001Crystal McNutt Gourley, 93, of Bedford, formerly of Diagonal, passed away June 30, 2011 at the Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center.
Crystal, the daughter of Mina Winemiller and Alpha Hayworth, was born December 30, 1917 at Sheridan, MO. Crystal graduated from Bedford High School in 1935. She married Charles Dean McNutt on August 19, 1935. They lived at Diagonal and Crystal worked in the office and the lunchroom at the Diagonal Livestock Auction. She also was a sales representative for Stanley Home Products for 30 years. Charles passed away in March of 1993. In May of 1994, Crystal married Willis Gourley. He passed away in August 2000. Crystal has lived in Bedford since 1995.
Survivors include her children Betty L. Miller of Creston, IA, Marvin McNutt of Bedford, IA, and Steve (Sherrie) McNutt of Trenton, MO; daughter-in-law Lucy McNutt of Marion, IA; 14 grandchildren Kevin Klejch of Creston, Charles Klejch of Diagonal, Curtis (Karen) Klejch of Creston, Rebecca (Brian) Keeney of Creston, Kristy Klejch of Creston, Larry McNutt of Diagonal, Jason McNutt of Clarinda, Brett McNutt of Bedford, Robert McNutt, Dana (Diego) Castillo of Ohio, Jeff (Stacie) McNutt of Solon, Lori (Corey) Hoskins of Springville, Alicia (Mark) Stogdill of Grand River, and Justin Berry of Kansas City; 24 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; sisters H. Rebecca Morehouse of Sarasota, FL and Anita Hayworth of Mount Ayr; sisters-in-law Mary Hayworth of Weston, MO and Helen Hayworth of Springfield, MO; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; sons Larry David McNutt and Kenneth McNutt; infant daughter Nancy McNutt; siblings Edwin, Ben, Kyle, Quentin, Ivan Dellano Hayworth, Elsie Thompson, and 2 infant sisters |
003Graveside services for Dean Weese, age 78, of Lenox who passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at the Lenox Care Center in Lenox were Sunday, June 26, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Visitation was held Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 1 until service time, at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox. Please share you memories with the Weese family on our web page, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.
Dean Laverne Weese was born September 27, 1932, in Athelstan, Iowa, the son of William B. Weese and Zelma (Smith) Weese. The family lived at several different locations in Worth County Missouri and Taylor County Iowa during his early years until they finally settled on a farm north of Athelstan. Dean grew up attending rural schools and graduated from the Blockton High School with the class of 1950. After high school, Dean was drafted into the army in November 1952 and served 2 years in Korea. He received an honorable discharge in September 1954. On June 2, 1956, he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Michael at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lenox. After their marriage, the couple lived in Lenox where Dean worked as a section hand for the CB & Q and Burlington Northern railroads maintaining the tracks between Conway and Lenox. During the periodic layoffs from the railroad, Dean worked as a farm hand for Harold Welch on Harold’s farms west of Lenox. Dean retired from the railroad in 1988.
Dean enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing with his sons and friends, gardening with his wife, and mowing yards and pastures at his sons’ acreages. Each fall Dean looked forward to the hours spent cooking rabbit, fish, popcorn and various other “delicacies” in the Boar’s Nest as he prepared for the return of his son’s and grandson’s deer and pheasant hunting parties.
Left to cherish Dean’s memory are a son, Mike and wife Jerolyn of Council Bluffs; a daughter, Deanna Sweeney and husband Vince of Lenox; a daughter-in-law, Patty Weese of Bedford; two brothers, Melvin Weese and wife Cathy of Camanche, Iowa and Gary Weese and wife Sue of Colorado; and seven grandchildren, Brandon, Benjamin, Victor, Elizabeth, Adam, Tyler and Michael; along with many other family members and friends in the community.
