Woods Funeral Home

Hazleton-Robert Dale Grantham, of Hazleton, died Wednesday, June 1, at Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo, of a brief illness.

He was born December 18, 1937  at Valentine, Nebraska, son of Henry and Olive (Detgen) Grantham.

He married Karen Shannon on August 29, 1959 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, Iowa.

He farmed in the Hazleton area.

Survived by: his wife: Karen; mother, Olive Gade of Fairbank. Six daughters: Jean Ann (Robert) Henn of Hawkeye; Carolyn (Mark) Hemesath of Ridgeway; Linda (Chris Waterman) Taylor of Manchester; Shirley (Dan Brace) Grantham of Winthrop; Diane (Dean) Hughson of Winthrop; Kelli (Nick) Krum of Winthrop.  Seventeen grandchildren. Three sisters, Joyce Bratten and  Marilyn (Bob) Condry both of Vinton; Barb (Glenn) Hodgson of Dubuque. Two brothers, Howard (Clarice) Grantham of Hartford and Russell (Lori) Grantham of DeSota.

Preceded in death by: his father, Henry and three grandchildren.

Services: at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, with burial in the Church Cemetery.  Public visitation on Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Fairbank-Loras John Buzynski, of Oelwein Care Center, Oelwein, died Wednesday, May 4, 2011 of natural causes.

He was born April 6, 1928, in rural Fairbank, Iowa son of Adam and Cecelia (Weber) Buzynski.

Survived by: one brother, John Buzynski of Fairbank, several nieces and nephews,  great nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by:  his parents, one brother Harold, and one sister Madeline Kerns.

Services: at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2011, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank with burial in I.C. Catholic Cemetery.  Public visitation from 3:00 to 7:oo on Friday, May 6, 2011, at the funeral home with Rosary at 3:30 and Scripture at 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Fairbank-Kenneth Karl Franck, of Fairbank, died Monday, April 25, 2011, at Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, of natural causes. 

He was born April 21, 1933 in Iowa City, Iowa, son of  Carl Franck and Pauline (Strayer) Roberts. 

He married Mary Nachtman on November 27, 1952 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Survived by: his wife, Mary Franck of Fairbank; one daughter, Paula (Rick) Cook of Sacremento, CA; three sons: Steve (Deanne) Franck of Independence; Kenny (Dixie) Franck, Jr. and Darrell (Wendy) Franck, both of Fairbank.  11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren.  One brother, Robert Franck of Waterloo; half sister, Barb of Phoenix, AZ; Step-sister, Margarette Shreve of Sumner, IA.  Several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: his parents: Mother and Step-Father Pauline and Earl Roberts; Father and Step-Mother, Carl and Esther Franck; Step-Brothers: Ed and John Roberts.

Services: at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, with inurnment on Saturday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m., weather permitting at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank.  Public visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Fairbank-James Roy Gallup of Mount Vernon, Washington, formerly of Fairbank, died  Saturday, December 4, 2010 at his home, of a glioblastoma brain tumor.

He was born on August 11, 1944 in Waterloo, Iowa, son of LeRoy D. and Helen L. (Place) Gallup.

He graduate from Wapsie Vally High School  in 1962.  He attended  University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls, Iowa, Iowa State University  at Ames, Iowa and the Univeresity of Arizona at Tempe, Arizona.  He was a Master Architect.  He had his own firm, Gallup Architiect in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Survived by: his mother, Helen Gallup of Fairbank, one sister, Glenda (James ) Kaufman of Fairbank, and one brother, Robert (Bob) (Pat) Gallup of Palm Harbor, Floridia.  Seven nieces, Ann, Jean, DelJean, Kimberly, Linda, Kristine and Erika.

Preceded in death by: his father, LeRoy  D. Gallup in 1984, and one niece Renee’.

Services: at United Methodist Social Hall,in Fairbank, on Monday, April 25,  at 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends.   Inurnment will be in the Fairbank Cemetery.

Memorial may be directed to the family.

Fairbank-Marilyn Mae Rundle, of Fairbank, died on Saturday, March 26, at her home in Fairbank.

She was born May 16, 1932 in Postville, Iowa, daughter of Leonard and Florence (Mohs) Froning.

She married  Bob Rundle on July 25, 1954 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa.

Survived by: one daughter, Barbara (Kirk) Brownson of Jesup, Iowa, one son, Richard (Barbara) Rundle of Jesup, Iowa. Eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two brothers, Leo (Mae) Froning of Mesa, Arizona, Bob (Julie) Froning of Seattle, Washington, one sister, Bonnie Albers of Janesville, Iowa.

Preceded in death by: her parents, husband Bob in 2001, two sons, Rob Rundle and Bill Rundle.  One grandson, Zach Rundle, one great- granddaughter, Ava Westphal. One brother, Lyle Froning and one sister, Shirley Berge.

Services: Private family services on Tuesday, with burial in the Fairbank Cemetery.  Public visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials to the Fairbank Public Library or to the family

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.