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March 2018

Wed
14
Mar

Mari Molseed

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 15:19

Mari Molseed

 

 

Mari J. Molseed, 67, of West Union, Iowa, died Friday, March 2, 2018, at her home in West Union. 

Mari, the daughter of Harry and Delphine (Germann) Watembach, was born June 14, 1950, in Beach, N.D., lived in Wibaux, Mont., and later moved to Ipswich, S.D. 

She earned her B.A. from Northern State College in Aberdeen, S.D.; her master’s at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D.; and her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, in August 1990.  

Mari was a professor of sociology and criminology at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. She retired in 2015.

She loved to travel with her children and grandchildren. 

Wed
14
Mar

Eldred Kilcher

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 15:16

Eldred Kilcher

 

 

Eldred E. Kilcher, 97, of Alpha, Iowa, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society, West Union.

Eldred Elmer Kilcher was born July 24, 1920 in Hawkeye, Iowa, the son of Elmer and Laura (Niewoehner) Kilcher. 

On Nov. 15, 1947 he married Adelaide E. Hovden at Nashua, IA. Eldred and Adelaide farmed in the Alpha area for many years.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

  Eldred enjoyed dancing, playing cards and entertaining friends at their private pond.  He proudly answered to the name “Hotrod” and will be missed dearly by his family.

Survivors include his son, Greg (Marcia) Kilcher of Alpha; daughters Kay Frevert of Taylorville, Ill., Susan Gould of Houston, Texas, Debra (Everett) Gambrell of Dallas, Texas, Jan (Kevin) Kleve of Waucoma; a stepson, Don (Marcia) Aspenson of Jenks, Okla.; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Wed
14
Mar

Clarence Durscher

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 15:11

Clarence Durscher

 

 

Clarence John Durscher, 88, of Fayette, Iowa, formerly of West Union, Iowa, died Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Maple Crest Manor, Fayette.

Clarence was born on Nov. 5, 1929 in West Union, Iowa, the son of John and Celia (Frieden) Durscher. 

He attended school in the West Union area.  

In 1951 he entered the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War. 

In 1956 Clarence married Delphine Rothmeyer at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Clarence and Delphine farmed east of West Union for many years.

Clarence loved fishing, car racing, watching his four sons playing sports, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

He was a 50-year member of the American Legion, served many years as a volunteer fireman and on the city council.

Wed
14
Mar

UIU wrestlers fourth, crown 4 All-Americans

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 15:09

 

Upper Iowa University wrestlers brought home some very impressive trophies from the DII National Wrestling Tournament they hosted over the weekend in Cedar Rapids. The team won the fourth-place trophy (front, center). Individual awards went to (front, l-r) Maleek Williams (runner-up) at 125 and Josh Walker, the 133 pound champion; (back) NFV alum Nick Baumler (seventh at 197) head coach Heath Grimm (National Wrestling Coaches Association DII Tournament Coach of the Year) and Damien Penichet (fourth at 149). (Jerry Wadian photo)

 

UIU wrestlers fourth, crown 4 All-Americans

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

The Upper Iowa University wrestling program walked away from the DII National Wrestling Championships with enough trophies to fill another display case.

Of the six wrestlers who qualified for the National Tournament, which UIU hosted in Cedar Rapids Friday and Saturday, four earned All-American status by finishing in the top eight. 

As a team, the Peacocks finished fourth, marking the third time UIU has finished that high since joining DII.

Head coach Heath Grimm won a pair of honors. After the tourney, he was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association DII Tournament Coach of the Year.

Of the four new All-Americans, Josh Walker became the newest Peacock to win a national title. Maleek Williams was a runner-up, Damian Penichet finished third, and NFV alum Nick Baumler placed seventh.

Walker went 4-0 at 133.  The senior said afterwards, “I always wondered what it’d be like to be a national champion, but it’s still sinking in that I actually won.” 

Walker won two matches by fall and his quarterfinal on a 2-0 decision. 

In the championship match, Walker faced a wrestler he has beaten twice before in the season, 4-0 and 10-3.

“I knew he’d be studying a lot of film from those matches,” Walker commented.

The champion admitted, “I really didn’t study a lot of film. I decided not to worry about him. I only wanted to worry about myself and what I can do.”

While the champion had concentrated on his offense throughout the season, it was defense that won the title. He scored his only point on a second-period escape and held his opponent on the mat through the third period for a 1-0 victory. 

Wed
14
Mar

Monroe to NFV Wrestling HOF

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 14:57

 

LeVirgil Monroe and his wife, Marie, display with the plaque proclaiming LeVirgil as the newest member of the NFV Wrestling Hall of Fame. A wrestler for North High, Monroe went on to win 275 duals as the head coach at Valley High School. (submitted photo)

 

Monroe to NFV Wrestling HOF

 

 

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

In a special ceremony Sunday, March 4, LeVirgil Monroe became the latest member of the NFV Wrestling Hall of Fame.

