Obituary
Michael (Mike) Duane Klinger, 75
Michael (Mike) Duane Klinger, 75, of Corpus Christi, TX and formerly of Fort Dodge and Somers passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020 at the Heart Hospital in Corpus Christi.
A Celebration of Life service was held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery with military rites provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard and the VFW Post 1856. A time of gathering with family and friends will follow the burial at The VFW in Fort Dodge (518 South 29th Street). Please find the entire obituary at www.laufersweilerfuneralhome.com
Donald L. Roosa, 88
Lehigh - Donald L. Roosa, 88, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, January 28, 2020, at his home in Lehigh.
Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 31, 2020, at the United Methodist Church in Lehigh. Pastor Philip Berger will officiate. Burial was at West Lawn Cemetery in Lehigh with Military Graveside Rites conducted by the Peterson American Legion Post #323 of Dayton. Visitation was held on Thursday, January 30, 2020, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Carson ~ Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton. For online obituaries & condolences visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com
Donald Lyle Roosa was born on January 28, 1932, in Manning, Iowa, the son of Lyle and Inza (Lage) Roosa. At the age of one he moved with his family to a farm north of Lehigh. He graduated with the Lehigh High School class of 1950. Don enlisted in the United States Air Force in April of 1951, and served his Country honorably during the Korean War. He was discharged in February of 1955.
On June 9, 1957, Don was united in marriage to Doris Jane Pohl at the Rinard Methodist Church. The couple lived and farmed north of Lehigh. Don was employed by the Webster County ASCS office for 10 years, and later worked in the custodial department at Iowa Central Community College.
Don was a member of the Lehigh United Methodist Church and had served as a Washington Township Trustee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle & Inza Roosa, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph & Hilda Pohl, and three brothers-in-law, Art Dilges, Frank Pohl, and Donald Pohl.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Doris Roosa of Lehigh, IA; six children, Jim (Shirley) Roosa of Fremont, IN, Janet (Alan) Clough of Gowrie, IA, Susan (Ken) Jones of Nevada, IA, Karen (Danny) Hansen of Dayton, IA, Donna (Marshall) Lambert of Paton, IA, and John (Julie) Roosa of Boone, IA; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dean (Carol) Roosa of Ames, IA; and his sister, Joan Dilges of Sarasota, FL.
Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.
Lyle R. Barkley, 89
Gowrie – Lyle R. Barkley 89, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Pearl Valley Rehabilitation & Nursing at Gowrie. Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 27, 2020, at the United Methodist Church, Gowrie, with Pastor Susan Rohden officiating. Burial will be at Gowrie Township Cemetery, with Military Rites conducted by American Legion Peterson Post #431 of Gowrie. Memorials may be left to the family discretion.
He is survived by his daughter Ann (Patrick) Cunningham of Paton, sons, Tom (Sara) Barkley of West Des Moines, Bill (Anne) Barkley of Fort Dodge, grandchildren, Matthew (Sara) Cunningham, Katherine (David) Palmer, Maureen (Philip) Jacoby, Kimberly (Christopher) Joliet, Heath (Mandy) Barkley, Leslie (Brian) Washington, Mandie (Tyler) Jordison, Keegan (Katie Haines) Barkley, Amy (Wesley) Castro, Cale (Kenzie) Barkley; seventeen great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy; parents, Fred and Minnie (Johnson) Barkley; brothers, Fred Barkley Jr. and Harold Barkley; and sister Neva Fogleman.
Lyle R. Barkley was born July 30, 1930 at Orilla, Warren County, Iowa. Lyle was raised and educated in Gowrie and graduated from Gowrie High School, with the Class of 1949. On February 4, 1951 he was united in marriage to Peggy Miller at the United Methodist Church, Gowrie. They were the first couple married in the present Church in the basement. In 1951, Lyle served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1953 attaining the rank of Corporal. He returned home and continued to farm until 1982. The couple moved into Gowrie and Lyle worked for Bruntlett Elevator until his retirement in 1995. Lyle continued to help his son-in-law Pat farm, and also worked as outside custodian at the Church. Lyle was an active member of the United Methodist Church, Rose Lodge #506, and American Legion Peterson Post #431. After his retirement, Lyle began woodworking and created and donated over 30,000 wooden toys to the Child Life Center at Blank Children’s Hospital. Lyle received the 2019 Legionaire of the Year Award for the State of Iowa. He was the recipient of the Hero’s of the Heartland Brushy Creek Area, and the Grand Marshall of the 2018 4th of July Parade in Gowrie.
Local News
Pen Pals Meet Face-to-Face For First Time
By Shari Everhart
Southeast Valley Middle School teacher Lindy Smith and the fifth grade students in her literacy class have been taking pen in hand as they once again participated in the Webster County Retired Senior Volunteer Pen Pal Project.
Students and their pen pals had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face for the first time at a party held on Friday, January 31, at the Southeast Valley Middle School located at Burnside.
The project is designed to help children learn, implement and perfect their letter writing skills with the most important bi-product, the opportunity for students to develop a relationship through the mail with a “grandparent” or “Grand Buddy”. This relationship teaches a respect and an appreciation for a different generation by interacting and learning from their life experiences. It also promotes communication skills and for the adults, a chance to be a positive, supportive influence and learn about life from a fifth grade perspective.
The Pen Pal Project’s mission, too, is to connect the wisdom, experience,and talents of volunteers with opportunities to enrich the quality of life for themselves and their communities.
The students also learn what life was like for their senior pen pals and how it differs from today and by removing some of the stereotypes children may have about their “grandparents’” generation.
The pen pal program is through Volunteer Connections and is the longest running, community engagement project that has been operating for the past 25 years. During this time, volunteers are matched with area fifth grade students for their monthly exchange of pen pal letters.
