Woods Funeral Home

Mary Ellen Youngblut age 101 of Oran passed away Friday, March 21, 2025 at Cobblestone Court Assisted Living In Sumner, Iowa just 10 days short of her 102nd birthday. She was born March 31, 1923 in Iowa Falls the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Klinger) Klenzman. Mary Ellen attended and graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Oelwein. She married Francis Youngblut on July 1, 1942 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein. Mary Ellen and Francis spent their entire married life in Oran, where the raised their four daughters. She worked alongside her husband Franny “Tuff” at Youngblut Feed and Fertilizer and later Youngblut Elevator in Oran. For a short time she worked at a women’s clothing store in Oelwein but with four daughters she was spending more in merchandise than she was making so she didn’t stay there long. She then returned to helping Franny at the elevator until they retired.

Survived by: her four daughters; Barbara Yungtum, Carol Youngblut both of Waverly, Marilyn (Larry) Briddle of Marshfield, Missouri and Darlene (Bruce) Smith of Boonville, Missouri, six grandsons, 17 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and one on the way.

Preceded in death: her parents, her husband, one brother, Gene Klenzman and one son-in-law, Dennis Yungtum.

Funeral Mass: 11:00 am Tuesday March 25, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank with visitation from 10:00-11:00 am also at the church.

Interment: Immaculate Conception Cemetery

Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice

Richard James Wenger age 69 of Fairbank passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from injuries he sustained in a truck accident near Marshalltown. Rich was born December 8th, 1955 in Oelwein the son of Duane and Marion (Buchholz) Wenger. He grew up on the family farm just north of Fairbank. Rich attended and graduated from Wapsie Valley Community Schools Class of 1974. He married Ruth Vandersee on June 2nd 1979 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Maynard. Rich began his truck driving career at Oran Ag Services hauling mostly grain from the elevator and for area farmers. His next truck driving job was at Renard & Seegers who had several John Deere dealerships in northeast Iowa, hauling all different types of farm machinery. He dedicated the rest of his working days there, which included three different owners during his time there. He truly loved what he did and enjoyed all the people he met along the way, especially the customers he delivered equipment to. When he wasn’t working his day job he could be found working in his very organized shop on most anything he could get in the door. Whether it be woodworking or tinkering on a lawnmower he loved working with his hands. He will be missed in the neighborhood as he was the go to guy for most any project. Rich also could be found helping Ruth occasionally with some of her countless projects or maybe just chasing each other around town on bicycles. Rich loved anything to do with trucks, he made many trips to the Mid-American Truck Show which is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. He enjoyed playing cards and many different board games and he didn’t even mind playing an occasional game of Pickleball.

Survived by: his wife of 45 years, Ruth, a daughter, Lisa (Jeremy) Bro, two brothers; Kenny Wenger and Bob (Mavis) Wenger, his mother-in-law, Gwen Vandersee, four sisters-in-law; Karolyn Wenger, Vivian Wenger, Barb (Dale) Lowe and Elaine Gallagher, one brother-in-law, Paul Vandersee along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: his parents, two brothers; Steve and Roger Wenger, his father-in-law, Laverne Vandersee, two brothers-in-law; Mike Gallagher and Vernon Vandersee.

Visitation: 9:00-11:00 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Woods Funeral Home

Funeral Service: 11:00 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Woods Funeral Home.

Interment: Fairbank Cemetery

Lunch will be served at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center in Fairbank following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

Ronald (Ron) Andrew Pouk, 88, of Fairbank, Iowa passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025 at his home surrounded by his family. 

Ron was born in Streator, IL on August 14, 1936 to Andrew and Catherine (Dzurisin) Pouk. After graduating from Streator High School, Ron served in the United States Army. After his time in the service, Ron spent the majority of his career working at a steel mill. He married Robbie Jacobs on June 27, 1964 at St. Stephen’s Church in Streator. Together, Ron and Robbie had two children. 

Ron enjoyed fishing, gambling, doing puzzles, and watching football games (especially the Bears and Hawkeyes who never failed to disappoint him). Above everything else, Ron loved spending his time chatting to and joking with his family – especially his grandchildren. Ron always greeted them with a smile and sent them with treats on their way out the door. His quick whit, fun facts, and terrible jokes will be missed dearly.

Ron is preceded into death by his beloved wife; his parents; his brothers, Fred Pouk (Streator, IL) and Norman Pouk (Streator, IL); his brother-in-law Rod Kuerth (Pontiac, IL); and his son-in-law, Patrick Miller (Fairbank, IA). 