Preceding Dean in death were his wife Mary Ann, his parents William B. and Zelma; a son Mark and an infant brother Dwayne |
012Orville Dale Cerven was born January 17, 1926 near Gravity, Iowa to Marjorie (Akers) Cerven and Oscar F. Cerven. Dale entered eternal rest on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at the Stanton Care Center in Stanton, Iowa at the age of eighty-five years.
Dale attended rural school in Holt Township. After 8th grade he attended and graduated from Gravity High School in 1944. Dale always talked about how he and his brother and sister drove a Model A Ford back and forth to school. In the winter they boarded in town. Following graduation Dale started farming with his Dad. He continued this occupation for 61 years.
In 1954 Dale married Marcia Bycroft and they resided on a farm next to his father. After two years they moved to Adams County to a farm in Lincoln Township. This farm was one Marcia’s grandfather had acquired in the 1930’s. In 2005 Dale retired from farming due to poor health. Dale continued to have an interest in the farm following his retirement. Dale’s tenant Lowell Evans was very devoted in letting Dale share in decisions about the operation. Dale was a good steward of the land and loved his occupation. He served as an Adams County Soil Commissioner for many years. He installed many miles of terraces and practiced no till farming. His livestock included a small dairy herd in early years after which he concentrated on hogs and beef cattle.
Dale was very active in the community. He was a member and served on the board of the Adams County Farm Bureau. Also, he served on the Federal Land Bank Association board, a member of the Southwest Farm Business Association, Adams County Extension council and served as Lincoln Township trustee. In addition, he served as a 4-H leader of the local boys Busy Beavers club when his children were involved in 4-H. In later years he was a 30 year board member of Adams County Mutual Insurance.
Dale was an active member of his church, Redeemer Lutheran, where he served as treasurer for several years.
Dale and Marcia have four children: Edward Dale, Vicki, Judith and Diane. Dale was a devoted father teaching them many life skills. He enjoyed following his children’s church, 4-H and school activities. He was proud of their accomplishments and could always be found on the sidelines watching and encouraging them to do their best whether it was music, sports, 4-H or church. He especially loved his grandchildren and watching their activities.
Dale is survived by his wife Marcia; children: Edward Cerven of Ankeny, Iowa, Vicki (husband Charles) Astell of Troy, Michigan, Judith Cerven of Cedar Hill, Texas, Diane (husband Tom) Jenn of Iowa City, Iowa; brothers: Dean (wife Betty) Cerven of Weldon, Iowa, Duane (wife Evelyn) Cerven of Blanchard, Iowa; sister, Dorothy Hicks of Gravity, Iowa; brother-in-law, Ronald Bycroft of Fort Collins, Colorado; six grandchildren: Ryan and Cassie Jenn, Juleen and Jennifer Cerven, Danielle Joyce and Rochelle Cerven; many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Oscar and Marjorie Cerven; brother-in-law, Talton Hicks and his “special in-laws” Henry and Gladys Bycroft.
Dale will be greatly missed by all who knew him |
013Funeral services for Rudy Konegen, age 70 of Bedford, who died Sunday, July 17, 2011 were held Monday, July 25, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Bedford. Visitation were held Sunday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford from 1 to 5 with the family greeting friends from 3 to 5. Interment with Military Honors were accorded by the Offut Air Force Base Honor Guard at the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Church. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Rudolf R. Konegen of Bedford Iowa passed away on his farm on Sunday, July 17th.
Born June 22, 1941, in Summit, New Jersey, Rudy spent his childhood in Cranford and Freehold, New Jersey. He then completed both his B.S. and his M.S. in Engineering at Purdue University while in ROTC, and met and married his wife Karen (formerly Kraft) during his years there. He went directly from university into the Air Force, serving in Rome, N.Y., Hanscomb, MA, and Minot, ND, before his retirement as a major in 1987.
From the Air Force he went into the semiconductor industry, serving as Vice President of Reliability and Quality Assurance and then as Chief Operations Officer at Performance Semiconductor Corporation. He and wife Karen then retired to Reno, NV, in 2002, and within a few years moved to Bedford, IA, where he was able to pursue his lifelong interest in farming.
