Leander "Lenny" Cremer

Leander “Lenny” Cremer, age 98, of Festina, IA, died on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, IA, surrounded by his loving family.

     Leander “Lenny” Henry Cremer was born on July 5, 1916, the son of John and Mathilda (Holthaus) Cremer in Festina, Iowa.  He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina. He married Odelia Lechtenberg on February 5, 1940, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina.  He farmed the Cremer family farm until he retired in 1981.  Lenny had many hobbies including, woodworking, fishing, traveling and playing cards with his good friends and neighbors.  He enjoyed helping others with projects, including remodeling the Festina Church with Father Kunsch.  Lenny had a wonderful memory and enjoyed sharing his wealth of information about early history of our community with his family and friends.

Carole Mosby

Carole Mosby, 68, of Waterloo formerly of Elgin died Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Dumont Wellness Center, Dumont, Iowa. Carole Beth, the daughter of Gordon and Verna (Yunker) Mosby, was born April 10, 1946 in Postville.

Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Elgin.

Friends were invited to call one-hour before services at the funeral home on Monday.

Interment will be held in the Elgin Cemetery, Elgin.

 Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service assisted the family with the arrangements.

Margaret Foxwell

Margaret Lucille Foxwell, 93, Elgin, Iowa, died Thursday, January 15, 2015, at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Margaret was born on May 16, 1921, in Auburn, Iowa, to Lloyd and Thelma (Payne) Tope.

She was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in West Union, Iowa. 

Margaret graduated from West Union High School and later acquired her teaching certification and taught country school.

She shared many happy memories of her childhood with her parents, and her brothers, Harold and Dave.

In August, 1946, Margaret married the love of her life, Thomas (Tom) Harris Foxwell, of Illyria Township near Elgin, Iowa.  Margaret and Tom went on to happily raise four children, Allan, Jim, Paul, and Susan, on the Foxwell family homestead.

Deb (Bowers) Detjens

Debra Luann Detjens, age 58, of Blair, Neb., formerly of West Union, died January 20, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Scribner, Nebraska, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. 

A gathering of family and friends was held Saturday January 24, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. 

Debra Luann Bowers was born in West Union, Iowa to Marilyn (Stendel) and Darryl Bowers.  

She attended North High School in West Union.

Deb was united in marriage in 1976 to George Drilling, and together they had their only child, a daughter, Cari, born in 1977.

After separating from George, Deb and Cari moved to Blair, Nebraska in 1981 where Deb met her current husband, Russell Detjens.

Deb and Russ were married in 1995, where they lived on a farm a few miles outside of Blair.

Margaret M. Houghton

Margaret M. Houghton, 94, passed away peacefully Jan. 18, 2015, at her home in Hayward, Calif.

She was born in Elgin and raised in Waukegan, Ill.

Margaret had been a resident of San Lorenzo and Hayward for nearly 60 years. She worked for over 20 years in the San Lorenzo Unified School District and spent many years as secretary to the district superintendent.

Known for her organizing skills, outgoing personality, and as an avid reader, she continued to coordinate events for school district retirees, the Dublin Senior Center Ready Club, bridge, and numerous other groups up until her passing. She was a member of Castlewood Country Club for over 50 years.

In 1945, Margaret married Walter T. “Sully” Houghton of Waukegan, Ill. They shared over 50 years of married life.

Ralph Barness

Ralph L. Barness, 91, of West Union, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Barthell O.E.F. Home in Decorah.

Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Ossian.  Rev. Marshall Nessa was the officiant.

Friends were invited to call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home in Clermont and one-hour before services at the church on Monday, Jan 19.

Interment was held in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Clermont assisted the family with the arrangements.

Dorothy Brickman

Dorothy Brickman, 89, of Oelwein passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 at Mercy Living Plus in Oelwein.

Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein with Rev. Leo Combs-Lay officiating.   Visitation was helf from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one-hour before the services on Saturday at the church. 

Zenita Arthur

Zenita B. Arthur, 98, of Fayette and formerly of Randalia and Westgate, died Thursday, Jan. 15, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Union United Methodist Church of rural Sumner with Pastor Johnny Ray Tucker officiating.  Interment followed at the church cemetery.  Friends were invited to call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one-hour preceding services at the church on Monday.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner assisted the family with the arrangements.

Memorials may be given in her name to Union United Methodist Church or the Westgate Public Library. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.