Miscellaneous Woodbury County, Iowa Obituaries

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Mary J. Sweeney 
 Mary J. Sweeney, 87, of South Sioux City died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at a Sioux City hospital. 
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Larkin Morningside Funeral Home, with Monsignor Michael D. Sernett, pastor of Church of the Nativity, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m. and a rosary at 7:30 p.m., all at the funeral home. 

Mrs. Sweeney was born July 13, 1910, in New York City, the daughter of Horace and Mary Kenny. She moved to Hartington, Neb. in 1912, and was raised by Henry and Elizabeth Boland. She moved to Sioux City in 1929. 

She married Paul A. Sweeney on April 27, 1938, in Sioux City. He died July 13, 1982, in Sioux City. She was employed as a cashier for a number of downtown clothing stores, retiring from Sadoff's Clothing Store in 1975. She moved to South Sioux City in 1985. 

She was a member of Church of the Nativity in Sioux City, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, St. Michael's Church in South Sioux City and the Siouxland Antique Car Club. 

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Virginia and Arlyn Wilson and Barbara and Gary Sierk, all of South Sioux City; a son and his wife, Robert and Charlotte of Sioux City; seven grandchildren, Bryan Sweeney, Brenda Rector, Teresa Hansen, Kevin and Kurt Wilson, Kristi Montgomery and Bobbie Ziegler; and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Pallbearers will be Bryan Sweeney, John Rector, Michael Hansen, Kevin and Kurt Wilson and Matt Montgomery. 

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Lawrence Van Berkum 
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - Lawrence "Larry" Van Berkum, 84, of Rock Valley died of heart failure Thursday, April 9, 1998, at the Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley. 
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with the Rev. Harlen DeJong officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery at Lester, Iowa. Visitation will be today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. 

Mr. Van Berkum was born Nov. 23, 1913, in Sioux Center, Iowa, the son of John and Anna (Van Wyhe) Van Berkum. He was raised near Sioux Center and attended country school. He moved with his family to the Lester area, where he worked construction. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the European Theater. 

He married Dorothy H. Rippentrop on Feb. 14, 1947, in Lester. The couple lived in the Lester, Rock Valley and Hull, Iowa area, before moving into Rock Valley in 1965. He was employed with the City of Rock Valley from 1965 until retiring in 1974. Following his retirement, he was a bus driver for the Hope Haven School. He enjoyed woodworking. 

Survivors include his wife; a son and his wife, Ronald and Kathy of North English, Iowa; a daughter and her husband, Carole and Brian Kleinhesselink of Orange City, Iowa; five grandchildren, Matthew, Christine and Joni Van Berkum, Kelly and Chad Kleinhesselink; a brother and his wife, Edwin and Eva of Inwood, Iowa; a sister, Alice Prins of Orange City; and three sisters-in-law, Katie Van Berkum of Orange City, Marie and Wes Van Berkum, both of Rock Valley. 

He was preceded in death by five brothers, James, Alvin, Garrold, Raymond and Wallace. 

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L. Vernon Stolpe 
NEWCASTLE, Neb. - L. Vernon Stolpe, 83, of Newcastle died Wednesday, April 8, 1997, at a Sioux City hospital. 
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartington, Neb., with the Rev. Paul Reimers officiating. Burial will be in Obert Cemetery at Obert, Neb. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., at the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. 

Mr. Stolpe was born Jan. 15, 1915, in Obert, the son of Ludwig and Esther C. (Bengston) Stolpe. He was raised in Obert and graduated from Obert High School in 1933. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. 

He married Laura Ann Anderson on June 10, 1948, in Nashua, Iowa. He farmed in the Obert area all his life. 

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Wynot, Neb. American Legion Post 31 and the Obert Cemetery Association. He was a former member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Obert, the Obert School Board and the Election Board. He enjoyed playing baseball. 

Survivors include four children, Joan and her husband Gene DeRoin of Jackson, Neb., Mary Stolpe of Corvallis, Ore., Brad and his wife Colleen of Dakota City and Lynn Stolpe of Kings Valley, Ore.; five grandchildren; a brother, Paul of Obert; and two sisters, Lorine Hardy and Arylnn O'Conner, both of Sioux City. 

