Russell Wenger

Russell Wayne Wenger, 90, of Elkader, formerly of Elgin, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Central Community Hospital, Elkader.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 13, at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin.

Interment with military honors will be held at the Elgin Cemetery, Elgin.

Visitation will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elgin. There will also be a one-hour visitation before services at the church on Monday.  

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin is helping the family with the arrangements. 

Ione Dennler

Ione Dennler, 85, of Elgin, Iowa died Monday, March 30, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.

Borghild Ione, the daughter of William and Luella (Benson) Torkelson, was born September 21, 1929 on the family farm in Clayton County, Iowa.  After Ione’s mother, Luella, passed away in 1934, she lived with her aunts and uncles until her father married Elsie Butikofer in 1938. 

Ione graduated from Elgin High School in 1947 and received her teacher certification from Upper Iowa College in Fayette. 

She taught in a country school near Volga, Iowa until she was united in marriage with Albert Lee Dennler on September 26, 1948 at Highland Lutheran Church, rural Elkader, Iowa. 

Albert and Ione farmed southeast of Elgin for many years.  After Albert’s death on November 30, 2010, Ione continued to live on the farm until 2013.  She then moved to Stony Brook Village in West Union, Iowa.

Marge Brehme

Marge Brehme, 75, of Arlington, Iowa died on Saturday afternoon, April 4, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in West Union.

Funeral Service:  10:30 A.M. Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church, Arlington with Rev. Ron Roberts officiating.

Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Arlington and for one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday.

Interment:  Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Iowa.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Marjorie Ann Larson was born on August 27, 1939 in Ossian, Iowa, the daughter of Leonard & Mildred (Bert) Larson, Sr. 

She received her education from the West Union Schools. 

Elizabeth Schaer

Elizabeth May Schaer was welcomed to her heavenly home by her Savior and Friend on April 1, 2015, at the age of 101.

Elizabeth (Betty) was born on May 2, 1913 at the family home near Elgin, Iowa.  She was the second child of Alfred and Marie (Miller) Jacob. Betty grew up on the Jacob farm between Elgin and Clermont, Iowa. 

She attended the Bell Creek Country School and graduated from Clermont High School with the Class of 1930. A summer school course at Upper Iowa University qualified her to teach country school, first at Bell Creek School near Elgin, Iowa and then at Windsor #3 near Hawkeye, Iowa.  Her love for teaching was a constant throughout her life.

Virgil Monroe

Virgil Monroe, 87, of Ossian, Iowa passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, Iowa. 

Virgil Dean, the son of Albert Clark and Mari Amelia (Land) Monroe, was born November 4, 1927 in Castalia, Iowa. 

He was baptized at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Castalia and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia.

Virgil attended Castalia Public School through the eighth grade and later earned his G.E.D. as an adult.

He served in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman during the Korean War.

Virgil was united in marriage with Lois Peterson on September 2, 1951. The couple farmed in Dover Township, Fayette County, Iowa for over forty years.

Virgil also worked at the sale barns in West Union and Waukon for several years. 

Larry Schult

Larry Dean Schult of Maynard died Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

He was born Oct 6, 1942 to Lester and Regina (Hehmke) Schult on rural farm near Westgate, IA.

Attended Rural Country School and graduated from North High School.

He worked on the family farm and was an equipment set-up person, worked road construction, sold Fuller Brush Products, owned a corn dryer business, sold radio ads for KWAY in Waverly, IA and for KCTN/KADR of Elkader, IA, then retired in 2006.

He married Linda Kohlmeyer; they later divorced.

Then on Oct 6, 1969, he married Sandra (Smith) Heinemeyer.

Helen Molumby

Funeral services were held Monday, March 30, 2015 at 10:30am in Holy Name Catholic Church, West Union, Iowa for Helena (Helen) Josephine (Hinsenbrock) Molumby, 95, who died at Palmer Memorial Hospital West Union on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 after a brief illness. 

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Rev. Jim Brokman and Rev. Dale Rausch at Holy Name Catholic Church. 

Burial was in Mount Calvary Cemetery, West Union.

Pallbearers were grandchildren, Matt J. Molumby, Ken Suzuki, David Molumby, Matthew Molumby, Jordan Pollock, and Hunter Reeves. 

Honorary Pallbearers were: Valerie (Recker) Radner, Joji Suzuki, Michael Molumby, and Ben Reeves. 

Music was furnished by: vocalist, grandson Eli Pollock.

Helen (Hinsenbrock) Molumby was born in her West Union farm home on March 4, 1920, the youngest daughter to the Herman & Rose Hinsenbrock family of six daughters and one adopted son. 

Tom Barker

Thomas “Tom” William Barker passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union.

Tom was born on February 14, 1924 in Brainard, Iowa to William and Grace (Boyer) Barker.

He attended grade school in Elgin and Columbus High in Waterloo.

Tom left to join the military during World War II.

On June 15, 1957 he was united in marriage to Donna Thompson at St. Olaf Church in West Union.

He worked on road construction and surveying for Fayette County before going to work for Frana Distributing in Calmar. Later, Tom went to work for and eventually retired from Atwood in West Union.

He was a member of American Legion Post 15 and Redeemer Lutheran Church both of West Union.

Tom enjoyed card games, dancing and reading. He was very active and continued to play fast pitch softball until age 55.

Marcus Espey

Marcus W. Espey, 56, of Fayette, died Sunday, March 15, 2015, at his home in Fayette.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Fayette Community Church with Pastor Carl Tenney officiating.

Interment followed at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette.

Friends called from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at the church and for one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette assisted the Espey family.

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com

Marcus William, son of Elmer K. and Edna Marie Jungers Espey, was born April 16, 1958, at Estherville, Iowa.

After moving with his family to Spencer, he graduated from Spencer High School, and later from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville.

Howard Wangsness

Howard Ove Wangsness, 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the Winneshiek Medical Center, Decorah, Iowa. 

He was born February 13, 1925 to John E. and Johanna (Strand) Wangsness in Springfield Township, Iowa.

Howard attended Lee Country School. 

He was united in marriage to Verna Torkelson on September 15, 1950 at First Lutheran Church in West Union, Iowa.  To this union, two children were born, Robert and Julie.

Howard was a Farmer, Deputy Assessor for Winneshiek County and a Marigold Milk Delivery Man.

He lived on the family farm for eighty-six years of his ninety years. He enjoyed traveling with Verna and woodworking. He had a love for cars and tractors, but most of all, Howard enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.