BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Mearl Herman Reed, 64, Boone. Born in Story City. BHS-77. Worked for the Northwestern Railroad and in 1978, began working for the Tom Walters company until his retirement in the early 2000's. Married Marcia Mayse in 1999. They divorced. He loved movies and music, going for hikes in the Ledges, fishing and taking road trips with his boys. Survivors include his mother, Mary Reed of Boone, two sons, Ross (Megan) Reed of Ogden and Patrick Reed of Boone, the mother of his children, Marcia, and two aunts. Services in Boone and St. Paul's, north of Boone.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Shirley LaVonne Merrill Shuey, 89, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Fort Dodge. Stratford HS-51. Married Donald Edmund Shuey in 1951 in Stratford. The couple lived in England for three years while Don was in the Air Force. Shirley worked for Iowa Electric from 1977 until retirement in 1992. The couple enjoyed wintering in Texas. She loved reading, knitting, sewing, camping, playing cards and "spur of the moment" trips anywhere. Don died in 2019. Survivors include two daughters, including Pat (Marlin) Duehring of Boone, four brothers and two sisters. Services in Boone.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Shirley Woodring Lett, 86, Creston. Formerly of Boone. Born in Atlantic. AHS-54. Earned a teaching certificate from Northwest Missouri State. Married Kenneth A. Lett Jr. in Atlantic in 1959. The couple lived in Algona and Shirley taught second grade. A move to Arlington, VA followed and then they settled in Council Bluffs. Moved to Blencoe and Fort Dodge but in 1976, purchased Imperial Lanes in Boone. They remained in Boone until retirement to the Villages in Florida. Ken passed in 2012 and in 2018, Shirley moved back to Creston Iowa. Music was an important part of Shirley's life. She sang in church choirs, a passion was barbershop music and she belonged to Sweet Adelines in four different cities, including Boone where she got a chapter started. Survivors include three daughters, Julie Kay Lang, BHS-79, Jennifer (Joe) Rivera, BHS-80 and Joann (Joe) Portwood, BHS-81, a brother, sister, brothers and sisters-in-law. A grandson, Jared Winters, is a Boone resident. Services in Creston.

BOONE AREA DEATH CONNECTION

     Clifford Dale Renslow, 62, Stuart. Survivors include his wife, Dawn, a son, Michael (Kristen) Renslow, and a daughter, Shannon (Scott) Maddux, both of Madrid. Services in Stuart.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Laura Hassebrock Quam, 93, Boone. Born near Kamrar. KHS. Iowa State Teachers College. Taught in Alexander and Story City. Married Gordon Quam in 1954. While Gordon served in the Army, she taught in Ames and Kansas. Gordon was discharged and attended Drake while Laura was a substitute teacher in Des Moines. The couple moved to Stanhope when Gordon took a position with a bank and while there, Laura taught GED classes and was a teacher's associate for the Stanhope school. The family moved to Boone in 1972 when Gordon had an opportunity to acquire insurance agencies. Laura taught GED at DMACC. When adding real estate to the insurance business, Laura became a sales person and, eventually, a broker for the agency with Gordon until retiring in 2014. The couple enjoyed traveling and Laura was very active in Stanhope and Boone churches. She was a member of the American Women's Club, American Business Women's Association, P.E.O. Sisterhood and served on the U.S. Bank Board of Directors. Gordon passed in 2021. Survivors include a son, Dennis (Christine) Quam of Boone and a daughter, two brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law. Services in Boone.

     Doyle Norman Cox, 84, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Boone. Boone schools. National Guard vet. Married Joyce Jones Irvine. They divorced. Was a city mechanic for over 30 years. Doyle and his brother, Chuck, were NASCAR fans and did race stock cars at the Boone Speedway and Hamilton County Speedway. He loved tinkering on cars, WWE and Dallas. In fact, he and family visited South Fork Ranch. Survivors include his wife, Ida, son Chris (Julie) and daughter, Wanda Cox, all of Boone. Four sisters also survive. No services at this time.

     Richard (Dick) Smith, 45, Boone. Born and grew up in Boone. Had over 20 years experience as a glass glazier and installer at Tri Lite Windows and then, Boone Glass. Married his longtime partner, Marcie Strovers, in May of 2022. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, BBQ cookouts, Friday nights playing pool and poker with the guys, and fishing, boating and playing video games with his children. Survivors include his wife, Marcie, and three children, Trevor (Bailey), Briley and Lexi Smith. A Celebration of life will be held later.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Edith Kay Buchman Wilcke, 80, Boone/Stratford Care. Born and grew up in Ames. Married Wayne Ball. They divorced. She married James Rasmussen. They divorced. She married Walter (Curly) Wilcke. She was a homemaker who loved to travel. She had small dogs, enjoyed cards, board games, going to the casino and spending winters in Texas. Survivors include four adult children, including Roy (Teresa) Ball of Boone. A sister also survives. Celebration of Life at a later date.

