Woods Funeral Home

Dunkerton: Norma J. Bartholomew age 93 passed away on August 5th at NorthCrest Specialty Care Center in Waterloo after a brief illness. She was born November 7, 1920 in Oelwein, IA the daughter of Albert H. and Margaret (Rogers) Heidt. She married Wendell J. Goeller on March 14, 1943, he preceded her in death in 1981. On June 6, 1987 she married Earl Bartholomew.

She graduated from Oelwein High School in 1938 She spent most of her life as a homemaker on a farm near Fairbank and also worked at City Laundry in Oelwein for a period of time.

Norma was an active lifetime member of the Fairbank United Methodist Church where she was baptized on April 19, 1946. She enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren, she loved to play cards, crocheting, counted cross stitching, bowling. watching game shows and visiting the casinos.

Survived by: her husband Earl, two daughters; Judy (Mel) Neil of Fairbank, Cindy (Tom) Hagenow of Readlyn, a son; Jerry (friend Dawn Johnson) Goeller of Fairbank, four step-daughters; Marcia (Rich) Young of Dubuque, Elaine Clark and Jeanette (Jim) Grady of Waterloo and Lois Bartholomew of Burlington, WI, two step-sons-in-law; Roger Lenz of Webster City and John Riordan of Westgate, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 26 step-grandchildren and 41 step-great-grandchildren.

Preceded by: her parents, a brother and sister-in-law; Dalys J. (Hap) and Phylis Heidt a half sister and husband Anna and Bert Miller, two step-daughters; Dee Lenz and Leta Riordan and one step-grandson.

Services: Friday, August 8 @ 10:30 am at the Fairbank United Methodist Church.

Visitation: Thursday August 7 from 4-7 pm at Woods Funeral Home and for one hour before services Friday, at the church.

Memorials: may be directed to Care Initiatives Hospice, Fairbank United Methodist Church or a memorial of your choice.

Library book memorials will also be available at the funeral home.

Fairbank; Daphine Mary Rourke age 88 passed away Tuesday, July 22 at the Buchanan County Health Center, Independence, IA.

Daphine was born on July 1, 1926 in  Fairbank the daughter of Walter and Lona (Chase) Kerns. She attended school at Immaculate Conception School and graduated in 1944.

Daphine married Clement Rourke June 10, 1947 in Fairbank at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Besides raising a family Daphine worked for many years at Hinson Manufacturing in Waterloo until it closed. Later in life she worked at Little Island Childcare Center in Fairbank, first as a daycare provider and then as a cook.

Survived by; one daughter; Jeanne Rourke of Waterloo, three sons; Mike (Viv) Rourke, Mark (Diane) Rourke and Steve (Michelle) Rourke all of Fairbank, eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one sister; Dorothy (Duane) Ford of Oelwein and three sisters-in-law; Ruth Kerns and Joan Rourke of Fairbank and Verna Kerns of Westgate.

Preceded by; her parents, her husband, four brothers; Harold, John, Robert and Duane Kerns and two sisters; Wilma Yeager and Catherine Weber.

Services; Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 10:30 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Visitation; Friday July 25 from 4-7 pm at Woods Funeral Home

Rosary and Scripture; Parish Rosary at 4:00 pm and Scripture Service at 7:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home.

Burial; Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank

Memorials; may be directed to the family

Library Book Memorials; will be available at the funeral home.

FAIRBANK-Donna G. Tagtow age 83 of rural Fairbank, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at the Western Home, Martin Health Center, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

She was born February 17, 1931, daughter of Helmuth J and Clara H. (Brickman) Westendorf in Fayette County, Oran, Iowa.

She married Lawrence Tagtow on February 27, 1949 at the Grove Hill Lutheran Church, Bremer County, Iowa. Donna and Larry dedicated their lives to farming near Oran and Fairbank. Donna remained on the farm after Larry’s death in 1987 and continued farming operations with her son Mike until October 2010.

Survived by: one daughter, Sherry Benak of Waterloo, Iowa.  Three sons, Mike (Sandy) Tagtow of Fairbank, Iowa, Greg (Jolene) Tagtow of Waterloo, Iowa and Kelly (Angie) Tagtow of Elkhart, Iowa.  Seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  one sister, Irene Diercks of Dixon, two sisters-in-law, Lorena Westendorf of Waverly, Iowa and Esther Westendorf of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Preceeded by: her parents, her husband, Lawrence.  Four brothers, Ervin, Edwin, Lavern and Kenneth Westendorf.  One sister, Esther Westendorf.