According to the guidelines, letters have usually been exchanged monthly and it was stressed that answering the pen pal’s letter promptly was important and to be done within a 10-day time frame.
Friday’s meeting proved to be an exciting time of exchange, with students and seniors meeting and greeting each other for the very first time, and being able to put a name with a face.
Southeast Valley FCCLA Students Participate in STAR Workday
By Shari Everhart
Southeast Valley High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students took part in a work day held in the Heartland Bank Community Room on Friday, February 7. The FCCLA members spent the time working on their various projects through the STAR program. STAR stands for “Students Taking Action with Recognition”.
Assisting with the event was Allison Ergenbright, who is student-teaching with teacher, Mrs. Sherry Vogel. In all, 11 students were working on Star events for Iowa Competitive Events. All are advancing to the state level for the state FCCLA Conference scheduled at the end of March.
Students and their respective categories are:
Nutrition and Wellness - Marlie Johnson and Kiersten Fisher.
Sports Nutrition - Level 1 - Maddie VanSickle and Madison Lane; Level 3 - Morgan Farnham.
Teach and Train - Caelan Oakes Sudhish.
Career Investigation - Makenzie Lambert.
Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation - Viatris Scott.
Iowa Competitive Events:
Marlie Johnson and Kiersten Fisher - Sew and Serve and Iowa Corn.
Morgan Farnham - Sew and Serve, and Menu Planning and Table Display.
Althea Ball - $15 Clothing Challenge.
Elizabeth Burger and Sophie Campbell - Interior Design and Cake Decorating.
Viatris Scott - Iowa Corn.
Caelan Oakes Sudhish and Althea Ball - Cake Decorating.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a non-profit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education.
Life-Changing Accident Yields ‘Guardian Angel’
By Shari Everhart
In this world of ours, many have encountered angels that walk among us. They come in many forms: male, female, young, old, in all sizes and colors. We never know when one will appear when needed.
The following is a “testimony” from one such encounter from someone who has experienced first-hand that angelic force. It comes from Geri Winge of Fort Dodge who writes about an incident she and her husband, Jim, had:
June 16, 2019, Father’s Day, changed our lives forever.
It was Father’s Day and we were going to go for a ride on our Harley Davidson motorcycle and out for dinner. Jim had installed a new seat on the bike and wanted me to try it out.
We started our ride by going around the Brushy Creek Recreation Area. It was spring, it was beautiful! During our ride, we decided to eat at the Iron Saddle in Dayton. It is one of my favorite places to visit.
The kitchen was closed that evening. I can’t recall why, so after a bit of time, we left to find another dinner spot.
As we drove by Casey’s, a pick-up was leaving and didn’t stop. I started yelling, “He’s not stopping, he’s not stopping!” Jim had the bike in low gear and was trying to lay it down, but we still hit. I remember the impact and the driver turning his head to look at us.
Next thing I remember was waking up on the pavement. I turned and saw my glasses, then turned my head the other way and saw my husband laying face down with blood coming out of the back of his head.
Again, I started screaming, “Why didn’t he stop?” I felt a soft touch on my shoulder and was told he did stop, he’s right over there.
I didn’t know the ‘angel’ by my side, but she would be my advocate for as long as I was on the pavement. She was the one telling others to call 911; she was the one who went to our totaled motorcycle to get my cell phone so our sons could be contacted; she was the one who made sure I was cared for. Read More...
Sports
The Jaguar JVR Basketball Team captures a Big Win at Home 59-45
By Rick Vinsand
This was a big team win, even though some of the players were sick with the flu, everyone got to contribute. The Jags got out to a quick lead and never looked back, (19-5) first quarter, and built the lead to (35-18) at the half, (54-33) going into the fourth quarter.
The Jags defense played very well and out rebounded the Raiders. Justin Loeske came into the game with the hot hand scoring (31) points and contributed with (2) assists, (3) steals and (8) rebounds. Lane Fevold had (11) rebounds, Eli Johnson with (10) assists and (3) rebounds, Ethan Ackerson had (3) rebounds, Evan Zeka had (4) rebounds, and Colby Wilke with (2) rebounds.
Coach Gutshall commented, “the boys played well as a team, and good team defense.” The Jaguar JVR boy’s team will be back in action on February 10th to face Carroll Kuemper at home.
Southeast Valley Girls Varsity Basketball Team Defeats East Sac in Nail Biter
By Kevin Mills
Rockwell City, Iowa February 4th - Southeast Valley (6-13) South Central Calhoun (13-6) - The Southeast Valley Jaguars fall short against South Central Calhoun. The Jaguars opened up the 2nd quarter cutting the lead to 10 but never were able to cut the deficit to single digits. Score by quarters for the Jaguars was 6-12-5-11=36 for the Titans 23-14-8-13=58. Emily Jaeschke had 10 points for Southeast Valley.
Gowrie, Iowa February 7th - Southeast Valley (7-13) East Sac (9-11) - Southeast Valley’s Chloe Hicks made two free throws in the final ticks of regulation to help beat East Sac County in the final conference match-up of the season. Score by quarters for the Jaguars 13-5-13-11=42 and for the Raiders 12-10-11-8=42. Chloe Hicks led scoring for the Jaguars with 11 points and 5 rebounds while Emily Jaeschke finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds. “It was an exciting game for Senior night. The crowd should have been entertained while the girls competed the whole evening. I have found this season to be easy to coach in part to the contributions that seniors Jaynie Ferrari and Viatris Scott have given throughout the season.” Coach Mills. The team finished 4-7 in the conference equaling the most wins in the conference since athletics combined into Southeast Valley.