Search Archived Marriage Records
JOHN JOSEPH 'SMITTY' RINGIS
MASON CITY - John Joseph "Smitty" Ringis, 85, of 15 Eighth St. S.W., died Friday (July 9, 1999) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 Fourth St. S.E., with the Rev. David Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery
with a flag folding and Taps provided by the Mason City Memorial Association.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Major-Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.
The family suggests memorials to the John Ringis Memorial Fund.
John "Smitty" Ringis was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Valley Junction, Iowa, to John Joseph and Antionette (Yorkitis) Ringis. When he was six months old his family relocated to Mason City. Smitty attended St. Joseph School until the eighth grade when he went to work at the brickyard to help support his family. Even though he had to work at a young age, he did find time to play ball. He first played fast pitch as a 15-year-old for Dennison's city championship team.
On Oct. 21, 1939, he married Hulda O'Green in Sioux Falls, S.D. They made their home in Mason City, where he continued to work at the brickyard.
"Smitty" served in the U.S. Army, 1943 to 1944, and was stationed at Little Rock, Ark., where he again played baseball, this time on a regimental team. During this time he played with and against many players who went on to the major leagues.
When he returned to Mason City, he worked for Marigold Dairy, Lehigh, Decker's and Canella Wholesale, before returning to Can-Tex Brick & Tile as a foreman. He retired in 1977.
John's family was always on the go. Family vacations took them all over the U.S. and Canada. He continued playing softball and was a charter member of the River City Softball Hall of Fame, inducted on July 20, 1980. He was inducted into the Iowa Amateur Softball Hall of Fame on Aug. 4, 1990. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, playing cards and bowling. As an animal lover he had many pets over the years, but had a special love for his dogs. John and his wife are members of St. James Lutheran Church.
His family includes his wife, Hulda, of Mason City; a son, Carl O. Gibbs and wife, June, of Mason City, and their children, Helen Holtand and husband, Paul, Savage, Minn., Carla Dempsey and husband, Terry, Mason City, Carl Gibbs III, Mason City, and Christopher Gibbs, Mason City; daughter, Sandra Solsaa and husband, Bert, Mason City, and their daughter, Jean Lundahl and husband, Brad Heagel, Kensett; daughter, Cheri Ringis, Green Bay, Wis.; son, John Ringis, Mason City; great-grandchildren, Andrew, Heidi, Miranda, Nicholas, Erin, Joshua and Meagan; brothers, Tony Ringus, Chiefland, Fla., and Alec Ringis and wife, Mayme, Rosemead, Calif.; sisters, Ann Flanagan, Chicago, Ill., Veda Sinlic and husband, Tony, Chicago, Ill., Josie Maxwell, Chicago, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Joe and Charles; and two sisters, Nancy and Helen.
NEWELLA M. ENGH
KANAWHA - Newella M. Engh, 98, died Sunday (July 11, 1999) at the Belmond Community Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home.
Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, (515) 762-3211.
KEVIN RONALD WHEELER
MESERVEY - Kevin Ronald Wheeler, 36, died on Saturday (July 10, 1999) in a truck accident near Cedar Rapids.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Salem United Methodist Church. Burial will be held in the Meservey Cemetery , Meservey.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Grarup Funeral Home, Meservey.
Kevin was born on Jan. 25, 1963, to Ronald Wheeler and Karen (Wheeler) McDonald. He was baptized and confirmed in the Rockwell Lutheran Church. He graduated from the Rockwell-Swaledale High School in 1981. He served in the Army from 1981 to 1984, and the Iowa National Guard from 1984 to 1986.
On Aug. 8, 1982, he married Jeanette Ann Smith. Two children were born, Lonnie Richard in 1983, and Lindsey Ann Marie in 1991. Kevin enjoyed hunting and fishing with his son and father, camping with his family, cooking, and driving for Consolidated Freight where he was employed and a Teamster Union Steward.
Kevin is survived by his wife, Jeanette; a son, Lonnie, and a daughter, Lindsey; his father, Ronald M. Wheeler and his special friend, Wendy Ingham, both of Clear Lake; his mother, Karen (Wheeler) McDonald and her husband, Ted, of Winterset; one sister, Julie Brunsvold, her husband, Kevin, and their children, Chad, Shealyn and Sharla, all of Mason City; his maternal grandmother, Ann Steinfeldt of Eldora; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Curt and Milly Smith of Marion, and their children, Doug and Stephanie Smith of Vancouver, Wash, Chris and Lisa Smith and family of Clear Lake, and Al and Carla Smith and girls of Garner; step-brother, Jeff McDonald and his wife, Teri, and their son, Andrew; step-sister, Teresa McDonald of Winterset; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Harold Steinfeldt; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Wheeler.
Memorials may be directed to the Kevin Wheeler Memorial Fund, 1345 110th St., Meservey, Iowa, 50457.
BERNICE M. KIESLICH
SHEFFIELD - Bernice M. Kieslich, 88, died Saturday (July 10, 1999) in the Sheffield Care Center.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Grace Baptist Church, Sheffield. The Rev. Bruce Rulapaugh will be officiating. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Grarup Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. today.
Bernice M. Kieslich was born on June 28, 1911, the daughter of John and Augusta (Petersen) Younge, on the family farm near Sheffield. She attended country school near Thornton, graduating from the eighth grade before staying home to help on the family farm. She was united in marriage to Elmer Kieslich on Jan. 1, 1931, in Thornton, and they made their home farming in the Sheffield area. Bernice enjoyed gardening, crocheting and caring for the elderly. This was exhibited by her working for several nursing homes in the area.
