BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Janet Elizabeth Thomas Tait, 88, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Hollywood, CA. Minneapolis S.W. HS-54. Grinnell College-58. Taught briefly in Cedar Rapids. Married James Tait in Minneapolis in 1958. The couple lived in Minnesota until moving to Boone in 1973. Janet worked at ISU in the Biology Program for 25 years until retirement. Very active, she was the secretary for the Boone Habitat for Humanity for 24 years, secretary for the board of the Boone County Historical Society for 10 years and for a short time, was president of the History Center Board until 2019. She was also an active member of the 
Episcopal Church where she served as organist for nearly 10 years. Janet loved to read and sew, work puzzles and watch Hallmark movies. Husband Jim died in 1991.Survivors include her daughter, Kathie (Kevin) Cottrell of Boone and son, Scotty (Pam) Tait of Dayton. Services in Boone.

        Judy Elizabeth Sorenson, 76, Dayton. Four children survive, including daughter Jill (Dan) Smith of Boone. Services in Dayton and Pomeroy.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

      Roger D. Leininger, 84, Ames. Born in Story City. Gilbert HS-58 after early years at United elementary. Married Patricia Forsythe in Cherokee in 1962. They've been living his lifetime on the family farm near Ames. The couple farmed and raised livestock until the early 1980's. Roger then went to work at the ISU AG450 farm for 30 years. In retirement, he worked for Design Homes and the AG450 farm. He enjoyed woodworking and the couple always enjoyed their trip each year to Okoboji. Survivors include his wife, Patricia, of Ames, three children and a brother. Roger was a member of the Iowa Army National Guard in Boone for six years. Services in Boone and Ames and burial at Saint Peter and Paul's Catholic Cemetery.

      Doris Harris Winebrenner, 80, Des Moines. School in Beaver and Ogden. Married Clifford Winebrenner in 1967. Worked as a telephone operator in Illinois, loved being a mom, cooking and crochet. Survivors include a son, David, and daughter, Denise, and brothers Don and Dennis Harris. A COL will be held in Ogden with burial in Van Meter.

      Brian Edward Tolle, 68, Ogden. Born in Harlan. Irwin Kirkman HS-74. Married Theresa Kauffman in 1976 but the couple divorced. Married Linda Kay Reighard at the Iowa Arboretum in 1999. Brian was an over the road truck driver. However, declining health forced him into working for Kuehl Brothers in Woodward until retirement. He loved his family, dogs and his faith and he could keep you up to date on the latest news topics and tech gadgets. Survivors include his wife, Linda, of Ogden, three children and a sister. Services in Jefferson.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

        Brian Lynn Kraft, 53, Boone. Formerly of Renwick/Humboldt. Born in Clarion. Humboldt HS-89. Iowa Central CC with a degree in Food Marketing. Married Stacy Heim in Humboldt in 1993. The couple moved to Boone in 1995 where he was employed by HyVee. He then earned a degree in Business Administration from Simpson in 2004 and worked in the insurance industry. Brian sang karaoke, loved sharing conversations with an occasional golf outing or round of disc golf. He was  told 12 years ago that he only had months to live but.....Survivors include his wife, Stacy, his children, Adam, Alyssa and Aidan, his parents, siblings and in-laws. Services in Boone.

       Janelle Lynn McNace Vickers, 65, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-77. Married Jeffrey Vickers in Boone in 1977. Worked in food service, as a District Supervisor for McDonald's and, currently, as Office Manager for Burger King. She loved sports, especially the Chicago Bears and Cubs. Also enjoyed reading. Survivors include her children, Jeff and Mindy Vickers, both of Boone Her husband, Jeffrey, is deceased. A private service will be held later. 

      Joyce Ann Cook, 85, Formerly of Boone. Passed away in Nebraska. Born in Leon, IA. North Harrison HS, Eagleville, MO. 1957. Northwest Missouri State, Northeast Missouri State. Married in 1960 and moved to Boone in 1962. Was a homemaker and worked for Boone County Tax Service before becoming an RN graduate from DMACC in 1978. Worked for 25 years at the Boone County Hospital before retirement. Joyce loved to spend times of great adventure with her 11 grandchildren and had a passion for sewing, gardening, home decorating and RAGBRAI. Survivors include four children, Cindy, BHS-79; Craig, BHS-82; Julie, BHS-83 and Tracey, BHS-87. A sister also survives. Services in Boone and Blythedale, MO.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Karen Lee Abbott Ely, 80, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-62. Married Loren Ely, BHS-57, in 1962. She enjoyed decorating for the holidays, card club, walking groups, coffee groups, scrapbooking and playing Bingo. Survivors include two daughters, Debi Ely, BHS-81, Pestotnik and Lori Ely, BHS-83,Walters as well as a brother, Ed Abbott, BHS-54. Services in Boone.

