Obituary
Wayne Lee Dobson
August 16, 1928 – October 3, 2019
Wayne was born on August 16, 1928 near Glidden in Carroll County, Iowa. He was the youngest of five children born to Charlie Edward Dobson and Lora Marie (Sapp) Dobson. When he was a youth his family moved to Grand Junction, Iowa where he enjoyed raising livestock and competing in the Greene County Fair where he earned several ribbons. Wayne played basketball for Grand Junction High School and was voted All County Center. After graduation in 1946 he joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served with honor for two years aboard the troop transport, General George M. Randall, on the Atlantic Coast and in the South Pacific where many of the ports of call were battlefields of the recently completed World War II.
Upon completion of his Navy enlistment Wayne returned to Iowa. On October 29, 1948 he married Frances FloElla (Flo) Cleland of Beaver, Iowa where they made their home for five years. In 1953 they moved to Gowrie, Iowa where they built a home and Wayne worked as a carpenter for Phil Lind with Lind Construction. When Phil closed the business, Wayne went to work for Woodruff & Evans Construction in Fort Dodge and became a construction superintendent. He managed many large projects over the next 25 years including what was then known as the “new addition” to the Gowrie School including a gymnasium that is still in use today. In 1984 Wayne was employed as a construction superintendent for Story Construction of Ames. His home remained in Gowrie but he and Flo bought and moved a trailer home to several communities closer to his current work location. Wayne retired in 1990.
Over the years Wayne enjoyed deer and pheasant hunting and fishing with his family. He was involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop 15 in Gowrie serving as Cub Master, Scout Master, Board member, and always a supporter at pancake feeds, camp outs, and functions such as the Memorial Day parade and 4th of July parades where he marched proudly with his scouts.
“Timer,” as he was known in the immediate family, never missed a football game when his sons were on the team. “Grandpa Timer” had a special fondness for his seven granddaughters and one grandson.
All who knew Wayne saw his eyes light up when he talked about one of his several trips to Alaska to fish and sightsee. During one memorable trip he helped deliver a boat from Seattle to Juneau.
Daughter Jodi’s artwork was always admired by Timer and he never failed to comment on how life-like it looked.
In the last couple of years as a resident of the Pearl Valley Care Center when advancing dementia took its toll, he could be seen wearing his favorite possessions – a walrus ivory belt buckle, Nine Lives Charters jacket, and U.S. Navy USS General Randall hat. He especially enjoyed the special coffee times that he and Jodi spent together.
Wayne passed away on October 3, 2019 at the Pearl Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Gowrie. He was preceded in death by his wife, Flo; his parents; brothers, Carl Dobson and Floyd Dobson; and sisters, Florence Ure and Irene Reed.
Those remembering his shy smile, quick humor and strong man’s handshake include his son, Mike of Konawa, Oklahoma; daughter Jodi (Randy) Kopecky of Farnhamville, Iowa; son Russ (Brenda) of Elkhart, Iowa; and son Bart (Susan) of Ames, Iowa; eight grandchildren; two step-granddaughters; 12 great-grandchildren; three step-greatgrandsons; and many nieces and nephews.
Private family services for both Wayne and his wife, Flo who died February 5, 2018, will be held at a future date with burial at Junction Twp. Cemetery, Grand Junction, IA. The United States Navy Honor Guard will provide military honors for Wayne Dobson. Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson. Memorials may be left to family discretion.
Donna A. Moe, 91
Fort Dodge- Donna A. Moe, 91, formerly of Farnhamville, passed away Thursday, October 10, 2019 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home, Fort Dodge.
Funeral services were held on 10:30 AM Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at the Celebration Center, Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge with Pastor Jim Davis officiating. Burial followed in Fulton Lutheran Cemetery, Roelyn. Visitation was held 4:00 to 8:00 PM Monday, October 14, 2019 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, Fort Dodge.