Rudy and Karen have been married for almost 48 years. He and Karen have seven children: Kurt, Keith, Rebecca, Steven, Elizabeth, Micheal, and Emily (now Wilkins). Their family also includes 3 daughters-in-law (Simona, Leonora, and Jennifer) and 2 sons-in-law (Wayne and Jason), as well as 13 grandchildren. Rudy is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Kenneth and Berta Konegen, of Milford, New Jersey.
Rudy was a family man, an outdoorsman, a risk-taker, and a patriot. Like many professionals, he worked long hours, but as a family man he also made a point of both playing and working alongside his wife and children, taking them fishing and playing Scrabble and Monopoly as well as teaching them the value of their contributions even as kids by expecting help in the family garden or filling out the woodpile for winter heating. At one point in his Air Force career he turned down a transfer to the Pentagon because he knew it would mean less time at home.
As an outdoorsman, he had a life-long love of hunting and fishing. Farming, first in Christmas trees in Ava, New York, and then in corn, soybeans, and beef cattle in Bedford, was to him a seamless and natural extension of these outdoor interests, all of which involve initiative, hard work, self-sufficiency, and an eye for opportunity, values he hoped to pass on to his family. One of his last big projects on the farm was starting a large garden, including large beds of blueberries and asparagus, and his hope was that his family would harvest from these beds for many years to come.
Rudy was willing to take risks. He loved playing the stock market, and was willing to invest in penny stocks as well as more traditionally "sound" investments. During stock market downturns he remained calm. When asked, he said that it was all part of the game, and that he had known that going in. If a person couldn't handle that, he shouldn't play. But Rudy could handle it, and he did play. He also, upon retirement from the Air Force, took the risk of choosing a job offer from a start-up company, in spite of good offers from well-established giants in his industry. He taught his children to know both the risks and the cost of a decision, and then to accept it and take the plunge whole-heartedly.
Rudy was also a patriot. He was proud to serve in the Air Force. More than once he impressed his children with his ability to recall moments in American history, and with his conviction of their continued relevance. Even after retirement his interest and pride were evident, not only in his reading--favorite genres were Westerns and American history--but in his love of RVing, which for him brought together both his love of the great outdoors and his pride in his country's history. He and Karen made a point of sharing many of these travel and learning opportunities with children and grandchildren when they could.
Finally, Rudy was a man of faith. He was quiet about it, but when questioned he was ready to answer. His last church was Bedford United Methodist, and the community there became very important to him in his years in Iowa.
Donations can be made to Bedford United Methodist Church or to the American Diabetes Association.
Rudy was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
His enthusiasm, humor, insight and strong patriotic honor will be missed by his family and many friends |
014Graveside services for Ethel May Geer, age 98, of Sunnyvale, California, formerly of Clarinda, Iowa who entered into peace Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Sunnyvale, California, were held Saturday, July 23, 2011, at Memory Cemetery, New Market, Iowa, with Reverend Harland Crane, Jr. officiating. Visitation with the family were held 5-7 p.m., Friday, July 22 at Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa. Burial was in the Memory Cemetery, New Market, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Women, Clarinda, Iowa. .Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.