       Ed McBirnie (Coach), 78, Stratford. Born in Boone. Iowa GED. Married Julie Christensen in Boone in 1964. Graduated from truck driver training school and was a meat cutter at the time of retirement. Ed served as the Boone and ISU boxing coach and also led the Knockouts, a girls slow pitch softball team. He enjoyed the races at Boone Speedway and the Marshalltown Fairgrounds where his son, Joe, and grandson Jake frequently raced. Survivors include his ex-spouse and best friend, Julie McBirnie, of Boone, six children, including Danelle and Joe of Boone and Eddie and Tim of Stratford. A sister and his brother, Bill McBirnie, of Boone also survive. Services in Boone.

     Jo Lynn Cook, 78, Boone/Eastern Star. A COL is planned in Boone.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

     Fred T. Doxsee Jr., 69, Boone. Born in Moline, IL. BHS-74. Fred served as a manager for Florsheim Shoes in various states for many years. He was a self-taught musician who loved playing the guitar and fiddle. Playing in local bands, he also had an extensive knowledge of music and musicians from the 1960's to the present. He was also a movie buff and historian and had a great sense of humor, despite his chronic struggles. Survivors include a son, brother and sister, Ogden resident Cheryl (Luis) Sanchez.  

     Kathy A. Roberts Ahrens, 69, Ogden/Eastern Star Memory. Born in Boone. Grand Community HS-73. An avid sports fan, she loved the Hawkeyes, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Royals. She was the secretary of the Boone County United States Bowling Congress. Kathy served as a custodian for the Ogden School District and was also a gifted electrician and Do It Yourselfer, remodeling her home and her father's house. Travel trips and 4-H memories were also important. Survivors include a son and a Boone resident brother, John Roberts. Services in Ogden.

     James Edward (Sarge) Cornelius Sr., 72, Perry. Survivors include his wife and four children, including John Cornelius of Madrid. Services in Perry.

SOME RECENT CORRESPONDENCE

        Haven't heard from Ann Onymous for some time but here's the response received regarding our recent  mention of the new Arch project. "the original sign was to entice train passengers into visiting downtown  Boone. As train travel to Boone came to an end, Old Highway 30, at least, directed traffic through West, Central and East Boone for a time. Near the downtown but not quite. Then along comes New Highway 30. The Boone By-Pass. The lights of Old Highway 30 and downtown Boone, one by one, slowly went out. Only locals seemed to know to take the Story Street detour. Boone will need even better signs with the new roundabouts and confusing lane/access changes. The new plan further isolates Boone from Highway 30 travelers that do not know the city we love is just a few blocks down Story Street."

     Another correspondent wrote, "after turning 65 and losing some family and friends that are my age, I started following the wisdom of George Burns. I get up every morning and read the obituary column. If my name is not there, I eat breakfast. I normally follow Boone happenings thru the KWBG site. I recently discovered the Korner and it continually answers that age old question, "I wonder what happened to....""

     Realizing I, the Kornerman, was about to break a big barrier, a couple long time friends contacted me this week with, "how you doin,' O.K." Mike Loehrer, BHS-65, lounging in Florida, remembered the 90 but couldn't recall the 18th. Even my 30-year boss, Bernie Saggau, who is 96, wondered if I would survive long enough to enjoy this milestone birthday.

     As I said earlier, "I don't know how to feel about it. I've never experienced it before." 

K-----K

     SOME OTHER ITEMS....

     1- Dad's Belgian waffles will be available at the Iowa Arboretum, this coming Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. on at $10.

     2- This is "down the line" but Lester Ross, BHS-67, wanted us to mention that in August, 2025, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the Wall That Heals national tour, will visit 31 communities across the country this year, including a stop in Nevada Iowa, August 7-10. This traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

     3-  Kriss Philips was a Boone resident and Dean of the Boone Campus, DMACC for many years and has a collection of Pufferbilly badges. He sent them to me and soon, at his request, I will pass them on to the Boone County Historical Society. Kriss now lives in Rio Rico, AZ.

K-----K

     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices......https://kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

      Ronald James Cohrs, 56, Ogden. Born in Des Moines. HS-1985. Loved working outdoors and had a passion for driving semis. He ran a lawn care and tree service for a time. He enjoyed setting up his collection of vintage Tonka Trucks in his front yard. Three children survive. Service at a later date.  

       Linda Ann Larson Herrick, 80, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Boone. BHS-62. Married Earl Herrick in 1965 in Boone. Earned a secretarial degree from DMACC. Worked at the DOT for over 25 years in the Department of Project Planning. Survivors include two daughters, Wendy Herrick, BHS-87, and Amy Peterson, BHS-90, and a son, Mike Herrick, BHS-91, Wendy and Mike are Boone residents.  A stepdaughter, Tammy Herrick, also survives. Services in Boone.     

     Karen Lee Abbott Ely, 80, Boone. BHS-62. Married Loren Ely.