He was preceded in death by his wife; a brother, Bertrand; and a sister, Lucille Anderson. 

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Karl J. Hamann 
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - Karl J. Hamann, 81, of Denver, Colo., formerly of Rock Valley, died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at the Rose Medical Center in Denver. 
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer United Methodist Church in Rock Valley, with the Rev. Robert Nielsen officiating. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley is in charge of the arrangements. 

Mr. Hamann was born Nov. 27, 1916, in Rock Valley, the son of Willhelm and Ida (Lahn) Hamann. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. 

He married Frances DeJonge on July 6, 1944, in Pueblo, Colo. The couple lived in Rock Valley, where he was employed with Iowa Public Service as a gas-electric serviceman for 30 years. They moved to Denver in April 1996. 

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dennis of Denver and Kim "KJ" and his wife Karin of Flossmore, Ill.; two sisters, Elsie Moore of Rock Valley and Minnie Junge of Sioux City; and two grandchildren, Dane Karl and Kristin Nicole. 

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Mary E. Stafford 
PENDER, Neb. - Mary Ellen Stafford, 63, of Pender died Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Ariz. 
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Pender, with the Rev. Stanley Kwiecien officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. 

Mrs. Stafford was born April 29, 1934, in George, Iowa, the daughter of Ferdinand and LaVella (Beldt) Karsten. She graduated from George High School in 1952 and from Omaha School of Business in 1953. 

She married LeRoy Stafford on Dec. 2, 1956, in George. The couple made their home in Omaha until 1973, when they moved to Pender. She was employed at the Thurston County Court House for 11 years, serving as Clerk of the District for eight of those years. The couple later ran the NAPA Parts Store in Pender. They spent their winters in Mesa. 

She was a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church and the Gama Iota. 

Survivors include her husband; a son and his wife, Robert and Kim of Omaha; three sisters, Bertha Devries of George, Carol Soward of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Hazel Johnson of Minneota, Minn.; and a brother, Clifford Karsten of Camby, Minn. 

She was preceded in death by her parents. 

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Bradley D. Eisma 
ORANGE CITY, Iowa - Bradley "Brad" Dean Eisma, 37, of Orange City died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at his residence of natural causes. 
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, with the Rev. Jack Gray officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. 

Mr. Eisma was born Oct. 19, 1960, in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Sidney Arthur and Minnie (Sinkey) Eisma. He was raised in Ireton, Iowa and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Orange City and Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. 

He married Lora Gail Nyhof on June 22, 1984, in Sioux Center. The couple lived in Minneapolis, Minn., until 1991, when they moved to Orange City. He was the water conditioning dealer for Culligan in Sioux County, Iowa. 

He was a member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church. He was also a member of the board of directors and the finance committee of the Orange City Christian School. He was currently serving as president of the Iowa Culligan Dealers and as vice president of the Iowa Water Quality Association. 

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ryan and Mitchell, both at home; his mother of Ireton; four brothers, his twin, Mike and his wife Lisa of Le Mars, Iowa, Leroy of Ireton, Donald and his wife Kay of Apple Valley, Minn. and Robert and his wife Mary of Ireton; and two sisters and their husbands, Mary and Harvey Obbink of Orange City and Barbara and Wayne De Kraker of Caledonia, Mich. 

He was preceded in death by his father. 

Memorials may be directed to either the Orange City Christain School or the American Diabetes Association. 

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Jimmie Funkhouser 
EVERLY, Iowa - Jimmie Melvin Funkhouser, 67, of Everly, formerly of Sioux City, died Friday, April 10, 1998, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. 
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church in Onawa, Iowa with the Rev. Donald R. Ludwick officiating. Burial will be in Harrison Cemetery in Whiting, Iowa. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday with the family present at Pearson Funeral Home in Onawa. 

Mr. Funkhouser was born March 20, 1931, on the Crows Nest farm near Whiting, the son of Melvin and Ruby (Archer) Funkhouser. He married Wilma Jean Davis April 12, 1952, in Onawa. She died April 27, 1993, in Jacksonville Texas. He owned an optical business in Sioux City and Funkhouser Optical in Jacksonville. An optician his entire life, he donated his corneas to the Lions Eye Program of Nebraska. 

He was active in the Methodist faith. 