In 1909 The Enlarged Homestead Act provided the spark for Raymond and Lena Yearous to take their two small children (Leslie 3yrs) and Margaret (6 wks) to Miller, South Dakota in pursuit of the American Dream. Due to devastating droughts and prairie fires, they were forced to return to southwestern Iowa to survive. Instead of a family of four, they were now a family of six. Gilbert had been born in Sept., 1910 and Ethel had been born August 16, 1912, only six weeks prior to the move. They moved almost annually the six years they lived in Page County. In 1918, they moved to a farm one and one-half miles northeast of New Market in Taylor County and lived there until 1939. During the years north of New Market, they attended a one-room country school where each attended one through eight. As Ethel was the youngest, they were able to send her to New Market High School from which she graduated in 1929. After graduation, she began teaching in a one-room rural school. She taught there until December 24, 1935 when she married Gurdon B. Geer (Shorty) in New Virgina, Iowa. She was married by Rev Clarence Moore, the husband of her cousin. The cousin and daughter of the Moore’s were the witnesses. After marriage, it was no longer permissible to teach so she became a devoted wife and mother. Her first child was born in 1938 and the second was born in 1941---both were girls. After the war started, Shorty sought work in the factories along the Mississippi River. He settled in East Moline, Illinois and Ethel bundled her girls and went by train to join him. It was always lonely for her there but by her mother's prompting she became active in the Methodist Church. She missed her close family and friends. Fortunately, several of Shorty’s family had also moved to the area so the family base just grew larger. When the war ended, they returned to southwest Iowa. They purchased and operated the Norwich store. In 1948, they sold the store and bought a farm two miles west of Bedford. While there, in addition to working. as an equal partner on the dairy farm.; she raised a huge garden, canned a year supply of fruits and vegetables, raised chickens and butchered and sold them to the local grocer, sewed clothes for her daughters and made sure her daughters knew how to swim (she had never learned and had a strong sense of fear when near the water). Her pastimes included needlework, playing hymns on the piano, playing board games, playing cards and dominos. She always enjoyed entertaining and at least once a week had guests for dinner.
Bedford suffered the droughts that had plagued South Dakota so it was decided to move back to East Moline. She was torn as her oldest daughter had recently married and had a new baby. She so desperately did not want to leave them or her family but she did make the move in 1955. She learned to camp, fish and ride in a boat. In 1959, she and Shorty were blessed with a son. Happy Days were here again only to be stifled when they discovered he had severe asthmatic attacks. After a particular harrowing attack, they relocated to Mesa, Arizona where they lived for ten years. When Shorty’s health began declining, they moved back to Clarinda, Iowa. Shorty lived in a nursing home prior to his death and she visited and cared for him every day that he was there. She resided in Clarinda until 1998 when she moved to California. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gurdon (11/15/1979); brothers and sister, her daughter (Joyce Ellen Crane of Paris, Arkansas).
She is survived by two children: Marilyn of San, Jose, Ca. and Randall (Terrie) of Lincoln, Ne.; six grandchildren: Harland Crane Jr. (Dana), Thomas Crane (Tracy) of Paris, Arkansas, Raymond Crane (Nancy) of Platte City, Mo., Carol Leeper (Dale) of Trenton Mo., Jennifer Key of Scott, Arkansas, Lacey Lang of Lincoln, Ne; ten great grandchildren: Sara Fox (Paul), Hooter and Steven Crane, Troy Crane, Tommy Crane--all of Paris, Arkansas, Samantha Key and Jordon Key of Scott, Arkansas, Courtney and Elizabeth of Trenton, Mo.;Adam J Couglin of Lincoln, Ne., one great, great grandson, Wyatt Fox of Paris, Arkansas; many loving nieces and nephews |
016Funeral services for Delbert Walter, age 85 of Bedford, who died Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola, Iowa were held Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Military rites accorded by the John F. Hardin American Legion Post No. 164 were held following the services. Visitation were held Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Interment were held in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Westboro, Missouri. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Central Iowa; Bedford American Legion or the Taylor County Museum. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Delbert Henry Walter was born on April 27, 1926 near Farragut in Fisher Township, Fremont County, Iowa the son of Ernest Walter and Alma (Sunderman) Walter. In 1938, Delbert was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Westboro, Missouri. He graduated from Westboro High School with the Class of 1943. Delbert faithfully served his country in the United States Navy during World War II. After his naval service, he started farming near Blanchard, Iowa. Delbert was united in marriage to Lois Elizabeth Nelson on April 25, 1948, at St. John’s Lutheran church near Westboro. Two daughters were born to them, Delonna Mae and Della Ann.