Donna is survived by her children, Cynthia (Joel) Seehusen of Moorland, Jill Moe (Steve Loonan) of Cedar Falls, Kim (Dan) Jondle of Estherville; grandchildren, Jared (Suzie) Seehusen, Matt (Amanda) Seehusen, Erica (Jared) Cecil, Mike (Elara) Jondle, and Lee Jondle; great-grandchildren, Nick Girard, Hayden Barr, Marina Barr, Grant Seehusen, Isaac Seehusen, Jason Cecil, Jackson Cecil, Emma Cecil, Brookelyn Jondle, and Colin Jondle; brother, Dennis “Bud” Nelson of Iowa Falls.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Leona (Morrow) Nelson; husband, Clifford Moe; brother, Bill Nelson; and a granddaughter, Alicia Jondle.
Donna A. Nelson was born March 22, 1928 in Franklin County, IA. She graduated from Popejoy High School in 1945 and continued her education at Iowa State Teaching College where she received her teaching certificate. She graduated college and then relocated and taught at a rural school in Greenfield Township/Somers for 2 years. On June 6, 1948 she was united in marriage to Clifford Moe in Alden, IA. The couple established their home in Somers on a farm. In 1964, they moved to Farnhamville, where they owned and operated Tasler Implement for 10 years, until retiring in 1974. Donna and Clifford enjoyed their winters in AZ for 25 years. She is a member of Fulton Lutheran Church and WELCA. Donna taught Sunday school and bible study for several years. In AZ, she belonged to Mt. View Lutheran Church and a quilting group, Prisca Circle. Donna enjoyed playing golf and has been a member of the Women’s Golf Association for a number of years.
Memorials may be left to family discretion.
After the funeral service a luncheon will be available for those whom do not want to go to the cemetery. A luncheon will be served for the people returning from the cemetery all at the Celebration Center, Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge.
Timothy Praim, 68
Timothy Praim, age 68, of Pendergrass, GA passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife, Nolla Leverich Praim; mother, Ivadelle Praim; children, Christopher (Candice) Praim and Emily Praim; grandchildren, Christian Praim and Teegan Praim. He was preceded in death by his sister, Pam Praim.
Timothy was born and raised in Gowrie, Iowa. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and sports. He was a die-hard Falcons fan.
Per Timothy’s wishes he has chosen cremation with no service at this time. Tim will be laid to rest at the Gowrie Township Cemetery, Gowrie.
Condolences may be mailed to: IvaDelle Praim, 2527 Kansas Ave., Fort Dodge Iowa.
Local News
Third Quarter “News” Subscription Donation Given to PV Elementary School
By Shari Everhart
Rick and Julie Vinsand, owners, editors and publishers of “The Gowrie News” announce that $267.00 has been donated to the Prairie Valley Elementary School north of Farnhamville as their third quarter recipient. The donation was realized through the newspaper’s renewal/new subscription program that gives 20% of renewals and new subscriptions to a designated worthy local community cause. The money will go toward new swings for the elementary school’s playground project.
The Vinsand’s announce this will most likely be the last specified recipient of this quarterly program which inception began approximately two years ago. Since the Vinsand’s generously regularly support a myriad of events and fundraisers throughout the year in and around the surrounding area, such as various charitable benefits, Southeast Valley prom fundraising, Booster Club, DECCA, Robotics, Fire, EMS, Church fundraisers, Veteran’s groups, Farnhamville Lunch Bunch, Gowrie Food Pantry, SV Scholarhips etc., plus contribute when asked to donate for school activities, etc., it has become financially impossible to continue with the additional 20% donation program.
Rick and Julie assure the public they will continue to donate and give back to the community through subscriptions, but not particularly on a quarterly basis, but throughout the year in smaller amounts spread out among all worthy causes.
YSF Football Cancer Fundraiser to Benefit Lane Jones-Popp
By Shari Everhart
Each year, the Southeast Valley Youth Sports Foundation (YSF), made up of Southeast Valley 5th and 6th grade football players, participate in a fundraising game with proceeds going to a specified entity. This year’s “Gold Out Tackle Football” game was held on October 6 with the team players all wearing gold socks in support of their cause.
Annually, each team chooses where the money will go. This year YSF decided to donate to childhood cancer to which proceeds from the concession stand and other contributions would be given. Since this is near and dear to their hearts and hits close to home with a young student in the school district taking cancer treatments, the boys decided to donate to Lane Jones-Popp, a junior at Southeast Valley High School who was recently diagnosed with advanced bone cancer.
