OBITUARIES
Homer D. Strampe
Homer D. Strampe passed on to his eternal life in the early hours of March 31, 2020, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, at the age of 94 years, following a courageous struggle with sarcoma.
Beverly Ann Berkland
Beverly Ann Berkland, daughter of Alvin and Luella (Meyer) Potratz, was born June 11, 1934 on her parents’ farm near Fenton, Iowa. She began her education at country school for grades 1-3 and then attended parochial school at Lotts Creek for grades 4-8. She graduated from Fenton High School in 1952.
Annabell L. Kinnetz
Annabell L. Kinnetz
July 29, 1930 ~ March 30, 2020
Graveside Service was held Saturday, April 4, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Clergy was Reverand John Koopman, arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home martinmatticefuneralhome.com.
Virgil H. Grave
Virgil H. Grave, 92, of Lake Park, passed away March 27, 2020, at Pearl Valley Rehab and Nursing in Lake Park.
Shirley Schoorman
Shirley J. Schoorman, the daughter of Roy V. and Marian (Stapleton) Bever, was born October 14, 1920 in Milford, Iowa. She graduated from Milford High School in 1938.
Pearl Godfrey
A funeral service for Pearl Godfrey, age 93, of Spirit Lake, and formerly of Lake Park, will be held Thursday, March 12, 2020, at 1:30pm, at the Excelsior United Methodist Church in rural Milford. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park.
Patrick “Pat” Nellis
Patrick “Pat” James Nellis, 60, of Spirit Lake passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake.
Joan Langel
A Mass Of Christian Burial for Joan Langel age 87 of Milford, will be held at 10:30, Thursday, March 5, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, from 5 – 7pm, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. There will be a Rosary Service at 6:30pm, with a Parish Scripture Service to follow.
Mabel Janis Anderson Kruse
Mabel Janis Anderson Kruse, 96, of Spirit Lake passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at the Lakes Regional Healthcare of Spirit Lake.
Lee Edward Tuel
Lee Edward Tuel passed away unexpectedly on February 4 at the Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Lake Park.
Lee was born on June 28, 1947. He grew up on the family farm northwest of Milford, and, starting in 1957, on a farm near Dwight, North Dakota. Lee was a sweet, quiet, and gentle person. He was born with developmental disabilities. He had a happy childhood. His brothers were his constant companions on the farm. They played baseball for hours and hours. Lee loved dogs. He loved the activity of the farm. He liked routines and had a number of assigned chores, such as feeding and watering the chickens, and gathering eggs.
Gordon E. Graves
Gordon E. “Gordy” Graves, 82, of Arnolds Park, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake.
Arlene Mary Braunschweig
Arlene Mary Braunschweig was born March 12, 1930, in Peterson, Iowa, to Wilhelm Carl Braunschweig and Anna Ella Wagner Braunschweig. Arlene attended rural school and graduated in 1948 from Peterson High School.
Dennis Purchase
An informal gathering Celebrating the Life of Dennis
Purchase, age 70, of Milford, was held Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at the Purchase family home. Memorials may be given for a cure for Alzheimers.
Dorothy Jane Swenson
Dorothy Jane Swenson (Tuntland), Spirit Lake, passed away January 17, 2020, at Avera McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was born in that same hospital on March 3, 1944.
Richard Jesse Maranell
Dick passed away January 9, 2020, at the Spencer Hospital at eighty-eight years of age.
Kipper Joe Graham
Kipper Joe Graham, 62, was born to Rodney and Charlene (Tay) Graham, September 20, 1957, in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Kipper expired at home in Wichita, Kansas, January 9, 2020.
Betty Lou Willison
A funeral service for Betty Lou Willison of Milford was held Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at Faith Community Church in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery.
Nick Timmins Nordstrom
Nick Timmins Nordstrom died Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was 39.
Kathryn Marie Hansen
A funeral service for Kathryn Hansen, age 95, mother of Nancy, Gary and Kenneth, was held Monday, December 30, 2019, at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery.
Robert Raymond Esser
Robert Raymond Esser – After a long and happy life filled with friends and family, Bob died peacefully on December 14, 2019. He was born to Henry and Eunice Esser in Whittemore, Iowa, on October 5, 1928, and raised on a farm in Milford, Iowa. He was raised in the Catholic Church and was educated in Catholic school. He married Rose Norton in 1950. They spent their first years of marriage in the U. S. Army in Virginia. After his service, they returned to Milford and Bob’s goal was to work for the Post Office. He began as a mail carrier, later became a clerk and finished his 30 year career as Postmaster.
Donald Bonstead
Donald Bonstead, 65, of Milford, passed away suddenly at his home in Milford, Iowa, on December 11, 2019. His family and friends are deeply saddened by his loss but are also grateful to have had him in their lives.
Jason John Farrell
Jason John Farrell, the son of Carolin Carney and James Farrell, was born on March 12, 1971, in Springfield, Massachusetts. When Jason was three, the family moved to Iowa where he later graduated from Okoboji High School in 1989 and where he spent the rest of his life.
Berkley Warren Bedell
Berkley Warren Bedell, age 98, passed away on December 7, 2019, three days after suffering a massive stroke in Naples, Florida. A third generation of Spirit Lake, Iowa, he was born on March 5, 1921.
Joyce Sullivan
Joyce Sullivan, 90, of West Okoboji, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 11:00am Thursday, November 21, 2019, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. Burial will be at 2:00pm in the Oakland Cemetery in Peterson, Iowa, on Thursday. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 5:00-7:00pm, with a prayer service at 7:00pm at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.
Derald Leroy Gardner
Derald Leroy Gardner, 76, of Spirit Lake, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 8, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00pm, Friday at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home of Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.
Helen Lowman
Helen Lowman, 102, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and formerly of Milford, died peacefully in her sleep, Thursday morning, November 7, 2019, at the Bethany Lutheran Home Hospice Outreach Center, in Council Bluffs.
Don D. Goodenow
Don D. Goodenow, 91, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2019, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A gathering of remembrance was held Friday, November 1, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. The Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is assisted the family. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.
Arvin Schumann
A memorial service for Arvin Schumann, age 80, of Milford was held Thursday, October 31, 2019, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church Drive-In Worship.
Willie “Sonny” Heerde
A funeral service for Willie “Sonny” Heerde, age 80, of Milford, was held Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Northlawn Cemetery in Spencer.
Paul Buckley
Paul Buckley, 97, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of West Union and Okoboji, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2019, at Foundation Cottage in Sioux Falls. Private services for Paul will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
James Leo “Jim” Cates
James Leo “Jim” Cates, 92 of Okoboji, Iowa, and formerly of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 22, 2019 at his residence. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Heath Hjelmer Huberg
Heath Hjelmer Huberg, 37, passed away at his home on Sunday evening October 13, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.