Obituary
Katherine Marie Geisler, 61
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Katherine Marie Geisler, daughter of Albert and Lucille (Schmidt) Geisler, was born on December 31, 1958 in the Jefferson Hospital. She was the older of two children.
Kathy graduated from Paton-Churdan Community School in 1977 with a “perfect attendance record”. Kathy started her love for nursing at age 16, beginning as a nurse’s aide in Long Term in Jefferson. After her high school graduation, she attended Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated in 1979 as a Registered Nurse. She began work at the Greene County Medical Center in 1979, working in the OBGYN department and later was named House Supervisor. From the hospital, she transferred to the Jefferson Clinic in 1989, which later became McFarland Clinic where she was currently working. In her 41 year nursing career, her greatest love was caring for the patients.
Kathy enjoyed traveling when she could, over the years going to California several times to visit family, Mexico, and Germany. She especially enjoyed taking a trip to Australia and New Zealand where she went for a nursing seminar. Kathy also had a passion for playing her clarinet, especially her time in the Town and Country Band. Kathy had read the Bible through many times as she had a great faith in Christ. She was a member of the Gospel Open Bible Church.
Kathy always enjoyed the many, many visits of her little cousins, always teaching them something new. This included “driving lessons”, school work, to be careful, to come back soon, and always reminding them to wash their hands!
Kathy passed away on July 13, 2020 at the Mary Greeley Israel Hospice House in Ames, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her father, Albert in 2012; her mother, Lucille in 2017; her grandparents, Alva & Clara Schmidt, and Emilie & William Geisler.
She is survived by; her sister, Barbara Geisler of Paton; her aunt, Edith Geisler of Fort Dodge; several cousins, other relatives, and many friends.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67, of Fort Dodge, formerly of rural Harcourt, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at her home.
A Visitation and Celebration of Jackie’s life was held on Monday, July 27th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Laufersweiler Funeral Home with Prayer service at 7:00 PM.
Survivors include her husband Roy “Eddie” Heggen Jr. of Fort Dodge, son Erik and his wife Nicole and their son Drew of Collierville, TN, brother Harold Bloomberg and his wife Dorine of Ogden, sister Tina Flickinger of Elk River, MN, an aunt and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Florence (Jarosz) Bloomberg and her brother-in-law Garry Flickinger.
Jacqueline Ruth Bloomberg was born on April 22, 1953 in Boone. She was raised and educated near Pilot Mound and graduated from Grand Community High School in Boxholm in 1971. Jackie then attended beauty school in Ames. On February 16, 1974 she was united in marriage to Eddie Heggen in Boone and the couple established their home on a farm near Harcourt. During her career, she worked at Harcourt Equipment, Fort Dodge Ford, Moffitt Ford in Boone and finally with Ziegler-CAT in Minneapolis, Ankeny and Fort Dodge before retiring last year. Jackie enjoyed eating her chocolates and drinking Pepsi, gardening, growing flowers and watching Dancing With The Stars. She loved to spend time with her family especially her time spent with her grandson Drew. Jackie would have done anything to help her family whom she loved very much.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
Jill A. Moe, 67
Jacqueline “Jackie” Heggen, 67
Jill A. Moe, 67
Jill A. Moe, 67, of Cedar Falls passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at Allen Hospital in Waterloo.
Private family services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at Fulton Lutheran Church in Roelyn with Rev. Jim Davis officiating. The funeral service will be live streamed via the Laufersweiler Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be at Fulton Lutheran Cemetery, Roelyn. A public visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00 PM all at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge. www.laufersweilerfuneralhome.com
Jill is survived by her husband, Steve Loonan of Cedar Falls; stepson, Clint Loonan of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Connor Loonan of North Carolina, Rhys and Shane Loonan both of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Cynthia (Joel) Seehusen and Kim (Dan) Jondle; nephews, Jared Seehusen and his son, Nick; Matt (Amanda) Seehusen and their children, Hayden, Marina, Grant, and Isaac; Mike (Elara) Jondle and their children, Brookelyn and Colin; Lee Jondle; niece, Erica (Jared) Suzie, Cecil and their children, Jason, Jackson, and Emma; and special friends, Mary, Judy, Caroline, and Deb.
She was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Donna Moe.
Jill Annette Moe was born July 26, 1952 in Fort Dodge. She grew up and attended schools in Gowrie and graduated from Prairie Community High School in Gowrie in 1970. She was united in marriage to Barry Jacobson and the couple later divorced. Following her graduation, she attended Wartburg College and then transferred to UNI where she earned her bachelor’s degree and then her master’s degree in Psychology. She was united in marriage to Jerry DeBower and the couple later divorced. She worked for the University of Iowa for a short period of time and then worked in the Registrar’s office at UNI for many years. In 2005, she was united in marriage to Steve Loonan in Yellville, AR. The couple made their home in Cedar Falls. Jill enjoyed fishing and traveling including trips to Alaska. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes Fan and loved spending time with her family and friends.