The Southeast Valley YSF organization purchased gold socks for all the 5th and 6th grade players to wear during their “gold out” game. A total of $240 was raised from this year’s “Gold Out Tackle Football” event and for Lane Jones-Popp and his family.
A benefit for Lane Jones-Popp has been scheduled for Sunday, November 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at the Dayton Community Center, where both a silent and live auction will be conducted and slated to begin at 5:00 p.m.
Former Gowrie Resident Helps in Life-Saving Rescue
By Shari Everhart
It wasn’t something anticipated, but an incident that can come up for any law enforcement officer and an emergency responder. That was such a case for Deputy Shane Allen, former Gowrie resident and a 2008 graduate of Prairie Valley High School who is an 8-year member of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
He and Nate Byerly of the Churdan Rescue Squad were the first on the scene of a vehicle accident occurring at 130th Street, west of P Avenue at 5:17 p.m. on Thursday evening, October 10.They were responding to a call of a white truck that had gone off the road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, it traveling into a ditch and eventually landing in a creek. The female driver remained in the truck.
When arriving at the site, Allen and Byerly jumped into the creek as a life-saving measure, swimming to the driver and rescued her from the freezing cold water to dry land. She was then transported to the Greene County Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and hypothermia by the Greene County Ambulance Service, which by that time had arrived in response to the accident. The truck was considered a total loss.
As of this writing, the name of the driver and the extent of her injuries had not been released by authorities.
Also responding to the call and on scene in addition to the Churdan Rescue Squad, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and the Greene County Ambulance Service were the Paton Fire Department and members of the Gowrie Police Department.
Sports
Southeast Valley Jags Falls to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals
By Shari Everhart
The Southeast Valley High School varsity football team lost a heart-breaker to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura in a home game played at Gowrie on a cold and windy Friday, October 1,1 night. If one likes good defense, this game was the one to watch, and if one is into seeing a lot of scoring, this was not the night for that for either team.
The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals came to town with 3 losses on the season. All three losses were to 7-0 teams, so the Southeast Valley Jaguars knew they’d have their hands full because the Cardinals brought to the field a domineering running game. But the Jags were prepared and stood up to the task. The Jaguars finished with 131 yards to Garner’s 162.
Both teams had opportunities to put each other away, but both teams shot themselves in the foot over and over. The Jaguars would get something going , but 4 turnovers, dropped passes, and 7 penalties for 65 yards killed drive after drive. It was just too many mistakes and it just kept giving the Cardinals more chances to score.
The defense played great! The only play the defense wished they had to do over was a 4th and 18. Garner completed an 18-yard pass for the first down, which allowed them to kick the game winning field goal. Other than that play, the defense had the best performance of the year.
When the defense holds a team to 3 points, ways have to be found to win the game. But the offense struggled the last two weeks and have not scored. Coach Mike Swieter isn’t happy with that and went on to say, “We have to improve now. We have to find ways to move the ball and eliminate all our mistakes. We can’t expect the defense to do what they did over and over.”
The Jaguars need a good week of practice as they get ready to travel and take on Estherville Lincoln Central (ELC) for a big District game.
Jaguar Cross Country Team Traveled to Lake City; SCC Titan Invite
By Coach Nuss
The Southeast Valley Jaguar cross country teams headed to Lake City last Tuesday, October 8th to compete in the SCC Titan Invite. The Jaguars came home with 3 JV medalists, 11 season best times and 5 all time best times as well as their best team finishes of the year.
On the boys’ side, the Jaguars finished 10th overall with 236 points. Ogden won the meet with 38 points, followed by Kuemper Catholic with 73 points and Pocahontas Area with 104 points. The girls finished 9th overall with 218 points. Manson Northwest Webster won the meet with 67 points followed by Pocahontas Area with 85 points and South Central Calhoun with 100 points. There were 14 total schools at the meet.
Kylie Weiland of the girls and Wyatt Sprecher and Nolan Jackson for the boys brought home medals in the JV races. Kylie was 13th with a time of 30:29. Wyatt was 4th with a time of a season best time of 20:59 and Nolan was 15th in the JV races with a time of 22:54. Read More...