May 2021

Wed
26
May

Janet Brant

Janet Brant

 

Janet Kay Murray Swenka Brant, 82, finished her journey here on earth May 16, 2021.  She gracefully passed away surrounded by her loving family at Stoney Brook Assisted Living Center in West Union, Iowa.

Janet was born on January 23, 1939 to Doris Anna Jenks Murray and Edwin Leland Murray at home in Manilla, Iowa nine years after the next child.  She joined two brothers and four sisters:  Grace Elizabeth (Rasmussen), Eugene Leo, Robert Wendell, Margery Faye (Disburg), Donna Delores (Sheffield), and Vesta Ilene (Senger). 

Janet has cherished memories of her childhood family and homes in Manilla and Red Oak, Iowa. She and her parents moved to Oelwein, Iowa during her high school years where Janet met and married Russell Swenka on September 29, 1956.  To this union came three children:  Roberta Lee, Rebecca Ann, and Duane Russell.

Wed
26
May

Gary Halva

Gary Halva

 

Gary L. Halva, 75, of West Union, Iowa died Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He was born September 29, 1945 to Rudy and Dortha (Garlick) Halva. Gary graduated from Vinton High School in 1963 and went on to earn his BA in Elementary Education and his Master’s in Elementary Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa.

On June 8, 1968, Gary was united in marriage with Karen Gulick in Vinton, Iowa. Throughout the years, Gary was a 5th and 6th grade science teacher at North Tama, worked as an Elementary Counselor at Benton Community Schools, and retired in 2007 after 29 years as a consultant with Keystone AEA.

Wed
26
May

Janette Murrell

Janette Murrell

 

Janette R Murrell, age 85 passed away on May 17, 2021 in Melbourne FL. Janette was born May 28, 1935 in Perry, IA to Harry T Hoagland and Hilda M (Appenzeller) Hoagland. She attended Perry schools graduating in 1953, and then attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines IA. She married high school sweetheart Robert Murrell on April 18, 1954. The couple moved to Ames, IA where she worked for WOI Radio and Iowa State University while Robert attended school. In 1957 they moved to Elkader, IA where Robert taught high school vocational agriculture. 

Jan was active in church and community functions and worked as secretary for the Clayton County Extension service. She later lived in Grundy Center, IA, Chatfield, MN, West Union, IA and Clarence, IA. The couple then retired to Lead Hill, AR in 1996, ultimately moving to Melbourne, FL in 2015. 

Wed
26
May

Mary Glass

Mary Glass

 

Mary Jean Glass, 85, of Naples, Florida and formerly of Oelwein, Iowa died Saturday evening, May 8, 2021 at Memory Care of Naples in Naples.

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein with Rev. Josh Schunk officiating.

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Thursday.

Interment: Hope Cemetery, rural Maynard, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa Chapter, 317 7th Avenue SE #402, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Wed
26
May

NFV soccer into Substate finals

TigerHawk junior Raul Solis takes a shot toward the goal during last week’s substate win over Anamosa. (Zakary Kriener photo)

 

NFV soccer into Substate finals

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The TigerHawk train kept on rolling Monday night as North Fayette Valley advanced to the final round of Substate with a 3-0 shutout win over Postville.

Wed
26
May

WC girls end up with two 5th place finishes at State

Senior Marlee Squires rounds the corner on the inside lane during the West Central 4x200 race. She, along with Aaliyah Gordon, Kylee Lickiss, and Naomi Scott finished 5th at the State Track Meet in Des Moines. The relay team finished in 1:48.25. (Marie Conway photo)

 

WC girls end up with two 5th place finishes at State

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The West Central girls had a great showing at the 2021 State Track Meet in Des Moines last week, which included a pair of fifth place finishes.

Qualifying in four events, the Lady Blue Devils managed to score 8 points and place 32nd in an effort that included three out of four events beating their ranking.

Wed
26
May

TigerHawks compete in 10 events at State track

Lucas Wurzer takes off in the first leg of the Class 2A Sprint Medley race at last week’s State Meet. He, along with Kaleb White, Zach Robrock, and Peyton Halverson finished with a time of 1:37.81. (photo by Gidal Kaiser/Oelwein Newspapers)

 

TigerHawks compete in 10 events at State track

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

North Fayette Valley qualified a total of 10 events for the 2021 State Track Meet in Des Moines last week, which produced an impressive result that included half of those events finishing within the top 12 in Class 2A.

For the TigerHawk girls, it was throwers Abby Boehm and Breanna Baumler that scored points as the two contributed all of NFV’s 13 points (21st overall).

Wed
26
May

TigerHawk boys golf at Districts

Senior Andrew Schmitt watches his drive soar down the fairway during Friday’s District Golf Tournament in Waterloo. Schmitt co-led the TigerHawks alongside Dane Schott as each golfer carded a round of 89. (photo by Emily Koch)

 

TigerHawk boys golf at District

 

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

The North Fayette Valley boys’ golf team headed south to Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo on Friday as they participated in the Class 2A District Golf Tournament.

Up against both a strong field of competition, as well as rainy and windy conditions, the TigerHawks combined for an 18-hole team total of 364. West Branch took top honors with a 324, while Dyersville Beckman also advanced to State with 339.

Wed
26
May

"Splash into Summer" June 5

West Union Chamber/Mainstreet hopes everyone will be ready to “splash into summer” like Mikah Opperman (far right) seems to be as it hosts the first-ever Summer Fest event on Saturday, June 5.  Pictured are West Union Chamber Summerfest committee members (l-r) Chris DeBack, Deanne Tyler, and Brianna Keune.  (Megan Molseed photo) 

 

"Splash into Summer" June 5

 

 

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

The sun is out and the temperatures are starting to soar – which means it is the perfect time to splash into summer and celebrate Summerfest on Saturday, June 5 in downtown West Union.  

“We have a lot of fun and exciting events planned, and it should be a fantastic day and evening!” noted West Union Chamber of Commerce promotions committee chairman, Chris DeBack, of the event.  “There will be something for everyone from morning until night!”

The first annual Summerfest is a West Union Chamber/Mainstreet and will kick-off with a 9 a.m. 5k run/walk.  Registration for the 5k will be held at 8:30 a.m. that morning, at City Hall. 

Wed
26
May

Presenting the NFV graduating class of 2021!

Presenting the NFV graduating class of 2021!

 

By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

The North Fayette Valley High School gym will be packed to the brim at 7 p.m. Friday, May 28, as 76 seniors from the North Fayette Valley Class of 2021 receive their high school diplomas. 

The NFV administration is also excited to announce that there will be no restrictions during the ceremony and all who would like to attend are welcome.  

The class of 2021 has chosen Columbia Blue, Silver, and Black as its class colors; a white rose as the class flower. "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins was selected as the class song.  

While each year, the class motto holds a special meaning to the graduating class, this year’s motto: "They told us high school would go by in a flash, not a zoom!” reflects a little bit more the unique times in which these students are graduating, adding a bit of humor to the unprecedented events.  

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