     Sandi Sue Underwood Foote, Married Richard Foote in 1964 and they settled in the Chicago suburbs. After raising her family in the Chicago area, she was able to return to her more natural and comfortable way of life and spent the last 25 years in Boone. Survivors include four adult children and two siblings. No services will be held.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Melissa Anne Hull, 33, Boone. She enjoyed bowling, signing and karaoke. Survivors include her husband,Myk Hull, her mother, Lynn Burns, four sons, Aiden, Parker, Jason and Cody, an uncle and her brother, Michael Burns. 

BOONE AREA DEATHS

     Vicki Lynn Lawrence, 72, Madrid. Born in Grinnell. Married Dennis Lawrence in 1984 and the couple made their home in Madrid. After several early jobs, Vicki had worked, most recently, as an Activity Aid for Woodward Resources for 10 years. She retired in 2005. She loved Elvis, traveling, reading, fishing, listening to music and buying lottery tickets. Survivors include her husband, Dennis, three sons, a daughter and a sister. 

     Larry Ford Sr., 84, Madrid. Formerly of Jefferson. Survivors include a son and three daughters. Services in Jefferson.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Ronald Leroy Sorber, 80, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-60. Navy vet. BJC. Married Judith Audrey Shuster in Boone in 1963. Worked for the U.S. Postal Service from the early 80's until retirement in 2004. Ron loved the outdoors, woodworking and camping, many years hosting camp outings at Spring Lake. Survivors include his wife, Judy, a daughter and three sons, including Joe and Matt (Dawn) Sorber both of Boone. Services in Boone. 

     Dan Neely, 83, Newton/Accura. Born in Beebeetown, IA and the family relocated to Boone. BHS-59. Married Winifred Hudspith in 1959 and they became residents of Ames. Dan worked for over 50 years at the Ames Tribune. He loved doing home improvement projects, his dogs and cats, neighborhood walks with Winifred and fishing trips to Canada Survivors include a brother, Duane Neely, BHS-53, sister Nancy Brogden, BHS-65, and a sister-in-law. Winifred died in 2016. Services at a later date.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Ernestine (Ernie) Clair Bever, 93, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Des Moines. DeSoto HS-47. Married Darrell Bever in 1948. Worked at Meredith Publishing, Bankers Life, Iowa Medical Service (BC and BS) and, after raising their children, at Camp Dodge for the Iowa National Guard for 24 years. She transferred from there to the Office and Veterans Affairs and retired in 1995. Lived in Perry and in 1969 moved to Minburn. Survivors include two daughters and two sons, including James Dale (Kathy) Bever of Boone. Services in Perry and Minburn.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Rochelle Valene Johnson, 86, Ames/Eastern Star.

BOONE AREA DEATH

      Charles Peter (Chuck) Becker, 76, St. Joseph IA. Formerly of Webster City and Stratford. In 1983, started C&M Sand and Gravel, based in Stratford with his partner, Mike Nepereny. In 1993, he became the sole owner of the renamed Becker Gravel. Retired in 2008 after selling the business. Three years later, he bought back his original company in Stratford and named it Stratford Gravel. In 2015, he sold the business to his daughter, Monica, his former partner's son, Patrick Nepereny, and a valued former employee, James Frank. In 1998, Chuck had married Liz Lichter and they made their home on an acreage outside of Stratford until moving to St. Joe in 2020. Survivors include his wife, Liz, three adult children, including Monica Becker of Stratford and two brothers. Services in St. Joseph.

BOONE AREA DEATH

      Harold Otis McComb, 102, Ogden/Accura. Born near Grand Junction. Beaver HS-39. Played high school baseball and basketball. Married Wilma M. Gute in 1952. The couple farmed near Beaver until moving to Ogden in 1988. Wilma passed in 2016. Harold farmed into his late 90's. He also enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, hunting, woodworking and playing cards, especially pinochle. Four sons survive, including three from Ogden, Alan, Douglas and Darwin McComb. Services in Ogden and Beaver.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Dawn McMahon/Guadagnoli Van Pelt, 65, Boone. BHS-76. Married Jerry Van Pelt in 1983. The couple divorced. She enjoyed many hobbies, including playing games and putting puzzles together. Foosball was a favorite. She also enjoyed gardening, drawing, coloring, sewing and arts and crafts. Two daughters survive, including Jenna (John) Tieskoetter of Boone. Other survivors are two sisters, Cindi (Dave) Peterson and Deborah Shreve, both of Boone and her partner, Kevin Welch, of Boone. Services in Boone.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Graves Anderson, 78, Boone. Born in Ames. BHS-62. Married Mark Anderson of Pilot Mound in 1962. Mark died in 2014. The couple had raised their children on the family farm in Pilot Mound. In 1981, Mark was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and for the next 33 years, Kathy served as a caretaker and advocate for him. She went to work at the Boone County Assessor's office in 1982. In 1997, she became the Boone County Assessor until her retirement in 2009. She served on the Boone County Compensation Board until 2019. Kathy loved Iowa State basketball, music, photography, baking and cake decorating. She was also an avid reader, gardener and seamstress. Four adult children survive, including David (Yolanda) Anderson of Boone. Five siblings also survive. Burial in rural Boone and a Celebration of Life is planned for a later time.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

     Joan Wright, 82, Boone, formerly of Jefferson. Survivors include her husband, Don Wright, two sisters and three adult children including Kelly (Mark) Olson of Ogden. Services in Jefferson. 