She is survived by four daughters, LaVonne Hunst and her husband, Leo, of Chapin, E. JoAnn Anderson of Clarion, F. Elaine Ringham and her husband, Larry, of Mason City, and Karen Woods and her husband, Don, of Sheffield; one son, E. John Kieslich and his wife, Mary Ann, of Mason City; 24 grandchildren, and many great and great-great grandchildren; and one brother, Luther Younge and his wife, Margaret, of Sheffield.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; parents, John and Augusta Younge; three infant sons, Douglas, William and Ernest; one daughter, Shirley Gerdes; two great-grandchildren, Cody Hanna and Raymond Marken; one brother, Milton Younge; and three sisters, her twin, Betty, and Vera and Lola.
LAWRENCE C. DRALLE
GREENE - Funeral services for Lawrence C. Dralle, 85, of 502 W. Traer St., will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Lutheran Church with Pastor Lance Kittleson officiating. Burial will be in the South Vilmar Cemetery , rural Greene.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Chapel, and will continue Tuesday one hour before services at the church.
Lawrence C. Dralle was born June 3, 1914, near Allison, Butler County, a son of William C. and Lena (Kammeyer) Dralle, and died Saturday (July 10, 1999) at the Liebe Care Center in Greene.
He was baptized July 26, 1914, and confirmed April 14, 1929, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Vilmar. He received his education in the rural schools near his home and was married to Iris Schlief on Oct. 13, 1937, at Sauk Center, Minn., and thereafter was blessed with four children. In 1997, Lawrence and Iris celebrated 60 years of marriage. They farmed in north central Iowa for 28 years. He then spent 10 years at Shield-Bantum in Waverly.
For the past 20 years he enjoyed retirement and his four children, 17 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed shooting pool, making people laugh with his tricks and gadgets, and telling his grandchildren stories and singing his old German songs to them.
He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Vilmar for many years and in his later years was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene.
Living family members include his wife, Iris, of Greene; two sons and their spouses, Robert and Elaine Dralle of Knoxville, and Keith and Susan Dralle of New Orleans, La.; two daughters, Arlene and her husband, Rollo Fisher of Nashua, and Patricia Wagner of Lathrope, Mo.; 44 grandchildren; one sister, Rose Bruns, and one brother, Paul Dralle, both of Greene.
He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Nicole Dralle and David Fisher; son-in-law, Larry Wagner; parents; four brothers, William, Henry, Ervin and Siegfred; and three sisters, Minnie Kruse, Ida Heuer and Violet McNeilus.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Lawrence C. Dralle Memorial Fund in care of the family.
Reid's Funeral Chapel, Greene, is in charge of arrangements.
Reid's Funeral Chapel, (515) 823-4457.
FERGUS E. BOHEN
TUCSON, Ariz. - Memorial services for Fergus E. Bohen, who died Nov. 27, 1998, in Tucson, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery , Mason City.
LOLA M. NASH
MARBLE ROCK - Funeral services for Lola M. Nash, 78, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Calvary Baptist Church in Greene with Pastor James McDonald of the Bethany Alliance Church officiating. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery
in Marble Rock.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Marble Rock where there will be a public scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. to noon at the funeral chapel, and one hour prior to services at the church.
Lola Mae Lines was born Aug. 20, 1920, near Marble Rock, a daughter of Thomas and Lyla (Losee) Lines, and died Friday (July 9, 1999) on the anniversary of her father's birth, at the Salsbury Baptist Home in Charles City.
She received her education in the Marble Rock Public Schools, graduating in 1938. She was united in marriage to Merle C. Nash on Nov. 30, 1941, at the Bethel Baptist Church in Marble Rock. This union was blessed with seven children. They first made their home in an apartment in Marble Rock while Merle went of to World War II in France. Upon his return home after the war, they settled out west of Marble Rock and farmed for 20 years. Lola moved back to Marble Rock after Merle was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease in 1978. He preceded her in death on Oct. 12, 1980. She continued to make her home in Marble Rock at Friendship Acres until entering the Salsbury Baptist Home in Charles City.
Lola liked to watch and feed the birds, make quilts, first with the wool batting from the sheep on the farm, and then kept on with cotton batting for many years. In 1990, she received the trophy for first place in the pie baking contest for the Marble Rock Fun Days. She will be remembered for her famous Sour Cream Raisin Pie for the social times. She walked the perimeter of Marble Rock twice daily. She was a former member of the Faith Baptist Church in Marble Rock, and presently a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Greene, where she taught Sunday school for several years, and was active in the Women's Missionary Society meetings. She was faithful in Bible reading and prayer.
Living family members include two daughters, Miriam Nash of Kansas City, Mo., and Gloria and her husband, Ray Willer, of Aloha, Ore.; two sons, Tom Nash of Rudd, and Daniel and his wife, Susan Nash, of Charles City; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Verna Scandrett of Ames; and three brothers, Galen Lines of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., Wayne Lines of Cedar Rapids, and Dean Lines of Nashua.
She was preceded in death by her husband; three sons, Steven Nash (1974), S. Lee Nash (1989), and Stanley Nash (1999); parents; one sister, Bethel Osier; and two brothers, Arthur Lines and Ivan Lines.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Lola M. Nash Memorial Fund in care of the family.
Reid's Funeral Chapel of Marble Rock is in charge of arrangements, (515) 397-2689.
REBECCA D. JOHNSON
MASON CITY - Rebecca D. Johnson, 58, of Beaman, formerly of Mason City and Clear Lake, died Saturday (July 10, 1999) at the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center as the result of a car-motorcycle accident.
Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 2502 S. Jefferson Ave., Mason City. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery , Mason City.
Visitation is tentatively scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E., Mason City, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