In 1950, the family moved to a farm by Farragut and farmed there until 1961, when they moved to Bedford, Iowa. They purchased a farm near Lake of Three Fires and Delbert farmed and worked as a technician for Iowa Breeders Co-op for five and a half years. Delbert continued to farm until 1992, when they retired and moved into Bedford.
After moving to Taylor County, Delbert and Lois became members of the Presbyterian Church and Delbert served several years on the church council. Delbert also served many years as a Clayton Township Trustee and as a Clayton Township Committee representative for the ASCS. Delbert has served on the Taylor County Museum Board; the Bedford Senior Citizen Board and on the Advisory Council of Area XIV on Aging in Creston. He has volunteered his time and talents for many projects.
Left to cherish Delbert’s memory are his two daughters, Delonna Hamilton and husband Ed of Lenox; Della Amdor and husband Ben of Osceola; four grandchildren, Amy McClintock and husband Mike of Indianola; Mark Hamilton of Shenandoah; Luke Amdor and wife Kate of West Des Moines, Iowa; and Nick Amdor and wife Crystal of St. Paul, Minnesota; two great-grandchildren, Noah and Hannah McClintock of Indianola; a brother, Don Walter and wife Mary of Creston; along with several in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Delbert is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Alma Walter; his loving wife Lois Walter in May of 2008; and his sister, Edna (Lonzo) Luttrell.
Delbert was a kind, loving and patient man. His family and friends will cherish their memory of him |
018Funeral services for Gordon Hill, age 85 of Denver, Colorado, formerly of Bedford who passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2011 in Denver were held Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford, Iowa. Visitation with the family greeting friends will be Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Interment were held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Family Servcies in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Memories may be shared at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to the Ritchie Fuenral Home of Bedford.
Gordon Clinton Hill was born June 24, 1926 in Gravity, Iowa, to C.C. Hill and Geraldine (Miller) Hill. He attended Gravity Public Schools. Upon graduation in 1944 he was inducted into the United States Navy in the South Pacific until 1946. After discharge from the Navy he returned to Gravity and worked with his father in the auto repair business. On June 17, 1949 he was united in marriage to Irma (Wheeler) Stephenson.
Gordon and Irma moved to Bedford in 1952 and in 1954 they purchased the Elmer T. Brice insurance agency. In 1963 they purchased two abstract companies in Taylor County and combined them into Taylor County Abstract Company, which they owned and operated for decades. Gordon did abstract work, he brokered auto, home, health and life insurance and he was a Realtor and an appraiser. He and Irma also purchased Page County Abstract & Title Company. Gordon was the president of the Iowa Land Title Association twice.
Gordon lived briefly in the Tampa, Florida area from 2000-2003 before relocating to Denver Colorado. He enjoyed all his friends at Harvard Square Retirement Center, reading the Bedford Times-Press and spending time with family, especially going out to eat Chinese. Gordon passed peacefully on July 26, 2011 in the presence of his dear friend Barbara Quinlan.
Preceding Gordon in death were his parents C.C. and Geraldine.
Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Bob Hill and wife Laura of Denver, Colorado and Todd Hill of Naples, Florida; his daughter Lynn Bishop and husband Mark of Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren, Kristi Meyer and husband Chris of Lafayette, Colorado; Lisa Merlino and husband Jim of Broomfield, Colorado; Catherine Millard and husband Craig of Denver, and Chase Hill of Naples, Florida; six great grandchildren, Justin, Jake, and Ryan Meyer; Maggie and Allison Merlino; Sam Millard; and many friends.
Gordon will be greatly missed by his family and friends who will be comforted by loving memories of him |
021Eulah Leigh Steffen, age 90, passed on the morning of July 29, 2011, at the Clarinda Regional Health Center Hospital in Clarinda, Iowa.