He is survived by his children Brian (Diane) Pouk (Ottawa, IL) and Lynn Miller (Fairbank, IA); his sister Jeanette Kuerth (Pontiac, IL); his grandchildren Ryan Miller (Humboldt, IA), Brianne Miller and her fiancé, Luke Zielinski (Waukee, IA); and Alyssa Miskell (Coralville, IA).

The family is having a private burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Fairbank. Memorials can be directed to the family for a remembrance to be determined at a later date. 

Dorothy Frances Wenger passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 85. She was born on September 4,1939, west of Oelwein on her family farm. She was the second of four children born to Cletus and Margaret (Suhr) Fettkether and raised on the family farm in rural Maynard. While attending Maynard High School in 1956, Dorothy played six on six girl’s basketball, with Maynard beating Garrison 62-51 to claim the title of State Champs before a crowd of 13,517 people. Dorothy’s love for girls’ basketball never ended! She would often challenge the grandkids to a game of basketball, she always had girls’ basketball on the radio, and as she laid in the hospital room she was watching basketball on TV.

Dorothy married Johnny Wenger June 4, 1956 at Sacred Heart Church in Oelwein, Iowa. Together, they had three children. Dorothy was predeceased by her beloved husband Johnny on September 13, 1993, at the age of 57. Dorothy was always known as a hard worker and continued to farm after her husband passed away. She could be found on her farm doing chores, feeding cattle, fixing fence or baling hay, right up until her illness. In addition to farming, Dorothy also worked at Pronto Market in Fairbank for many years, Dr. John A. Johnson, DDS in Oelwein for 20 years, and was still currently working for Life of Iowa in Oelwein until she was hospitalized in December. Dorothy loved to cook and everyone looked forward to her homemade bread at family gatherings. Before, her passing, she was putting together a cookbook of all her favorite homemade recipes to give as a gift to all her children and grandchildren. She was also known for her beautiful handmade quilts which she gave as wedding gifts. She also made sure each grandchild and great-grandchild received a special cedar chest for their graduation as a personized gift from their grandma.

Her passing was sudden and unexpected, but she took her last breathe surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren in peace. Dorothy is survived by her partner of 24 years, Richard “Dick” Lehman, her son, John (Joan) Wenger of Fairbank, her two daughters, Dorothy (Scott) Wehling of Oelwein and Doreen (Michael) Bixeman of Fairbank. her grandchildren, Jill (Jeremy) Michael, Dr. Jean (Ben) Hermsen, Janette (Matthew) Brincks, Jessica (Travis) Michaels, Julia (Andy) Sperfslage, Jonathan (Jennifer) Wenger, Jacob Wenger, Dorthea (Travis) Bovy, Scott (Sara) Wehling, Chris (Kelsie) Wehling, Alisha Lucas (Terry Shephard), Austin Lucas and Mikayla Bixeman. two sisters; Eileen Lee of Hawkeye and Anna Kay Woodson of Fairbank, and a sister-in-law Shirley Fettkether of Maynard. She is also survived by Dicks children, Randy (Jen) Lehman of Brandon, Rick (Karen) Lehman of Gilbert, AZ, and Doug (Denise) Lehman of Rowley as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dorothy is also survived by a couple neighbor girls, whom she held a special bond and thought of them as her “other daughters”, Donna Ott-Brown and Amy Ott-Scott.

She was preceded in death by her husband Johnny Wenger, her parents Cletus & Margaret Fettkether, her brother Cletus Fettkether, her father and mother-in-law Virgil & Edna Wenger, three brothers–in-law; Donnie Lee, Bob Woodson, Duane Wenger and a sister-in-law, Marion Wenger.

Visitation: 4:00-7:00 PM Monday February 3rd at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, 10:30 am February 4th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Interment: Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank

Lunch will be served at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

Larry Ronald Probert age 87 of Cedar Falls, passed Thursday, January 2nd 2025 at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls. He was born December 3rd 1937 in Waterloo, the son of Budd and Tresa (Chasky) Probert. Larry grew up in Waterloo and graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1956. Larry married Joyce Christensen in Cedar Falls on February 27th 1960. Larry proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1961-1963. He was stationed at White Sands Missile Base in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After serving in the Army, Larry & Joyce made Cedar Falls their home where they raised their three children, Jodi, Keith and Jill. Larry worked at Winterbottom Supply for many years until their closing. Following that, he was employed at Dey Appliance Parts and later completed his working career at Cedar Falls Community Schools. Larry enjoyed watching sports, especially football, baseball and hockey. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He enjoyed playing cards with family and trips to the casino once a month. The casino trips became more frequent when his son, Keith, was home to visit. He always looked forward to his shopping trips and breakfast at Southtown with his brother-in-law, Joe Hammar. Most of all, Larry enjoyed spending time with his family; especially with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which he was so proud of.

