Remembrances
Death of LaVina Mae Faber Thurwanger--Minburn Class of 1942
LaVina Mae Thurwanger
(September 22, 1924 - April 22, 2010)
KEWANEE - LaVina Mae Thurwanger, 85, of Kewanee, died at 4:00 PM, Thursday, April 22, 2010 at her home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Monday, April 26 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Henry Fritz OSB. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM, Sunday, April 25 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with a rosary being recited at 7:30 PM. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Senior Citizen Center or to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
LaVina was born September 22, 1924 in Minburn, IA, the daughter of Harvey and Mary (Reeves) Faber. She married Robert E. Thurwanger on October 16, 1943 in Kewanee. He preceded her in death on March 4, 1998. Survivors include her children, Judy (John) Breunig of Evansville, IN, Elaine (Tim) Adkison of Marion, IA, Jerry (Linda) Thurwanger of Acworth, GA, Steve Thurwanger of Kewanee, Jim (Janine) Thurwanger of Milwaukee, WI, Deb (Ron) Salisbury and Sue (Larry) Beck, both of Kewanee and Cherie (Randy) Jones of Palo, IA, her siblings, LuluJean (Buddy) Zuercher of Tennessee, Jeorgene (Larry) Tegeler of Indianapolis, IN, Mary Ellen (LeRoy) Thurwanger of Ottawa, IL, Dale Faber and his friend, Delores of Marion, IA and Ernie (Neva) Faber of Minburn, IA, nineteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son, Robert Thurwanger Jr. and a brother, Joe Faber.
She graduated from Minburn High School as Valedictorian and from AIB Business School in Des Moines, IA. In her early years she worked as a cook at the Cake & Cream in Kewanee. She was a homemaker and was currently and had been an Avon Lady for 40+ years. She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed going to the Senior Citizen Center with her lady friends to have supper. She also enjoyed taking walks, doing yard work, attending yard sales, camping, crocheting and watching the Hallmark channel. She thoroughly enjoyed her family and grandchildren and loved life and lived it to the fullest.
(Rux Funeral Home, Kewanee, IL)
Death of George Miller, 1952 Minburn Graduate
published on May 25, 2010
GEORGE MILLER
Urbandale
George Miller, 74, died, Sunday, May 23, 2010 in Urbandale. He was born August 24, 1935 to Ethel and Oliver Miller in Minburn, IA. He graduated from Minburn High School in 1952.
George enjoyed being a square dance caller, bowling, golf, playing cards, going to auctions and camping. He worked at Plumb Supply from September 1955 to November 2003. George was a member of Masonic Lodge #80, Adel; Scottish Rite Consistory, 32nd Degree, Des Moines; the Za- Ga-Zig Shrine and Polk County Shrine Club. He attended the First Church of Christ in Ankeny, IA, and served as a member of the board at Central IA Bible Camp. He had served as president of the Parents of Acoustically Handicap. He also served as an Elder, a Deacon, Trustee and on many other committees in the church.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Doris Miller, daughters, Cynthia (Karl) Overton; Kimberly (Vernon) Mumford, Karla Miller; son, Dennis (Diana) Miller; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Siblings, Calvin (Jean) Miller, Elaine Leonard and Janice Stewart. George is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Ethel (Long), brothers Quentin, Edward, Richard; and sister, Olive.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 27, 2010, at First Church of Christ, 310 NW Ash Dr., Ankeny with burial at 2 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Minburn, IA. Friends may visit with family from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, with a 7 p.m. Masonic Service at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central IA Bible Camp in loving memory of George.
(Des Moines Register)
Online condolences may be made to hamiltonsfuneralhome.com
GEORGE MILLER
Urbandale
George Miller, 74, died, Sunday, May 23, 2010 in Urbandale. He was born August 24, 1935 to Ethel and Oliver Miller in Minburn, IA. He graduated from Minburn High School in 1952.
George enjoyed being a square dance caller, bowling, golf, playing cards, going to auctions and camping. He worked at Plumb Supply from September 1955 to November 2003. George was a member of Masonic Lodge #80, Adel; Scottish Rite Consistory, 32nd Degree, Des Moines; the Za- Ga-Zig Shrine and Polk County Shrine Club. He attended the First Church of Christ in Ankeny, IA, and served as a member of the board at Central IA Bible Camp. He had served as president of the Parents of Acoustically Handicap. He also served as an Elder, a Deacon, Trustee and on many other committees in the church.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Doris Miller, daughters, Cynthia (Karl) Overton; Kimberly (Vernon) Mumford, Karla Miller; son, Dennis (Diana) Miller; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Siblings, Calvin (Jean) Miller, Elaine Leonard and Janice Stewart. George is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Ethel (Long), brothers Quentin, Edward, Richard; and sister, Olive.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 27, 2010, at First Church of Christ, 310 NW Ash Dr., Ankeny with burial at 2 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Minburn, IA. Friends may visit with family from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, with a 7 p.m. Masonic Service at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central IA Bible Camp in loving memory of George.