Her funeral service is planned for Monday at 1:30, August 1, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. There were Open Visitation on Saturday morning from 8:00 to noon and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 when the Family will Meet with Relatives and Friends until 6:00 P.M.
The committal service will take place at Weirich Cemetery near Lyman, IA.
Eulah's survivors include her three children: Wesley (Mary Anna) Steffen of Wheaton, IL, Zelda Birge of Corpus Christi, TX and Eldonna Tiler and husband, Leonard, of Katy, TX; daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Steffen of Clarinda, IA; sister, Reba (Gerald) Maxwell of Villisca, IA; brother Darrell Schrader (Delores) of Nodaway, IA; and sisters-in-law, Maxine Schrader of Shenandoah, IA and Marge Schrader of Sidney, IA
She is preceded in death by her husband, Max Steffen; a son Valgene Steffen and her parents Henry and Lorena Schrader.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Eulah's services and the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com |
022Lola Mae Hendrickson was born May 26, 1947 at Greenfield, Iowa to Lyle Richard Smith and Luella Pauline (Logue) Smith. Lola passed away Saturday, August 6, 2011 at her residence in Clarinda, Iowa.
Lola graduated Atlantic High School. After high school she worked at Van’s Chat & Chew. She was introduced to her future husband on a blind date. Lola and Ron were married Feb 14, 1969 at First Covenant Church in Essex, Iowa. Ron worked in Essex for a while then moving to Clarinda for his work. Lola and Ron began a family and she devoted her time to raising her three children: Lee Alan, David Lee, and Lisa Mae. She became a grandmother and she adored her two grandchildren: Lane and Gabe. When Lola had free time she would go to Bingo a couple of times a week or was reading as she was an avid reader.
Lola and Ron were near their 42nd wedding anniversary when he passed away in February 2011. She was also preceded in death by her father, Lyle; infant brother, Glen Franklin Smith; mother and father in law Raymond and Dorothy Hendrickson and niece Kim Erickson Leftwich.
Surviving are her children Lee Alan Hendrickson and David Lee Hendrickson, both of Clarinda, and Lisa Allumbaugh and husband Greg of Clarinda; grandsons Lane and Gabe Allumbaugh; her mother, Luella Smith of Atlantic, Iowa; and siblings Carl Smith and wife Rosie of Shenandoah, Iowa, Neil Smith and wife Trish of Blaine, Minnesota, Wade Smith and wife Teri of Atlantic, Iowa, and Ida Oles and husband Jeff of Hamlin, Iowa; in laws Charles and Sharon Hendrickson, Karen and Byron Erickson, Mary and Danny Whitehill, Jimmy and Sharon Hendrickson, Connie and Tim Sollars, Arlene and Lanny Woods, and DeLayne Hendrickson; many nieces, nephews and friends..
Funeral services for Lola Hendrickson will be 10:30 Wednesday at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel with Ed Simmons and Mike Wheeler officiating. Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Clarinda.
Family visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to a fund established in Lola's name |
023Graveside service for John H. Kelso, Sr., 72 of Nodaway, were held on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Nodaway Cemetery in Nodaway, Iowa.
John Harley Kelso, Sr. of Nodaway, Iowa, passed away at his home on August 10, 2011, at the age of 72.
John was born April 28, 1939, in Yakima, Washington, to Clarence and Grace (Hiatt) Kelso. He grew up in the Glenwood, Tabor, and Pacific Junction area. During his teen years he worked and lived with Chris and Marge Detlef. On October 17, 1959, he married Karen Severn in Glenwood. To this union four children were born and one adopted.
John and Karen worked and lived in Glenwood until moving to Macon, Nebraska, in 1969. While living there John owned and operated Kelso Well Repair and Blacksmith Shop. In 1995 John retired and they returned to the Nodaway, Iowa area. He enjoyed his retirement on his farm in Nodaway raising a few farm animals until he became ill.
