Norene Landsgard

Norene Henrietta Landsgard, 85, of Gunder, Iowa and Clermont, Iowa died on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at the Barthell O.E.S Home in Decorah, Iowa.

Norene was born on January 29, 1931 to Ole and Nina (Loftsgard) Amundson in rural Clermont, Iowa.

She was baptized on February 11, 1931 and confirmed on June 3, 1945 at West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa.

Norene graduated from Clermont High School in 1948 where she was active in choir and band and played on the women's basketball team. 

Norene was united in marriage with Gordon Lee Landsgard on August 5, 1950 at East Clermont Lutheran Church in rural Clermont, Iowa.

While raising their family, they farmed one mile east of Gunder, Iowa and had dairy cows and hogs until moving to Clermont, Iowa in 1996.

Mildred Peterson

Mildred Peterson, 94 of West Union, Iowa died Saturday December 24, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, Iowa.

Mildred Anna Geraldine, the daughter of Louis (LTN) and Cora (Nordhus) Olson was born September 13, 1922 on a farm near Clermont, Iowa.

She was baptized at the West Clermont Lutheran Church by Rev. Gunsten and confirmed at the West Clermont Lutheran Church by Rev. Gunsten.

Millie attended rural school near her farm and attended Clermont High School, graduating in 1939.

After graduation she was employed at the Montauk Larrabee Mansion in Clermont until 1941.

On October 24, 1941 Mildred was united in marriage with Ernest Merlin Peterson at the West Clermont Church by Rev. Ramsey. To this union, three sons were born, Larry, Dennis and David.

They farmed for several years on a farm they purchased east of West Union, Iowa.

Manetta Keefer

Manetta Irene (Earle) Keefer of Clovis, New Mexico, formerly of the Fayette/Wadena area, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016.

Manetta was born in a log home in Albany, Iowa, on Aug. 29, 1915. The daughter of William Edward and Lavina (Harriman) Earle, she was the middle of five children.

She attended Frog Hollow School, Albany School and Fayette High School.

Manetta met Clay Vinton Keefer, the love of her life, on a football field in Wadena; he was the school’s guard.

The couple were married Oct. 22, 1932, in Wadena. After they married, they moved to a family-owned farm on Kornhill Road, midway between Fayette and Wadena. There, they raised their two children, Mardell, born in 1939, and Rickie, born in 1954, and loved the family farm for 45 years.

They were longtime members of Wadena Presbyterian Church.

James O'Brien

James E. O’Brien, 67, of West Union, Iowa died Monday, December 26, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

James Edward, the son of Everett and Avis (Dirksen) O’Brien was born February 2^nd, 1949 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Jim grew up in Sumner, Iowa and graduated from Sumner High School. 

He graduated from Luther College, Graduate School of Banking, and College for Financial Planning.

He was a Certified Financial Planner and Mutual Fund Counselor.  Jim was the co-owner of O’Brien Brothers Drug, the Executive Vice President and Director of Farmers Savings Bank, and President of O’Brien and Associates.

Upon graduation from Luther College he served his country in the United States Marine Corps during Vietnam. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.

Mabel Molokken

Mabel Gullickson Molokken, 89, West Union, IA, formerly of Ossian, IA, died Monday, December 26, 2016, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI.

Mabel was born on May 2, 1927, on the Johnson Family Farm, rural Ossian, to John T. Johnson and Bertha (Evenson) Johnson.

She was baptized on June 5, 1927 and confirmed on September 7, 1941, both at First Lutheran Church, rural Ossian.

Mabel was united in marriage to Glen H. Gullickson on September 4, 1943, at First Lutheran Church, rural Ossian. Six children were born to this union. Glen later passed away on July 16, 1994.

Mabel was later united in marriage to Edwin Molokken on January 9, 1999, at First Lutheran Church, rural Ossian.

Eileene Olson

Eileene M. Olson, 86, of Clermont, Iowa died Wednesday, December 22, 2016 at Stoney Brook, West Union, Iowa. 

Eileene Mary, the daughter of William W. and Julia E. (Kobriger) Wedo, was born May 19, 1930 at the Postville Hospital in Postville, Iowa. 

She was baptized in Decorah and confirmed at the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont.

She attended country school at Morris #6 and graduated from Clermont High School in 1948.

Eileene was united in marriage with Lyle Marion Olson on July 18, 1954 at West Clermont Lutheran Church. 

Eileene worked as a bookkeeper at the Kaiser-Frazer Garage from 1948 until 1954.  She then worked at the Clermont Co-Op for 12 years, Atwood/Escel for 13½ years, Valley “C” Store for five years, and Clermont Hardware for three years.  She also sold Avon for many years.