, five month son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Hamm, Jr. of Farragut was dead on arrival at the Hamburg Hospital Tuesday.  Death was due to a respiratory condition.

Surviving besides his parents are one brother, Curtis, 6; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hamm, Sr, of Rural Shenandoah and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Madsen of Shenandoah, great grandmother , Mrs. Louis Rattenborg and Mrs. Elizabeth Madsen of Audubon.

Services will be held from the Hackett Funeral home at 10 am Friday.  The Rev D. L. Delehant, pastor of the St. Patrick Catholic Church of Imogene will officiate.  Interment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery at College Springs.

Henning Maurice Hanson

Peter Henning Maurice Hanson, son of Peter and Kristine Hanson, was born in Englestad, Shone, Sweden, May 14, 1882 and passed away at the University Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, February 18, 1971 at the age of 88 years, 9 months, and 4 days. 

As a very young child, the family left the homeland and migrated to the United States where the family settled in Page County, Iowa.

In his youth he was confirmed in the Bethesda Lutheran Church.

On October 26, 1910 he was united in Lillian Christell.  To this union five children were born.  The first years of their married life was spent in the Spring Valley area of Montgomery County.  In the spring of 1912 they moved to a farm in Nodaway Township, Taylor County,  which was to remain their home until he was taken to the Clarinda Hospital in early January 1971.

Henning, as he was known to a wide circle of fiends was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lillian, his parents, brothers, Anton and Oscar, and sister Ellen.

He leaves to mourn his passing three sons, Maurice of Diagonal, Iowa, Lorence and Dale of New Market, Iowa, and two daughters, Dorothy (Mrs. Paul Burmmett) of Ankeny, Iowa and Arlene (Mrs. Paul Orme) of Nodaway, Iowa, Eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.  Also one brother, Erick Hanson of Villisca of Villisca, Iowa, and one sister Selma Anderson of Bakersfield, California.

A farmer all of his life, he had seen many changes take place in agriculture, and was always ready to grasp new theories that would help to keep the land he so dearly loved as productive as when first acquired, that it could be passed on future generations.

Among his many interests in the community was the schools of the county, having served on the Taylor County Board of Education for many years.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at New Market, the Champer of Royal Arch Masons at Clarinda and a Sir Knight of St. Paul Commandery at Shenandoah and Noble of the Za Ga Shrine at Des Moines, Iowa.  He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Funeral services were Sunday, February 21, 1971 at 2 pm at the Walker Funeral home – Conducted by Carl Cummings with burial at the Guss Cemetery.  Masonic Lodge was in charge at the cemetery, conducted by Dale Hughes.

Davison Infant Service Held

Robert Neal Davison, one-week-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Rickey Davison of rural Bedford died Saturday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Omaha where he had been taken following his birth at Clarinda Municipal Hospital.

He was born May 24, 1980, the son of Rickey and Darlene Olmsted Davison.

Besides his parents survivors include grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Truman Davison, Hopkins, Missouri, Mr. and Mrs Cliff Hamm, Shenandoah, Iowa, Great grandparents are Ruth Davison and Lydia Hamm, Clarinda, and Opal Wiseman, Hopkins, Missouri.

Graveside services were held Sunday evening at Shearer Cemetery with Loren Daly officiating. 

Walker-Merrick Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Martha Calista Trotter Davison

Funeral services for Martha Calista Davison who died at her home in San Diego, California, November 9, 1943, were conducted by Rev Ellsworth L. Woods, pastor of the Clarinda Christian Church on Wednesday, November 17, at 2 o’clock at the Walker Funeral Home.

Music was provided by Althea Hutchings and Doris Forbes.  Pall bearers were Lee Filson, Darrell Davison, Harold Hughes, Glen Sissell, Walter Jones, and Jay Howe.  Interment was in the Clarinda Cemetery.

Martha Calista Davison, the daughter of Mathew E and Emma L Trotter, was born in Greenfield, Iowa, August 17, 1885, and passed away at her home in San Diego, California, November 9, 1943.  She grew to womanhood in Greenfield where on June 17, 1908 she was united in marriage to Clyde Davison.  To this union one son, Dean, was born May 20, 1918.  The family resided in Greenfield un 1926, when they moved to Sand Diego, California.

IN 1933 they returned to Clarinda for two years, returning to San Diego in 1935.  Since the loss of her husband in October of that year, Mrs. Davison continued to make her home in the West. 

She leaves to mourn her passing, one son, Dean, now with the armed forces of the United States somewhere in the South Pacific; her mother; two sisters, Mrs. Ella Steele, of San Diego, and Mrs. Sadie Earhart of Pipestone, Minnesota’ one brother Charles Trotter of Omaha, Nebraska; and three nieces, Berniece Perkins of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Velma Gurdeman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wilda Deegan of Des Moines, and two nephews, Anson Cunningham of Des Moines, and Raymond Earhart of Pipestone, Minnesota.

Eastern Star services were held in San Diego, California on Friday, November 12, 1943.

She has been a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church