Services: at 10:30 a.m on Monday, July 14th at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Oran, Iowa, with burial in St. Peter’s Church Cemetery, Franklin Township.

Visitation: on Sunday July 13th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Woods Funeral Home and an hour before services at the church on Monday.

Memorials are to be directed to the family

Oran: Lorna Dorothy Schellhorn age 90 passed away Friday, June 20, 2014 at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. Lorna was born July 22, 1923 the daughter of John and Dorothy (Rosenow) Sell in rural Sumner, Iowa. Lorna worked as a housekeeper in private homes for several years, she then worked at Carnation in Waverly after that she worked at Wilharm’s in Tripoli. Lorna spent the majority of her working years at Wapsie Valley Schools working in foodservice, retiring in 1988 after 32 years of service. Lorna married Arnold Schellhorn on November 18, 1947 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Buck Creek.

Survived by: her husband; Arnold, two sons; Galen (Elaine) of Sumner and Alan (Jennifer) of Centennial, CO, three grandchildren; Aaron (Meg) of Memphis, TN Travis (Katie) of Independence and Anna of Centennial, CO, two great-grandchildren; Ericka and Natalee, five step-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.

Preceded by; her parents, one son Ronnie in infancy, one sister; Arlitha Pries and one brother-in-law; John Pries.

Services: 10:30 am on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at St. Peter”s Lutheran Church in Oran

Visitation: Monday, June 23 from 4-7 at Woods Funeral Home in Fairbank and for one hour before services at the church on Tuesday.

Memorials: in lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.

Fairbank: Richard “Dick” Bowen age 72 passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, IA.

Richard was born March 16, 1942 in Rochester, New York, the son of Burton and Vernita (Bordenau) Bowen. Richard worked for Owens-Corning in his hometown of Albion, NY for many years until the plant closed, he was also a member of the National Guard. He married Marilyn Proctor in 1965 and they later divorced.

Survived by: two daughters; Sarah Bowen and Elizabeth Bowen, one son; Richard Bowen Jr. one sister; Nancy Patton, six grandchildren and his companion; Marilyn King of Fairbank.

Preceded by; his parents

Memorial Services; 10:30 am Friday June 20, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Fairbank, IA

Memorials; to be designated to the family

Oran: Daryl Lawrence Schares age 65 passed away Monday, June 9, 2014 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Daryl was born on February 15, 1949 in Waterloo the son of Kenneth and Marlys (Schmitz) Schares, he graduated from Wapsie Valley High School in 1969. He married Paula Kay Oberheu on September 12, 1970 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank. Daryl worked as a welder for Deere & Co. in Waterloo for 34 years retiring in 2009.

Survived by; his wife; Paula, two daughters; Jenny (Dan) Richards of Fairbank and Nicole (Pat) Reiher of Tripoli, three sons; Chris (Suzy) Schares of Cedar Falls, Aaron (Tara) Schares of Sumner and Jake (Corinne) Schares of Oelwein, 18 grandchildren; Ashley Schares, Eric, Reily & Madyson Richards, Jessi  and Justin Reiher, Jacob, Chace and Alexis Schares, Peyton, Austin, Ryan and Weston Schares, Delaney, Ella and Nora Schares, Alec and Tylen Hirsch, two brothers; Rick (Barb) Schares of Readlyn and Marty Schares of Fairbank, one sister; Jerilyn Schares of Cedar Falls, two sisters and brothers-in-law; Karen Silver of Cedar Rapids and Gloria (Steve) Schropp of Parnell and John Wroten of Fairbank.

Preceded by; his parents; Kenneth and Marlys Schares, his father and mother-in-law; Paul and Evie Oberheu and a sister-in-law; Kathie Wroten.

Services; 10:00 am Friday, June 13, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank

Visitation; Thursday, June 12 from 4-8 pm at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank

Inurnment; at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank

Memorials; may be directed to the family

Oran; Elsie Helena Kreb age 100 passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at Bickford Cottage in Cedar Falls, IA

She was born on January 11, 1914 in Camp Cook, Harding County, South Dakota, the daughter of Edward and Carrie (Engebretson) Olson. Elsie married Emil Kreb on July 28, 1938 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Elsie was a vital part of the family farm operation as well as a dedicated mother and housekeeper.

Survived by; three sons; Rueben of Nashua, Charles (Rosemary) of Waverly and Melvin (Hollis) of Scotia, CA, One brother; Clement (Emma) Olson 0f Mobridge, South Dakota along with many grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

Preceded by; her parents, her husband Emil in 1987, one son Herbert, one sister; Delphia Fischer and two brothers; Harvey and Melvin Olson.

Services; Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 11:00 am at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Oran, IA

Visitation: Friday June 13 from 4-7 pm at Woods Funeral Home in Fairbank and for one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Memorials: to be designated to St. Peter’s Church

Fairbank – Cecilia Mary Weepie age 102, passed away Monday, March 10, 2014 at West Village Care Center, Independence.

She was born September 18, 1911, the daughter of John and Mary (Weiser) Weepie. Cecilia was a lifetime member of Immaculate Conception Church and also graduated from Immaculate Conception High School both of Fairbank.

Survived by:  many cousins and friends.

Preceded in death by: her parents and her brothers, Willie and Paul.

Services: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 14, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, with burial in the church cemetery.  Public visitation from 4 to 7 p.m Thursday, March 13, at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank, with a 4:30 p.m. rosary and a 7:00 pm Scripture Service.

Memorials may be directed to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Maynard: Brad Buzynski passed away Friday, Febrary 28 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born May 28, 1956 in Oelwein the son of Harold and Shirley (Neith) Buzynski. Brad married Susy Trebon on February 7, 1998 in Independence, IA

Brad attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Fairbank and later attended and graduated from Wapsie Valley Community Schools also in Fairbank. After graduating from school Brad worked at John Deere in Waterloo, he then woked for Woods’ Farms in Randalia, he then most recently worked at Iowa Ham which then became Tyson Foods until 2011. Brad enjoyed being with his family and friends, spending time outside, fishing, cooking and taking care of his yard.

Survived by: his wife; Susy, his children; Ashley and Tyler of Maynard, Kara Happel of Readlyn, Ryan and Troy of Waterloo, one granddaughter; Allie Happel of Readlyn. His mother; Shirley Buzynski of Fairbank, three sisters; Cindy (Roger) Myers of Fairbank, Kelly (Bruce) Milbrandt of Eagle Lake, MN and Kim Buzynski of Fairbank. Five brothers; Tom (Melaine), Mitch (Michelle), Scott (Amy) Buzynski all of Fairbank, Mark (Dawn) Buzynski of West Des Moines and Pete (Lori) Buzynski of Tuscon, AZ

Preceded by: his father; Harold, three sisters; Lynn, Lori and Debbie, one brother; Michael, one niece; Bethany Buzynski, his grandparents; Adam & Ceilia Buzynski and Henry & Niela Neith.

Services: Thursday, March 6 @ 10:30 am at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank

Visitation: Wednesday, March 5 from 3-7 pm at the funeral home and for one hour before services, Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: to the family

Fairbank; Lyle Chase age 64 passed away Thursday January 30 at Unity Point (Allen)  Hospital in Waterloo IA.

He was born on August 23, 1949 in Fairbank the son of Frank and Amber (Deaton) Chase. Lyle graduated from Wapsie Valley High School in 1967. He served in the U.S. Army after graduation.

Lyle married Judy Poock on August 27, 1977 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Readlyn, IA. He was a lifelong carpenter and most recently enjoyed art work, working with different metals and also concrete.

Survived by; his wife Judy, two daughters; Michelle Chase of Waterloo and Miranda (Brandon) Konrardy of North Liberty, two grandsons; Carter and Chase Konrardy, three brothers; Paul Chase of Carthagena, OH and Dave (Pat) Chase of Fairbank and Tracy Chase of Independence, one sister; Carol (Gary) Nuss of Oelwein.

Preceded by; his parents and one brother; Earl Chase.

Services; Sunday, February 2, 2014 @ 4:00 pm at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank, IA

Visitation; Sunday, February 2, from 2-4 pm at the funeral home.

Burial: at a later date 

Memorials may be directed to the family.