Memorials may be left to family discretion.
Local News
Balloon Riders in the Sky Spotted Last Friday Evening
By Shari Everhart
What is that in the sky? Can that be a red hot air balloon we see??
Yes, it most certainly was and be assured it wasn’t the Wizard from the movie, “The Wizard of Oz” on his way back to the Midwest in the balloon’s basket!
The hot air balloon sighting had several people watching from below as it silently made its way across the sky over the Callender/Gowrie area Friday evening, July 31st. Its presence caused many to jump in their vehicles and become balloon chasers as the balloon quietly floated above across the countryside. “Gowrie News” editor, Julile Vinsand was one following the balloon’s route and was able to catch up with it and glean some information from those on board after they landed on the edge of a soybean field. It was noted during the interview it had been two years since their last flight.
Their Friday night flight began by inflating the balloon at Hydro Electric Park in Fort Dodge, letting the wind take them at will with their landing destination in the rural area between Gowrie and Callender.
Owners of the balloon are cousins, Steve and Jim Kersten, Nick Drzycimski, Don Woodruff, and Bennet O’Connor, all of Fort Dodge. Steve’s father, the late Don Kersten, was one of the original members of a group which became involved in the sport of hot air ballooning in the early days of modern hot air balloons founded by Ed Host in 1960. Don was one of the founding fathers of the Balloon Federation of America. Read More...
Officer John Garretson Receives Safety Award
By Shari Everhart
Officer John Garretson of the Gowrie Police Department, received a special state recognition award presented to him on Thursday, July 30, in Des Moines.
He was given the Commissioner’s Special Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety by the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
His award bore this inscription: “For Excellence inTraffic Safety Award. Commissioner of Public Safety, Stephen K. Bayens, Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety and the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, is pleased to recognize Officer John Garretson, Gowrie Police Department, for outstanding service to the cause of reducing injuries.
Officer Garretson was cited for going above and beyond to help those that can’t help themselves by assisting anyone with a child safety seat in their vehicle and making sure those little ones are protected as they travel on Iowa’s roadways.
Thank you, Officer Garretson, for not only your dedication to the Gowrie Police Department, but more importantly, the citizens of the Gowrie community.
If you happen to see Officer Garretson, congratulate him!
Second Mask-Making Workshop Planned For August 6th
By Shari Everhart
Filling the need to provide facemasks for the staff and students at Southeast Valley schools during the 2020-2021 school year, volunteers came together at the Southeast Valley District Office in Gowrie on Thursday afternoon, July 30, to construct those masks.
Over 50 face masks were completed from start to finish with student volunteer helpers cutting fabric, ironing, organizing and finally sewing the completed mask. Several more masks were cut out and just need to be sewn together.
Another workshop is being planned for Thursday afternoon, August 6, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., again at the District Office in Gowrie. The project is under the leadership of Tamara Hanson, TLC Leadership Coordinator of Southeast Valley High School, who was able to secure a grant for the venture. Material for the workshop is being funded through Thrivent as a Thrivent Action Team Project. Read More...
Sports
Area Triathletes Compete in Ankeny
Saturday, July 25, 2020, Triathlon Competitors and many masked, socially distanced spectators battled the heat on the west side of Ankeny. Three local competitors Damyan Canto, Aayson Canto, and Julia Eastman, spent the morning Swimming the Lazy River, Bicycling, and Running.
The event was timed, and the top three times in each age bracket received medals. The event was a smaller competition drawing athletes from Iowa and surrounding states.
Our local athletes did not place on Saturday, but it was an excellent warm-up for their home event in Twin Lakes, August 8, 2020.
Keegan Goodwin Records A Hole-In-One
By Shari Everhart
It’s a bonus every golfer strives for when playing a round of golf on the course and a noteworthy achievement celebrated on the links -- a hole-in-one!
Keegen Goodwin of Farnhamville can be counted as one of ‘those’. His hole-in-one was accomplished with a 6 iron from 186 yards on the 8th hole at the Gowrie Golf Course on Tuesday, July 22nd. However, this isn’t his first. He experienced his first hole-in-one in 2017.
“I started playing in high school for my uncle, Coach Mike Conrad. During the summer, I manage the grounds maintenance and give lessons here at the golf course,” Keegan states. “The rest of the year, I study biochemistry, biology, and mental health at the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls). After this year at UNI, I will begin applying to medical schools in hopes of studying osteopathic medicine.”
As a 2017 graduate of Southeast Valley High School, he credits Marty Jacobs for his coaching and who Keegan says “has been teaching me a lot.”
Keegan is the son of Windy Goodwin of Gowrie and Matt Goodwin of Farnhamville.