Survivors include two sons, Leslie and his wife, Julie Jo, of Athens, Texas, and Kirk of Council Bluffs, Iowa; two grandchildren, Jayson and Jessica; two great-grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Helen and Dale Bard of Council Bluffs; and many other relatives. 

He was also preceded in death by his parents. 

Memorials may be directed to the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association. 

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O. Ione German 
PIERCE, Neb. - O. Ione German, 95, of Pierce died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at St. Josephs Nursing Home. 
Services will be at at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierce with the Rev. Thomas DeBacker officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday with a rosary at 8 p.m. at Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Pierce. 

Mrs. German was born Nov. 16, 1902, in Beemer, Neb. the daughter of Charles W. and Edith (Krause) Grunke. She graduated from Osmond High School. She married Edward F. German June 18, 1922, in Osmond. The couple lived in Osmond where he ran a mercantile store. They moved to Pierce in October 1930, where they also ran a mercantile store. In 1939, they bought a grocery store which they ran until their retirement in 1973. He died in September, 1985. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierce, the Pierce American Legion Auxilliary and Pierce 8/40 Club. She had been a resident at St. Joseph's Nursing Home since October 1996. 

Survivors include a son, Robert E. German and his wife, Lorraine of Pierce; six grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. 

She was also preceded in death by four brothers and a sister. 

Pallbearers will be Ryan Grubb, Adam German, Jake German, Joshua Krueger, Tyler Krueger, and Joe Lopez. 

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Lois Vavra 
LYONS, Neb. - Lois Jean Vavra, 60, of Lyons died Friday April 10, 1998, at Oakland Community Hospital in Oakland, Neb. 
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Lyons with the Rev. Kirk Erwin officiating. Burial will be in Lyons Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday with a prayer service at Piper Funeral Home in Lyons and after 9 a.m. Monday at the church. 

Mrs. Vavra was born Nov. 23, 1937, near Lyons the daughter of Harold and Alpha (Morris) Frey. She was baptized at Blackbird Union Sunday School o Jan. 14, 1951. She attended Edgington and Moore Schools and graduated from Lyons High School in 1954. She attended Wayne State College and taught for five years in the Homer, Neb. area. During that time she served for three years as the last teacher in the Combs School. She married David V. Vavra Sept. 30, 1956. She was employed at the Logan Valley Manor for 25 years in positions ranging from Nurses Aid to Administrator. She was currently Senior Residential Assistant for Region IV services. She was active in First Presbyterian Church in Lyons, serving on the Board of Deacons, the Session of the church, playing the organ and as a member of the Presbyterian Women. She was on the administrative board for Community Care of Lyons and was an eager volunteer throughout the community. 

Survivors include two daughters, Diana Oltrogge, and Denise and her husband, Charles Johnson all of Lyons; a son, David Vavra and his wife, Debra, of Lake Jackson, Texas; 11 grandchildren; her mother; a brother Norman Frey and his wife, Mary of Lyons; three nieces; and several other relatives. 

She was preceded in death by her father; and a son, Alan Vavra. 

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William Willemstyn 
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - William Willemstyn, 81, of Sioux Center died Thursday April 8, 1998, at Sioux Center Community Health Center. 
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. at Free Grace Reformed Church in Middleburg, Iowa with the Rev. Stephen Breen officiating. Burial will be in Middleburg Cemetery. Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center. 

Mr. Willemstyn was born Dec. 2, 1916, in Sully, Iowa the son of Klaas and Johanna (Visser Snoey) Willemstyn. When he was a small child the family moved to Sioux Center. He married Aletta Roubos in Middleburg on Aug. 20, 1941. They lived there for 53 years. He was a member of Free Grace Reformed Church of Middleburg, serving as deacon. He collected for the Sioux City Gospel Mission for 35 years and enjoyed singing with the Senior Saints. He moved to Franken Manor in Sioux Center on Nov. 4, 1995. 

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Bonnie and Edwin Verburg, of Sheldon, Iowa; three grandchildren Aletha, Russel, and Valerie; six great grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Cora and John Alofs of Grand Rapids, Mich.; a brother-in-law Ed Schaap of Sioux Center; two half-brothers and their wives Ken and Fay Pluim of Sioux Center, and Don and Jennie Pluim of Hull, Iowa; a half sister-in-law Hildred Vande Berg of Orange City, Iowa; a step sister-in-law Nancy Slothouber of Sioux Center; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Theresa and William Visser of Sioux Center. 