(Des Moines Register)
Online condolences may be made to hamiltonsfuneralhome.com
Death of Shirley Smith Friche--1948 Minburn Graduate
SHIRLEY A. FRICHE
West Des Moines
Shirley A. Friche went peacefully to be with our Lord and her beloved husband, Donald on May 1, 2010.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, at Merle Hay Funeral Home. The body has been cremated and the cremains will be interred at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery.
Mrs. Friche was born on June 23, 1931. Mrs. Friche, a native of Milburn, IA, lived in Des Moines, retired from the State of Iowa Corrections Department, and retired to Mercer, MO.
She will be missed by her children, Alan (Marian) Yard, Michael (Dianna) Yard, and Carol (Robert) Stewart; grandchildren, Ian, Devin, Tara, Scott, Andrew, Shaina, and Dylan; and great-grandchildren, Parker and Tierney.
(Des Moines Register)
West Des Moines
Shirley A. Friche went peacefully to be with our Lord and her beloved husband, Donald on May 1, 2010.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, at Merle Hay Funeral Home. The body has been cremated and the cremains will be interred at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery.
Mrs. Friche was born on June 23, 1931. Mrs. Friche, a native of Milburn, IA, lived in Des Moines, retired from the State of Iowa Corrections Department, and retired to Mercer, MO.
She will be missed by her children, Alan (Marian) Yard, Michael (Dianna) Yard, and Carol (Robert) Stewart; grandchildren, Ian, Devin, Tara, Scott, Andrew, Shaina, and Dylan; and great-grandchildren, Parker and Tierney.
(Des Moines Register)
Death of James Spear, Washington School graduate of 1938
James R. Spear
April 6, 1921 - March 29, 2010
James R. Spear, 88, died at Frasier Meadows Health Care Center in Boulder, CO Monday, March 29th. He was born south of Perry, Iowa, to a hard-working farming family. His parents were Edward O. Spear and Lillian Mary Robison Spear. James was only 7 years old when his mother died. His sisters, Louise Arganbright and Lucille Andrews, and his brothers, Howard Spear and John Spear, played an active role in raising their younger brother. James graduated from Washington Township School in May, 1938, where he drove a school bus for $15 per month during his senior year.
In spite of never having seen the ocean, James joined the Navy in 1942. He trained in Great Lakes, IL, where he contracted scarlet fever. At Gunners School in the San Francisco Bay area, James was a guard on Goat Island. In October, 1943, he shipped out on the USS Sea Pike landing at Brisbane, Australia. He spent the wartime at Mount Cootha, near Brisbane, Queensland at a supply depot. He returned to the states after VJ Day in September, 1945, and was a gunner’s mate to the Shore Patrol in San Francisco until his discharge in January, 1946.
James then returned to Perry, Iowa, and worked for the Fazel Seed Company and farmed on the family acreages. After his father died of a stroke in 1949, he farmed with his brothers and a brother-in-law.
In that same year, he met his future wife, Katherine Cline, at a bowling alley in Perry, Iowa, when her brother-in-law introduced them. James and Katherine married on August 21, 1950, at 8:00 a.m. Afterward, they had a breakfast reception and honeymooned in the Wisconsin Dells.
They sold the farm and moved to Longmont, Colorado in 1952 due to Katherine’s on-going difficulties controlling her asthma. In addition to owning and operating a motel, James’ practical skills paid off as he had a number of jobs including working at the sugar beet factory, a quarry, and at a lumberyard. In 1954, after trading the motel for some acreage, the family moved to Boulder. James began working at Rocky Flats. In 1955, the family moved to Pine Street in order that the children attend Sacred Heart of Jesus School. Long time members of the parish, James and Katherine were active in many organizations such as the school’s PTA and Boy Scouts. James always lent a hand whenever he could. He was also a long time member of the Boulder Elks. In 1961, in partnership with two others, he built and managed Thunderbird Bowling Alley. In 1964, James returned to Rocky Flats until he retired in 1982.