Larry is survived by: Joyce Probert of Cedar Falls, his daughter, Jodi (Randy) Woods of Fairbank, his son, Keith (Paula) Probert of Arlington, Virginia, three grandchildren; Connor (Alyssa) Woods of Fairbank, Caitlynne (Michael) Bohlke of Waukee and Carson Woods of Fairbank, three great-grandchildren; Lynden and Henley Woods, with Baby Woods due in February 2025 and Brystol Bohlke, one sister, Nancy Hammar of Cedar Rapids.

Larry was preceded in death by: his parents, his daughter, Jill Ostendorf, two sisters; Sharon and Cindy Probert and a brother-in-law, Joe Hammar. Larry requested that there be no services. There will be a burial at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls.

Charles Duane Moulds, age 90 of Fairbank passed away peacefully with his family at his side Friday, December 20, 2024 at his home in rural Fairbank. Chuck was born June 8th, 1934 in rural Dunkerton the son of Charles Edward and Kathryn (Niebuhr) Moulds. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Fairbank, as well as Dunkerton. Chuck proudly served his country when he was stationed in Ulm, Germany as an active member of the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 and in the Army Reserve through 1962. He married Joan Keniston on May 10th, 1957 in Elkader, Iowa. They made their home in rural Fairbank where they raised their three children. Chuck was a lifetime farmer and an excellent steward of the farm expanding it and making many improvements. He was an adept bulldozer owner/operator and left his mark all over Northeast Iowa with the dozens of farm field waterways that he skillfully created to combat soil erosion. He especially enjoyed raising and caring for his cow/calf operation and was certainly a cattleman at heart. He had a special place in his life for the generations of Collies, Shetland Sheep dogs and Border Collies that grew up on the farm. His last Border Collie, Reba, was his close companion for the last 14 years. Chuck enjoyed traveling to see friends and family in Montana, California, Florida and Germany and going to the casinos in Las Vegas, Kansas City, as well as here locally. Decades of annual summer fishing trips with family and friends to Ontario, Canada provided hours of relaxation and many happy memories. He always very much enjoyed time spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For many years Chuck and Jo enjoyed playing “500” at the several card clubs that they belonged to. In his later years he enjoyed playing cards with his friends at Jerry’s Auto and he was a regular at the Fairbank Food Center Deli. He also served on the Wapsie Valley Board of Education for a number of years. His happy place was in his timber where he enjoyed cutting wood, lots of wood, so if you couldn’t find him in the house or outside working on equipment, he was most likely in the timber. Even after his health started to decline, he would drive his pickup or van to the timber just to check on the crops and the wildlife. Chuck is survived by his three children; Ron (Kelle) Moulds, LaDell (Jim) McCabe and Susan (Kelly) Ryan, five grandchildren; Michael Ryan, Elizabeth Escobedo (Adam Poock), Rachael (Patrick) Murray, Keith (Kate) Ryan, Staci (Luke) Kinney; three step-grandchildren, Joshua and Rachel VanErsvelde, Mandie Martin, eight great grandchildren; Mikaela and Briggs Escobedo, Calvin, Lane and Ryan Murray, Charles, Natalie and William Ryan, Evelyn Lendt and Annika Kinney and three step-great grandchildren, Harper, Cash and Whitten; two sisters; Helen Heth and Beverly Morris. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a brother, Elmer in infancy and a sister, Elizabeth at birth, sisters and brother and their spouses, Eileen and Harold Fratzke, George and Marjorie Moulds, Doris and Joe Weiden, Lois and Dave Enyart, and two brothers-in-law Elmer Heth and Paul Morris.

Visitation: 9:00-11:00 AM Friday, December 27, 2024 with funeral to follow at Woods Funeral
Home.
Interment: Private burial at Fairbank Cemetery immediately following the service.

Military Rites: Fairbank American Legion Fortsch-Duffy Post 552

Memorials: may be directed to the family for later designation.

Lunch will be served at the Fairbank American Legion following the service