presently the Executive Assistant to the manager. Richard has done much of the computer programming for the River Valley Co-op.

Richard and Sharon are both very active in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Watertown. Richard has held several offices including Sunday School Superintendent, and Sharon has taught Sunday School and midweek church school. Sharon has also been a Girl Scout leader for several years. Alysia has taken tap and ballet lessons since she was 4 years old and has had lead roles in some of their productions. She also plays piano and trombone and is a Girl Scout.

Richard is an avid golfer. The family likes to travel, camp and fish. Richard still enjoys playing his 12 string guitar and often accompanies many groups in their church. He also brings it to family camp-outs where they have sing-a-longs around the campfire.

Monroe, Edwin and Virginia (Eberling)

(Lorraine Monroe)

Edwin Henry Monroe was born 23 Dec. 1924 to Henry Sr. and Nettee (Peschel) Monroe. He attended school near his home. Edwin served in the U. S. Army in 1944 and fought on the European battle front, serving in France and Belgium.

Edwin married Virginia Eberling 20 Feb 1955. Virginia was born 22 Dec. 1931 to Elmer and Lucille Eberling. Edwin and Virginia had 6 children: Larry Dean (b. 13 Apr1956), Robert Lynn (b. 5 May 1957), Patty Lou (b. 7 Feb 1959), Wayne Allen (b. 11 Aug 1961), Jean Ann (b. 2 Jun 1962) and Janice Lorraine (b. 23 Mar 1964).

This entire family died 7 Jan 1968 in their rural home near Centennial. The deaths of the family were ruled due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The cause of the carbon monoxide in the home was due to improper ventilation of a space heater which filled the house with deadly fumes. The extremely cold temperature of -30 degrees was suspected as another factor.

Funeral services were held 12 Jan 1968 at the South Winneshiek School in Ossian, IA. Burial for the entire family was in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Castalia, IA.

Monroe, Henry Jr. and Lorraine (Lauer)

(Lorraine Monroe)

Henry Monroe, Jr., son of Henry, Sr. and Nettee (Peschel) Monroe. His grandparents were Franklin and Matilda (Dowd) Monroe of Scotch Irish ancestry. They came to Bloomfield Twp. in 1895 and purchased land in Section 16 which is now a Century Farm owned by Henry, Jr. and Lorraine Monroe. Henry, Sr. died 11 Mar 1993. Nettee is retired in Castalia, IA.

Henry, Sr. and Nettee were the parents of 3 sons: Edwin, James and Henry, Jr.

Henry, Jr. attended school in the rural school near his home. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1947 and received his basic training at North Fort Lewis, WA. Then he was stationed at Fort Knox, KY and back to Fort Lewis where he served on the Mt. Rainer Fire Dept. Ordinance. He

Monroe Homestead Century Farm, our farm, 1994.

was discharged in 1948. Henry then made farming his occupation.

Henry married Lorraine Lauer 18 Apr 1950. Lorraine was born in Fayette Co. to Fritz and Melvina (Nelson) Lauer. Henry, Jr. and Lorraine purchased the family farm and have continued to live there. They raise beef cattle and sheep. They are members of the Castalia Methodist Church where Henry is on the church board and Lorraine is president of the UMW. They are Farm Bureau members.

Monroe, James and Marjorie (Jacobson)

James Monroe was born in Bloomfield Twp. to Henry, Sr. and Nettee (Peschel) Monroe. He attended a rural school near his home. James married Marjorie Jacobson. Marjorie was born at West Union, IA to Arnold and Hilda (Hanson) Jacobson. James and Marjorie live in West Union where they are the owners of a carpenter business in which they are both involved. They have 4 daughters: Connie, Barbara, Becky and Cindy.

Connie married Gary Rothmeyer of Ossian. They have 4 children: Korey, Gary, Jr., Renne and Tyler. Barbara married Ronald Schuchman. They live in Littleton, CO and have 2 children: Nicole and Jesse. Becky married Blaine Hanson of West Union. They live in Cedar Falls, IA and have 3 children: Timothy, Christopher and Dustin. Cindy married Rick Grimes of West Union. They live in Marion, IA and have 2 children: Benjamin and Alexander.

Monroe, Lloyd and Betty (Jacobson)

(Betty Monroe)

Lloyd E. Monroe, son of Thomas and Ella (Schroeder) Monroe. Thomas and Ella farmed in Bloomfield Twp. on the home farm purchased by Franklin and Matilda (Dowd) Monroe the grandparents of Lloyd. Thomas and Ella were parents of 3 children: Vila Mae, Merle and Lloyd. Lloyd attended the Castalia Public School. In Jan 1951 he joined the U.S. Army and received his basic training at Fort Riley in Kansas. Next he was stationed at Camp McCoy, LaCrosse, Wl. He married Betty Jean Jacobson 2 Jun 1951.

Betty was born to Arnold and Hilda Jacobson. Lloyd was then stationed at Fort Sill, OK for 1