James was a man of his times; practical, industrious, frugal, devoted to his family and fascinated by the world around him. His extended family will remember him as an extrovert with a sense of humor who could start up a conversation with anyone. At times he could be cantankerous but that ‘dogged’ approach probably contributed to his longevity. Throughout his years in Colorado, James enjoyed camping in the Rocky Mountains, home improvements, fixing cars, bowling, playing cards and cribbage, and making trips to Iowa, California, Oregon and Australia to visit family and friends. He was a man of simple pleasures. After all, what more could a man want than an atlas under his favorite chair, a tape measure in his pocket, a stack of National Geographic magazines rescued from the rubbish dump for his reading enjoyment, a workshop out the back and family always near. His love of exploring new places never waned and this included four trips to Australia, with his last at age 81. In their retirement, James and Katherine enjoyed spending time in Arizona until Katherine’s death in 1999 when James returned to Colorado to be closer to his children.
James is survived by his children: Margaret Adams (Jack) of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Kathy Shadel (Steve) of Louisville, Monica Spear of Longmont, Edward Spear (Roxanne) of Los Angeles, Michael Spear (Lisa) of Denver, and son-in-law Mike McCall of Albuquerque. Grandchildren include Sarah, Sam, and Nick Adams, Timothy and Katie Shadel, Jeff McCall, and Lily and Laurel Spear. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins make up his extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Katherine in 1999, as well as by daughter Julia McCall in 1995, and son Joseph Spear in 1982.
His funeral will be celebrated at Nativity Catholic Church in Broomfield at 11am on Monday, April 5th. A gathering for the rosary will take place at Rundus Funeral Home of Broomfield on Easter Sunday evening at 7pm.
Please send any contributions in James’ memory to Parkinson Association of the Rockies, 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 204-B, Denver, CO 80222, Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Dr. East, Lafayette, CO 80026, or to Frasier Meadows Retirement Center, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO 80303.
(Boulder Daily Camera)
April 6, 1921 - March 29, 2010
James R. Spear, 88, died at Frasier Meadows Health Care Center in Boulder, CO Monday, March 29th. He was born south of Perry, Iowa, to a hard-working farming family. His parents were Edward O. Spear and Lillian Mary Robison Spear. James was only 7 years old when his mother died. His sisters, Louise Arganbright and Lucille Andrews, and his brothers, Howard Spear and John Spear, played an active role in raising their younger brother. James graduated from Washington Township School in May, 1938, where he drove a school bus for $15 per month during his senior year.
In spite of never having seen the ocean, James joined the Navy in 1942. He trained in Great Lakes, IL, where he contracted scarlet fever. At Gunners School in the San Francisco Bay area, James was a guard on Goat Island. In October, 1943, he shipped out on the USS Sea Pike landing at Brisbane, Australia. He spent the wartime at Mount Cootha, near Brisbane, Queensland at a supply depot. He returned to the states after VJ Day in September, 1945, and was a gunner’s mate to the Shore Patrol in San Francisco until his discharge in January, 1946.
James then returned to Perry, Iowa, and worked for the Fazel Seed Company and farmed on the family acreages. After his father died of a stroke in 1949, he farmed with his brothers and a brother-in-law.
In that same year, he met his future wife, Katherine Cline, at a bowling alley in Perry, Iowa, when her brother-in-law introduced them. James and Katherine married on August 21, 1950, at 8:00 a.m. Afterward, they had a breakfast reception and honeymooned in the Wisconsin Dells.
They sold the farm and moved to Longmont, Colorado in 1952 due to Katherine’s on-going difficulties controlling her asthma. In addition to owning and operating a motel, James’ practical skills paid off as he had a number of jobs including working at the sugar beet factory, a quarry, and at a lumberyard. In 1954, after trading the motel for some acreage, the family moved to Boulder. James began working at Rocky Flats. In 1955, the family moved to Pine Street in order that the children attend Sacred Heart of Jesus School. Long time members of the parish, James and Katherine were active in many organizations such as the school’s PTA and Boy Scouts. James always lent a hand whenever he could. He was also a long time member of the Boulder Elks. In 1961, in partnership with two others, he built and managed Thunderbird Bowling Alley. In 1964, James returned to Rocky Flats until he retired in 1982.
James was a man of his times; practical, industrious, frugal, devoted to his family and fascinated by the world around him. His extended family will remember him as an extrovert with a sense of humor who could start up a conversation with anyone. At times he could be cantankerous but that ‘dogged’ approach probably contributed to his longevity. Throughout his years in Colorado, James enjoyed camping in the Rocky Mountains, home improvements, fixing cars, bowling, playing cards and cribbage, and making trips to Iowa, California, Oregon and Australia to visit family and friends. He was a man of simple pleasures. After all, what more could a man want than an atlas under his favorite chair, a tape measure in his pocket, a stack of National Geographic magazines rescued from the rubbish dump for his reading enjoyment, a workshop out the back and family always near. His love of exploring new places never waned and this included four trips to Australia, with his last at age 81. In their retirement, James and Katherine enjoyed spending time in Arizona until Katherine’s death in 1999 when James returned to Colorado to be closer to his children.