John was preceded in death by his mother Grace and his grandparents LeRoy and Irene Hiatt.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years Karen; five children: Debra Henkel (Bill) of Hastings, Nebraska, John Jr. (Tricia) of Fremont, Nebraska, Kelli South (Chip) of Sherman, Texas, Kristi Wiggington of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Tyler Kelso of Nodaway; eleven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; four brothers; four sisters; several aunts; cousins; nieces; nephews and friends.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Southwest Iowa, 703 Rosary Drive, Corning, Iowa 50841.
Wolfe Funeral Home of Villisca in charge of the arrangements |
024Funeral services for John Edgar Lamb, 43 of Clarinda, Iowa will be 10:30 Wednesday at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Clarinda. Family visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel. Memorials are suggested to a fund in his name
John Edgar Lamb was born August 27, 1967 in Omaha, Nebraska to Gerald (Jerry) and Fama (Wehrkamp) Lamb. He entered into rest on August 14, 2011 in Clarinda, Iowa.
He was married to Rosalie Wilson on August 29, 1992. They later divorced. There were no children of this union.
John was a very giving man. He loved all types of music. His pride and joy was his stereo. He would call different family members to visit and tell them he was kicked back, drinking coffee, listening to his stereo. Then he would ask “Can you hear it?” If you were smart you would say “Yes” otherwise he would turn it up until you told him how nice it sounded. He also spoke to family about going to Red Oak and dancing with his “Dancing Queen.” We never met his dancing queen or knew her real name, which was probably a blessing for her for who would want to be quested by all his family?
He always called to find out when the next family dinner was as he loved getting together and home cooking. He would call his Mom often to tell her what he had for supper if he had eaten a particularly fine meal. He would then ask her what she had eaten. Even if she had only had popcorn that night she would say steak, baked potato and a salad. John would laugh and say “Wow!” I should have eaten with you. John had to think Mom was sure eating a lot of steak.
John’s greatest dream was to be a D.J. and he would help one of the local D.J.’s from time to time.
He also loved listening to Jerry Dietz. He took great delight in calling the radio station and asking if Jerry would announce his family’s birthdays. He would then call the person whose birthday it was and very excitedly tell them he had put their birthday on the radio. You could picture him grinning from ear to ear as he told you. He always put his sister Mary as Mary Lamb even though she had been a Karr for years.
He enjoyed football and his favorite team was the Minnesota Vikings. He also liked the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys. He would call family who enjoyed football and discuss the latest game and brag about the team he had picked.
He was a happy optimistic person who lived a simple life. He was always laughing or smiling.
John loved his family very much and would call when he heard one was sick, to inquire how they were doing and state he would pray for them.
John may not have attended church regularly but he loved his Lord.
John always ended his calls by saying with meaning, “I love you.”
The family truly hopes John’s sudden, unexpected death at an early age will make people question themselves such as, “Am I taking care of my health?” If not for you do it for those who would be devastated by your loss. Ask yourself “Have I called my family or friends lately?” When you do call make sure you say with great meaning, “I love you” when you hang up.
We hope you remember death can come unexpectedly.
Preceding him in death were parents Gerald Lamb, Fama Rogers, and Robert Gray. Grandparents: Glee and Ocle Lamb, Henry and Mary Wehrkamp.
Surviving him is his mother Juanita Gray. Brothers: Danny Lamb, Robert (JR) (Amanda) Gray all of New Market, Ron Gray Clarinda, Jody Husted Red Oak. Sisters: Deb Stanley Bedford, Mrs. David (Donna) Shum Villisca, Mrs. Anthony (Mary) Karr and Mrs. Bill (Diana) Roberts both of Clarinda. Also many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, family, and friends who will greatly miss him.
Funeral services for John Edgar Lamb, 43 of Clarinda, Iowa will be 10:30 Wednesday at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Clarinda. Family visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel. Memorials are suggested to a fund in his name. Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements |