Woods Funeral Home

MARION- Karla Kay Meier, of Marion, died Saturday, March 19, 2011 at Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, of malignant melanoma.

She was born May 3, 1961 in Waverly, Iowa daughter of  William and Marion (Anhalt) Meier.

She graduated from Wapsie Valley High School in 1979 and the University of Northern Iowa with a BA degree of Interior Design in 1986.

Survived by:  her mother, Marion Meier of Fairbank; three bothers, John (Darlene) Meier of Hazleton, Iowa, David (Barbara) Meier of Decorah, Iowa, Chris Meier of  Greenville, Wisconsin, six sisters, Joann (Dennis) Covert of Davenport, Iowa, Dianne (Bob) Clark of Dorchester, Iowa, Patricia Curley of Fairbank, Iowa, Annette (Kevin) Niebuhr of Dunkerton, Iowa, Madonna (Bryan) Welsh of Fairbank, Iowa, Michele (Alan) Blekeberg of Ridgeway, Iowa.  Twenty-Five nephews and nieces, fifteen great nephews and nieces, many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Preceded in death by: her father William in 1975 and one great nephew.

Karla was married to David Watson for ten years.  During that time, they raised his nephew and niece, Nick and Hannah Baumgarten.  Karla worked as an Account Representative at Pioneer Workspace Solutions in Cedar Rapids.  Karla had a wide variety of interets including decorating, traveling, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends. 

Services: 11:00 a.m.  Memorial Service on Wednesday, March 23,  at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Fairbank.  The family will greet family and friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice House of Mercy, or to her family.

FAIRBANK: Norbert L. Kleitsch of Fairbank died Thursday March 10, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in  Oelwein Ia. after a lenghthy illness.

He was born June 27, 1925 in Walker Ia. the son of John and Anna (Abeln) Kleitsch.

He married Loyola Burke on Sept. 10, 1947 in Hazleton Ia.

Norbert was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 65 years. He was also a member of the Fairbank American Legion for over 60 years. He also served as an usher at I.C. Catholic Church for over 50 years. He served in the Army-Air Force during WWII. Norbert  retired from Deere & Company after 25 years of employment, he also farmed until his retirement.

Survived by: His wife Loyola; 4 sons, Kenny (Judy) Kleitsch of Morrison Colorado, Tom Kleitsch, Craig (Jeanne) Kleitsch all of Fairbank and Jim (Tami) Kleitsch of Sumner. 4 daughters, Mary Ann Kleitsch, Susan (Pat) Shannon, Jean (Mitch) Saurbrei all of Fairbank and Gail (Dennis) Goedken of Aurora. 17 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 1 sister Margaret Kane of Maynard along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death: By his parents, 3 brothers; Edward, Orville and Dale and 1 sister Marie Allen and a granddaughter Andrea Shannon.

Services: will be at 10:30 am on Monday March 14 at I.C. Church in Fairbank with burial and military rites by Fortsch Duffy Post 552 at I.C. Cemetery in Fairbank. Public vivitation from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday March 13 at the funeral home, with a 5:30 K.C. Rosary and a 7:00 pm Scripture Service.

In lieu of flowers  memorials may be directed to the Alzheimers Association or to the family.

DUNKERTON-Evelyn Mildred Salisbury, of Dunkerton, died Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Ravenwood Rehab and Nursing Home, Waterloo, of natural causes. 

She was born November 12, 1914, in Fairbank, Iowa, daughter of Nicholas and Gertrudis (Faber) Kerns.

She married Leonard Salisbury on January 17, 1935, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Survived by: three children: Donald (Jean) Salisbury of Burlington, IA; Ronald (Betty) Salisbury of Dunkerton, IA; Darlene Nation (Rick) of Waterloo, IA.  16 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 12 great great-granchildren.  One sister: Marie Newton, Oelwein, IA.

Preceded in death by:  her husband in 1975; her parents. Three sisters: Alice Bayness, Beverly and Doris Kerns. One brother: Bill Kerns.

Services:  at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday March 12, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, with burial in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank.  Public visitation from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home with parish rosary at 3:30 and scripture service at 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Oelwein – Cora Jeanne Copenhaver, of Oelwein, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Mercy Hospital, Oelwein, Iowa, of natural causes. 

She was born October 15, 1932 in Curlew, Iowa, daughter of Walter McKinley Halstead and Martha Ada Sprong.

She married Kenneth Copenhaver on January 24, 1953 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa.

Survived by:  two daughters: Diane (Max) Reeves, Nashua, Iowa; Karen Bradley, Waterloo, Iowa; three sons: Joseph Robert Copenhaver and George Copenhaver, Oelwein, Iowa; Walter Earl (Pat) Copenhaver, Vallejo, California. Four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.  One brother: Phillip Gordon Halstead, Kuna, Idaho.

Preceded in death by: her parents, husband Kenneth in 1984; two brothers, Walter Earl Halstead in infancy and James Frank Halstead.

Services:  at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2011, at United Methodist Church, Fairbank, with burial in the Alcock Cemetery, Frederika, Iowa.  Public visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2011 and one hour before services on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the United Methodist Church, Fairbank.

Dorothy R. Sommars of Culver City, California, died Friday, February 25, 2011 at Daniel Brotman Hospital, Culver City, California of natural causes.

She was born March 3, 1926 in Westgate, Iowa, daughter of George and Ella (Greening) Schortau.

She married Larry Sommars on May 21, 1950. They later divorced in 1972.

Survived by: three sons, Clyde (Carol) Sommars of Torrrance, California, Mike (Melody) Sommars of Costa Mesa, California, and Paul Sommars of Long Beach, California.  There are 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by:  her parents and sister, Mildred, an infant sister, brothers-in-law Floyd Lawless and Otto Rapp, nephew Steve Hohmann, special friend, Ray Shy of Marina del Rey, California.

Funeral Services:  March 2, 2011 at First Lutheran Church in Venice, California.

Memorial services:  at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 4, at the funeral home.  Burial in the Fairbank Cemetery.

Fairbank- Marjorie Janet Moulds, of Fairbank, died Thursday, February 3, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, of a sudden illness.

She was born November 27, 1921 at Rockford, Illinois, daughter of Otto and Hulda (Andersen) Kramer.

She married George Moulds on March 25 1945.  She had worked at Allen Hospital in Waterloo for 22 years as a Ward Secretary.

Survived by:Two daughters:  Linda (Don) Christian of Waverly, Janet (Dave) Knepper of Barry Illinois.  Two sons: Bob (Karla) Moulds and Jack Moulds of Fairbank.  Ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by:  her husband, George Moulds, on May 7,  1995 and a brother in infancy.

Services:at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 7, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank, with burial in the Fairview Cemetery, Dunkerton.  Public visitation from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and on Monday and a hour before services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

FAIRBANK-Mildred Mabel Olsen, of Fairbank, died Thursday, January 27, at Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, Iowa.

She was born August 25, 1926 at Lamont, Iowa, daughter of Charles and Mabel Adams Dopp.

She married Robert Olsen on August 25, 1949 at Grace Methodist Church, Lamont, Iowa.

Survived by:  Three sons: Rev. Duane Olsen and Daryl Olsen of Fairbank. Danom (On) Olsen of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Three daughters; Brenda Olsen of Reinbeck, Iowa, Danette (Brian) Lujan of Hazleton, Iowa and Daneen Rachel (Duane) Natvig of Northfield, Vermont. Six grandchildren: Jacob, Zachary, Danielle (Ryan) Lujan, Jonas Natvig, Amanda and Aidan Olsen.

Preceded in death:  by her parents, her husband Robert  on January 16, 2002.  Two brothers: George Dopp and Earl Dopp.   One sister: Delma Bowden.

Services: t 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31, First Presbyterian Church,  Hazleton, with burial in the Quasqueton Cemetery, Quasqueton, Iowa.  Public visitation on Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

OELWEIN-Dwayne Merle Suckow, of Oelwein, formerly of Fairbank, died Saturday, October 16,  at St. Lukes Hospital, Cedar Rapids.

He was born July 29, 1930 at Waukon, Iowa, son of Richard amd Mabel (Mohs) Suckow.

He married Beverly Jean Schierholz  on September 17, 1954 and they later divorced.  He married Judy Krueger on September 09, 1989 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa.

Survived by:  his wife, Judy of Oelwein, one daughter, Peggi Suckow and Steve Welter of Fairbank.  One son, Dennis Suckow of  Hudson.  One step-daughter, Susan (Travis) Larson of Jesup, Iowa.  two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.  One brother, Delbert Suckow and special friend Dorla of Postville, Iowa.

Services: at 1o:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18, at Woods Funeral Home,  Fairbank with burial in the Fairbank Cemetery. Public visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home and one hour before services.

Before his retirement Dwayne and his  wife, Judy, owned and operated D&J resturant in Fairbank for 20 years.  Prior to that he owned and operated the Heritage House at Tripoli, Iowa, Mozy Inn at North Washington, Iowa and 312 Club at Mcintire, Iowa

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Fairbank-Barbara J. Gipper, of Fairbank, died Monday, October 4, at Fairbank, Iowa, of cancer.

She was born August 29, 1933 in Oelwein, Iowa, daughter of Johannes (Hans) and Edith (Shannon) Hausler.

She graduated from Oran Community High School in 1950. After graduation she attended Henrotin Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois, graduating in 1955.

She married Lloyd Gipper on December 19,1955 at Immaculate Conception
Rectory in Fairbank, Iowa.

Survived by: two daughters, Glenda (Rex) Kane of Fairbank, Iowa, Sarah (Bruce) Bodin of Mankato, Minnesota. Three sons, Jerry (Robin) Gipper of Mesa, Arizona, Mitch (Roxie) Gipper of Fairbank, Iowa, and Tim (Lori) Gipper of Mt. Morris, Illinois.  Fifteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren.  Three brother-in-laws, Ivan (Marcella) Gipper of Waterloo, Iowa, Ralph (Edna) Gipper of Fairbank and Bill Petit of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Two sister-in-laws, Grace (Leroy) Matthews of Charter Oak, Iowa and Hazel (Lloyd) Hultman of Sumner, Iowa.

Preceded in death by:  her husband, Lloyd and her parents.

Services:  at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 8, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank with burial in the church cemetery.  Public visitation from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, with parish rosary at 4:00 p.m. and Scripture Service at 7:00 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Oelwein- Richard H. “Dick” Brickman, of Oelwein, died Friday, Sept 24, at East Towne Manor Care, Independence of natural causes.

He was born May 16, 1913 at Oran Township, Fayette County, Fairbank, Iowa, son of Henry and Jennie (Stohr) Brickman.

He attended Oran Consolidated School, Oran, IA.

He married Edna L. (Olander) Nichols on June 26, 1940 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank.  Edna died November 4, 1987.  He married Irene (Lenius) Fink on January 1, 1989 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank.  Irene died on October 18, 1993.  He married Naomi (Smith) Getz on September 16, 1995 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank, she died  in January 2007.

Survived by:  two step daughters, Barb Strang, Iowa City and Pat (Getz) Kuenz, St. Louis MO.  Two stepsons, Les Getz, LaPorte City and Gaylon Fink, Waterloo.  One step grandson, James Bentley of  Oelwein, whom he raised.  Also fourteen step grandchildren, sixteen step great grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Preceded by: his parents, his three wives, Edna, Irene and Naomi.  One step stepson Larry Fink, one brother , Dale Brickman and one sister, Edna Youngblut.

Service at: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 27th, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank, with burial in Floral Hills Cemetery, Hazleton.   Visitation on Sunday, September 26 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and on Monday an hour before services at the church.

Memorials may be given in his name to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fairbank, Iowa.