James is survived by his children: Margaret Adams (Jack) of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Kathy Shadel (Steve) of Louisville, Monica Spear of Longmont, Edward Spear (Roxanne) of Los Angeles, Michael Spear (Lisa) of Denver, and son-in-law Mike McCall of Albuquerque. Grandchildren include Sarah, Sam, and Nick Adams, Timothy and Katie Shadel, Jeff McCall, and Lily and Laurel Spear. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins make up his extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Katherine in 1999, as well as by daughter Julia McCall in 1995, and son Joseph Spear in 1982.
His funeral will be celebrated at Nativity Catholic Church in Broomfield at 11am on Monday, April 5th. A gathering for the rosary will take place at Rundus Funeral Home of Broomfield on Easter Sunday evening at 7pm.
Please send any contributions in James’ memory to Parkinson Association of the Rockies, 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 204-B, Denver, CO 80222, Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Dr. East, Lafayette, CO 80026, or to Frasier Meadows Retirement Center, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO 80303.
(Boulder Daily Camera)
Death of Mary Louise Rowe Loughry, 1940 Minburn Graduate
published on March 03, 2010
MARY LOUISE LOUGHRY
Des Moines
Mary Louise Loughry, 87, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th St. with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Mary was born January 8, 1923 in Des Moines, the daughter of John and Hazel (Clouse) Rowe. She was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church.
Mary is survived by her children, Sharon (Rodger) Williams, John (Laura) Loughry, David (Judi) Loughry and Ila (Kendall) Miller; six grandchildren and her brother, John Phillip (Kathryn) Rowe of Fullerton, California. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Robert Loughry; brother, Charlie Rowe; son, George Loughry and grandson, Bryon Loughry.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church, Fleur Heights Care Center or Iowa Hospice in loving memory of Mary.
(Des Moines Register, March 3, 2010)
MARY LOUISE LOUGHRY
Des Moines
Mary Louise Loughry, 87, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at Hamilton's Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th St. with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Mary was born January 8, 1923 in Des Moines, the daughter of John and Hazel (Clouse) Rowe. She was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church.
Mary is survived by her children, Sharon (Rodger) Williams, John (Laura) Loughry, David (Judi) Loughry and Ila (Kendall) Miller; six grandchildren and her brother, John Phillip (Kathryn) Rowe of Fullerton, California. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Robert Loughry; brother, Charlie Rowe; son, George Loughry and grandson, Bryon Loughry.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church, Fleur Heights Care Center or Iowa Hospice in loving memory of Mary.
(Des Moines Register, March 3, 2010)
Death of Ruth Andrews McLaughlin, 1935 graduate of Washington Township
published on January 13, 2010
RUTH LANORE MCLAUGHLIN
Dallas Center
Ruth McLaughlin, 89, died Monday, January 11, 2010 at Spurgeon Manor Care Center in Dallas Center, Iowa. She was born February 17, 1920 near Adel, Iowa to Flossie Surber and Wilber Andrews.
She enjoyed needlepoint, reading, church activities, especially Tuesday Club at Westminster Presbyterian Church, attending her children and grandchildren’s activities and most of all just spending time with her family.
Ruth is survived by her two sons, David (Donna) and Frederick McLaughlin; one brother, Gene Andrews; two sisters, Lois West and Jane Schultze; five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; fourteen nieces and fifteen nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lloyd C.; brother, Max Andrews; sisters, Rosa Wicks, Elsie Crane and Jessie Patty.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Friday, January 15, 2010 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. A visitation with the family present will be from time 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Midwest Diabetes and Endrocrinology Center of West Des Moines, Iowa in loving memory of Ruth.
Online condolences may be made to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
(Des Moines Register)
RUTH LANORE MCLAUGHLIN
Dallas Center
Ruth McLaughlin, 89, died Monday, January 11, 2010 at Spurgeon Manor Care Center in Dallas Center, Iowa. She was born February 17, 1920 near Adel, Iowa to Flossie Surber and Wilber Andrews.
She enjoyed needlepoint, reading, church activities, especially Tuesday Club at Westminster Presbyterian Church, attending her children and grandchildren’s activities and most of all just spending time with her family.
Ruth is survived by her two sons, David (Donna) and Frederick McLaughlin; one brother, Gene Andrews; two sisters, Lois West and Jane Schultze; five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; fourteen nieces and fifteen nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lloyd C.; brother, Max Andrews; sisters, Rosa Wicks, Elsie Crane and Jessie Patty.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Friday, January 15, 2010 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. A visitation with the family present will be from time 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Midwest Diabetes and Endrocrinology Center of West Des Moines, Iowa in loving memory of Ruth.
Online condolences may be made to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
(Des Moines Register)