According to NFV head wrestling coach Jacob Pedersen, “In addition to his stellar career, Monroe is a great ambassador for the sport. I have great respect for the way that Monroe carries himself and the way he can make kids love wrestling. That is what I am trying to model in my program. He has helped our wrestlers, and has helped me become a better coach, and has helped me find that middle ground with our student-athletes.”

“It’s quite an honor for a country boy who started wrestling for the high school so many years ago,” stated an emotional Hall of Famer.

Monroe wrestled for North High. However, the only way Monroe’s father would sign the paperwork to allow his son to wrestle in eighth grade was to get LeVirgil to agree to allow his brother, Leo, to play baseball in the summer.

“If you know anything about life on a farm, you know the difference in the level of chores from the winter season to the summer season, and who got the better end of that deal!” laughed Monroe.

Wed
14
Mar

Janice Bantz

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 14:49

Janice Bantz

 

 

Janice Bantz of Westgate will celebrate her upcoming 80th birthday with a family gathering later this month.

In the meantime, her family would like to honor Janice with a card shower in honor of the occasion.

Birthday greetings can be sent to Janice at 11987 S Ave., Westgate, IA 50681. She would enjoy any special memories or stories you’d like to include in your cards and notes.

Janice Meyer was born March 20, 1938, in Westgate. She and Jim Bantz were married July 13, 1956, and enjoyed 59 years together before he died in June 2015.

The couple’s family includes Joyce (Scott) Satterlee of Evansdale, John (Brenda) Bantz of Ham Lake, Minn., Joan (Jon) Wilhelmi of Maynard, Jim (Lindy) Bantz of Westgate; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren with another due in April.

 
Wed
14
Mar

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Meyer

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 14:46

Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Meyer

 

 

Richard and Janice Meyer will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Thursday, March 22.

Richard Meyer, who grew up in rural West Union, and Janice Elverum were married March 22, 1968, in Waterloo.

They are the parents of son Paul (Mary) Meyer of the Minneapolis area and daughter Julie (David) Thein of Council Bluffs. Their family also includes four grandchildren.

The Meyers plan to celebrate their anniversary with their family at a lake resort in northern Minnesota this summer.

Wed
14
Mar

Monroe to retire from NFV at the end of the school year

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 14:43

 

After a 31-year career as a physical education teacher at Valley and now North Fayette Valley, LeVirgil Monroe has decided to retire at the end of the school year. The Upper Iowa University graduate says he’ll miss his students the most.

 

Monroe to retire from NFV at the end of the school year

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

It’s all about the children for retiring North Fayette Valley physical education teacher LeVirgil Monroe. 

He’ll lace up his sneakers for a final time this spring and bring to an end a 31-year career of promoting a healthful lifestyle to his students at Valley and now North Fayette Valley. 

“It is time for me to start a new chapter in my life,” Monroe said. “I want to enjoy myself and freedom a little bit instead of just having that job from 8 a.m to 4 p.m., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. if you are coaching, or 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. if you are coaching and still have lesson plans to make or papers to correct. There is nothing wrong with that, and I have no problem with that, but when all the numbers matched up, it was just time to let someone else young and energetic get in there.”

Wed
14
Mar

WU dialysis center has lasting impact on patient care

Submitted by Clauer on Wed, 2018-03-14 09:49

 

In July, the DaVita West Union Dialysis Center building will celebrate being open for 15 years. The center, which used to be the old Sweet Computers office along Highway 150 North in West Union, was renovated to meet the growing demand of dialysis patients in the area. Current employees include (l-r) Cassie Bakke, RN; Lisa Torkselson, RN; Toni Powell, MSW social worker; Audrey Winter, CCHT; Nicki Becker, CCNT; and Colleen Dinan, group facility manager. Not pictured is Sarah Harmer.  (Chris DeBack photo)

 

WU dialysis center has lasting impact on patient care

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

Fifteen years ago in July, the dialysis center in West Union opened its doors to its new location. 

With March as Kidney Month in America, this is a good time to reflect on the large impact the dialysis center, now called DaVita West Union Dialysis Center, has had on the northeast Iowa region.

Until Palmer Lutheran Health Center (PLHC) opened a four-chair Gundersen Lutheran satellite dialysis center inside its building in 1991, dialysis patients in West Union and the surrounding areas didn’t have much of a choice when it came to getting treatments. The patients were forced to drive to Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, Wis., head to a Mayo Clinic center, or drive to Waterloo for treatment. 

Timewise, for those driving all the way to Gundersen, getting dialysis was like working a full-time job three days a week. 

“Patients would spend approximately three hours in the car just driving to and from Gundersen for care,” said Colleen Dinan, RN, BSN, DaVita West Union Dialysis Center group facility administrator. “A treatment could take upwards of six hours with an hour of prep time before and after treatment and a four-hour treatment.”

Tue
13
Mar

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