He was preceded in death by his wife; an infant daughter Connie; a son Robert; a half-sister Clara; a sister Becky; two half-brothers Albert and Harvey; two step-brothers Art and Alvin; and step-sisters Ruth, Polly, Laura, and Mabel. 

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Leone Whitlock 
HAWARDEN, Iowa - Leone Whitlock, 69, of Hawarden, formerly of Sioux City, died Thursday April 9, 1998, at a Sioux City care center following a long illness. 
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Berkemier Funeral Home with the Rev. David Tellinghuisen of Hawarden Community Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday with the family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home. 

Mrs. Whitlock was born Feb. 17, 1929, in Dakota City, Neb. the daughter of Kermit and Dora (Powell) Zeitler. She was raised in Sioux City. She married Harold Whitlock Dec. 3, 1949, in Elk Point, S.D. They lived in Sioux City until 1979 when they moved to rural Westfield, Iowa. They moved to Hawarden in 1994. She was of the Methodist faith and was a member of FOE Lodge #77. 

Survivors include her husband; three daughters Janet Delperdang and her fiance, Steve McMahon, of Westfield, Sandy Whitlock and her fiance, Tim Ball, of Sioux City, and Nancy Wickey of Chatsworth, Iowa; three sons and their wives, Gary and Brenda Whitlock of Hawarden, Larry and Julie Whitlock of Jefferson, S.D., and Marvin and Jane Whitlock of Waukee, Iowa; two step-daughters, Delores and her husband, LeRoy Soule, of Georgia, and Donna Whitlock of Sergeant Bluff; two sisters Peggy Chappell of St. Louis, Mo., and Shirley Green of Sioux City; a brother Kenneth Zeitler of Sioux City; 13 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sons, Leonard and Richard Whitlock. 

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Bradley D. Eisma 
ORANGE CITY, Iowa - Bradley "Brad" Dean Eisma, 37, of Orange City died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at his residence of natural causes. 
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. today at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, with the Rev. Jack Gray officiating. Burial will be prior to the service in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton, Iowa. Visitation was Friday. Oolman Funeral Home of Orange City is in charge of the arrangements. 

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Charry J. Washburn 
SLOAN, Iowa - Charry Joan Washburn, 67, of Sloan died Wednesday April 8, 1998, at a Sioux City hospital. 
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, Iowa with the Rev. Bruce Lawler officiating. Burial will be in Willow Township Cemetery at Holly Springs, Iowa. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, with a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m., at the church. Wood Funeral Home of Sloan is in charge of the arrangements. 

Mrs. Washburn was born May 19, 1930, in Salix, Iowa, the daughter of Milton and Eveline (Pepin) Small. She attended school in Salix and received her GED from Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City. She married Dale Washburn on Sept. 10, 1947, in Salix. The couple lived in Hornick, Iowa and then Osage, Iowa. In 1988 they returned to Hornick and moved to Sloan in 1990. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Salix and the Tabernacle Society. She was a 4-H leader and a member of the Hornick Study Club and the Rural Mail Carriers Auxilliary. She worked at the Sacred Heart Day Care Center in Osage as a teacher's aid and was a superintendent at the Woodbury County Fair. She was an avid bowler and actively followed high school athletics. 

Survivors include her husband; two daughters and their husbands Nancy and Kevin Fehrmann of Irvine, Calif. and Barbara J. and Dirk Hansen of Hornick; a son and his wife, Doug and Rita Washburn of Hornick; eight grandchildren, Becky Anderson, Cory Bindner, Casey Washburn, Baylee Washburn, Sage Washburn, Andy Smith, Tony Hansen, and Tyler Hansen; a great-grandson; a brother and his wife, Francis and Jana Small of Salix; and three sisters, Patricia and her husband, George Ryan of Sioux City, Marjorie and her husband, Frank Thomas, of Boise, Idaho, and Mary Lou Zuver of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son Ken; and a brother Milton 

Memorials have been established in her name with the Marian Health Diabetic Education Department and the Nursing Education Program.


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