Josephine Rochford

Josephine M. Rochford of Sumner died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, at Unity Point/Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo after a brief illness. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner with Rev. James Brokman and Deacon Michal Schemmel concelebrating. 

Interment followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery (Pinhook), rural Sumner. 

Memorials may be made in Josephine’s name to St. Bridget’s, Pinhook.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner assisted the family. 

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com. 

Josephine Marie, daughter of Carl and Mabel (Stunes) Exman, was born Jan. 21, 1926, in Oelwein, Iowa. 

She was baptized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein and confirmed Oct. 8, 1940, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette. 

Rosemary Hanson

Rosemary Hanson, 93, of Sumner, Iowa, formerly of West Union, Iowa, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at Hillcrest Living in Sumner, Iowa.  

Rosemary was born Nov. 17, 1924, to Samuel R. and Zenita (Howe) Leitch in New Hampton, Iowa. 

She was a graduate of Waucoma High School. She earned her B.A. in Music and English Education from Luther College and her Master’s Degree in Remedial Reading from Upper Iowa University.

Rosemary was united in marriage with Daniel C. Hanson on May 28, 1944, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Los Angeles, Calif. Five children were born to this union.  

Rosemary taught at Lehigh, Iowa; Somers, Iowa; Holy Name in West Union, Iowa; and in the South Winneshiek School District, including the parochial schools.  She was a substitute teacher in the North Fayette and South Winneshiek Schools following her retirement.

Daniel Volker

Daniel S. “Big D” Volker, 33, of Maynard, Iowa died Saturday morning, Oct. 27, 2018 at his parents’ home in Arlington, Iowa.

Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2018 at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Maynard with Pastor Scott Hall officiating.

Life Celebration Visiting Time: 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Inurnment: Campton Cemetery, rural Lamont, Iowa at a later date.

Memorial Fund: Arlington Fire Department and E.M.S.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Daniel Scott Volker was born Jan. 19, 1985 in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of James Scott and Susan Elizabeth (Weston) Volker.  

Dan lived in Sumner until he moved to Arlington when he was 10 years old.  

Ruth Sieck

Ruth M. “Toots” Sieck, 78, of Fayette died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate, Iowa with Rev. Herbert Mueller III officiating.  

Interment was held at Hawkeye Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made in Ruth’s name to Grace Lutheran Church or Maple Crest Manor, both in Fayette. 

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette assisted Ruth’s family. 

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.  

Ruth Marie, daughter of Herman and Melinda (Schlatter) Sieck, was born March 4, 1940, at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein. 

Shortly after Ruth was born, her mother died, and Florence raised Ruth along with her father and many loving family members. 

Ruth received her education in the West Central schools. 

Jerry Medberry

Jerry Dean Medberry, 72, of Elgin died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society – West Union following a long illness.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Elgin Cemetery.

Iowa Cremation is handling the arrangements.

Jerry is survived by a brother, Bob (Helen) Medberry, of Elgin and many nieces and nephews.

Ralph Adams

Ralph B. Adams, 63, of Waucoma died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union.
 

A Celebration of Life memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the Waucoma Event Center in Waucoma. 

Private interment will take place at the Alpha Cemetery, Alpha, IA.  
 

Funeral arrangements were handled by Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Waucoma.  

Online condolences for Ralph's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.
 

Ralph Blair Adams was born Dec. 16, 1954, near Tacoma, Wash., the son of Howard and Charlotte (Oler) Adams. 

He received most of his education in Big Fork, Minn., and then the family moved to Waucoma, IA, where he graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1973. 

He married Alice Schaufenbuel, and to this union two daughters were born, Amy and Carrie. The couple later divorced. 

Paul Hackman

Paul Hackman, age 87, of Calmar, IA, died on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018 at Gundersen Health Systems in LaCrosse, Wis.

  A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Rev. Robert Gross on Saturday, Oct. 13, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar.

Interment was in the church cemetery with grandsons Jason Zuck, Justin Zuck, James Zuck, Joshua Taylor, Jackson Taylor, Isaac Taylor, Paul E. Hackman, Jon Hackman, Travis Tekippe, Matthew Tekippe, Nathan Einck, Bryan Einck, and Mitchell Einck (in spirit) as casket bearers.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, in Calmar.

Paul Christopher Hackman was born on June 29, 1931 in Festina, Iowa to Edward and Anna (Schmitt) Hackman.  

He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and attended St. Mary’s Parochial School in Festina, Iowa.  

Janice (Pinney) Budensiek

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, Janice (Pinney) Budensiek went to meet the Lord.  Her faith in God helped carry her through many difficult situations, from a tree falling on her to the loss of her husband 10 months ago. Janice knew her scripture, but her faith was expressed through her singing. 

  Janice was born on April 19, 1935, in Elgin, Iowa, to Frank and Mabel Pinney.   

She attended school in Elgin and graduated in 1953.

Janice had her first job in Rochester, Minn., at Mayo Clinic. 

  Janice met Roger Budensiek shortly after moving to Rochester.  She married the love of her life in 1956 and enjoyed 61 years of blissful marriage. They were blessed with three children, Pam, Paula, and Todd. 

Billee Conner

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”                - Tagore

Beulah “Billee” Conner went to her heavenly home on Oct. 16, 2018, and is now in the loving arms of her husband, family and friends who preceded her in death.

Billee was born Oct. 25, 1923, near Williamstown, Mo., to Bertha Melvina (Kell) Mitts and Eddie Pearl Mitts. She was seventh of 10 children. 

After graduating from high school Billee went to Washington, D.C., to work in the Washington Navy Yard during World War II, an environment in which she flourished. 

She returned home to Elgin, Iowa, where she met and married Harold Conner on Sept. 8, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They spent the first four years of their marriage living in Des Moines while Harold attended Drake University. 

Ellen Kneeland

Ellen Viola Kneeland, 82, of Clermont, Iowa died Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society in West Union, Iowa.  

Ellen was born Oct. 17, 1936 to Clement and Viola (Schmelzer) Kneeland in West Union, Iowa. 

She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Clermont, Iowa.

Ellen graduated from high school in Clermont, Iowa.

She lived her entire life at 401 Carlton Street in Clermont.

  Ellen worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at Antes Law Office in West Union, Estes Law Office and was also a receptionist at the doctor’s office in Elgin, Iowa.

She was a member of St. Peter’s Rosary Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the National Honor Society.  

Ellen enjoyed the simple things of life, watching little children and seeing dogs.

Ellen is survived by her brother, Ralph Kneeland, of Clermont, Iowa.