     Helen Marie Anderson Vick, 97, Rochester, MN. Born in Minnesota. Married Ernest J. Vick in Minnesota in 1943. Rev. and Mrs. Vick served several churches in Minnesota before coming to Boone to serve the Evangelical Free Church Home from 1968-84. Ernest passed away in 1997. Four adult children survive. Services in Eden Prairie, MM.

     Ella Lucille Lynch Ahrens, 86, Stratford/Windsor Manor, Webster City. Born in Indiana. Graduated from HS in Texas. Married Dean Ahrens in Illinois in 1955. The couple lived in Stratford for most of their married life. She was a dental assistant, worked at Myrtle's Flower Shop and two of the local grocery stores in Stratford. She loved gardening, quilting, cooking, reading and volunteering at the Stratford school. She attended clown school and became "Hugabunch" for her many appearances. A son, Brett (Kristi) Ahrens and one of her two daughters, Jenifer (Lowell) Crim, survive in Stratford. Two sister-in-laws also survive. Private family burial in Stratford.

    

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Kelly Howard Haws, 87, Nevada. For several years, he worked and traveled for Rolfes Electric of Boone and GrainTech wiring temperature cables for grain bins. Services in Nevada.

     Sharon Kay Bahr, 81, Bel Aire, KS. Lived in Clarion, Story City, Ames, Derby, KS, Boone Iowa and finally, Bel Aire. Survivors include three adult children, including Candace (Paul) Noelk of Boone. Services in Wichita, KS.

BOONE CONNECTED AREA/DEATHS

     Kevin Howard Bouk, 65, Boone. Born in New York. Married Lauri Ann Martin in Pennsylvania in 1980. A jack of all trades, plumbing, construction, electrical and cooking. Worked in several fields, including as caretaker of Pocono Mountain Bible Camp before moving to Boone in 2000. Music was a passion. He was a D.J. from 1988-2008. Survivors include his wife, Lauri, three sons and a daughter, his mother-in-law, Jo Ann Martin, godson Richard Zindle, brothers-in-law, Mark and Timothy Martin and his sister-in-law, Sheri Zindle. Services in Boone.

     Doris Ann English Bright, 95, formerly of Norwalk. Born and raised in Madrid. MHS-45. Married James H. Bright in 1948. Four adult children survive. No public services are planned.

AREA CONNECTED DEATH

     Donald AiVin Stine, 80, Mount Vernon. Born in Ogden. Adel HS, UNI. Long time high school band director, 20 plus years at Mount Vernon. Parents, now deceased, were Loren and Dorothy (Bever) Stine. Services in Mount Vernon.

IT HAPPENS

     "Mo, you got spoofed." That's what Loren Frazier, BHS-58, wrote me BUT, I have news. That's one time of hundreds/thousands that has occurred to me in my almost 88 years.

      He was referring to a recent thing we had posted about the fact that February, 2023, couldn't come again in your lifetime because it happens just once  every 823 years. If you look at the calendar, you'll see that there are only four dates in each day of the week this February. Its called a Miraclein.

     But, here comes Loren to explain why we got spoofed. "The truth is, there are four of each day of the week in February every year, EXCEPT that in leap years, there are five of one of the days."

K-----K

     Ron Hopkins, BSH-59, wrote, "my notes show I was introduced to your blog by Jerry Manriquez, BSH-57, and I don't remember exactly why, but I am thankful and have thoroughly enjoyed it. A little research revealed my first email to you, about the Korner, was dated July 12, 2010, only a few months after you began it. I have many fond memories of my years in Boone and feel a pleasant nostalgia from so many of your Korners. Hope you'll keep it up."

K-----K

     Good old Ozark Vern (Modeland that is, BHS-50) has a memory I can't recall at all. He wrote, "remember when a weather balloon dropped its payload on South Boone Street in 1961 or so. It came down in the dining room of a house at 500 South Boone Street. As I recall, I was watching the balloon from Webster City, after someone called in the sighting, and wondered what it was. From KJFJ radios back door on Highway 30 that silvery tear drop was quite visible to us as it burst and floated out of sight. It took about 10 minutes to verify what it was. Now such a thing causes media and political hysteria."

    On second thought, Vern came back with, "I think it happened closer to 1954 or so. I went to WHO radio in 1955 and it predated that."

K-----K

     John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote, "your readership numbers could show low since I, for one, only read each issue on publication but catch up a week or two at a time. Secondly, I was thinking you write about everybody else but why did you move so often?"

     John was referring to the fact that on the blog there's a short bio that shows I was born in Eldora and have also lived in Aplington, LaMoille, Marshalltown, Washington Iowa and, for the last 75 years or so, in Boone.

     O.K. here's the "why." I was born in Eldora and my dad was a teacher and coach at Eldora and Aplington. He then became the Superintendent, teacher, coach, janitor and everything else at LaMoille, located just east of Marshalltown and between M-town and State Center. 

     Unlike today, the education field didn't pay very well so my dad left LaMoille to become the Assistant Manager of a Spurgeon's store in Marshalltown. He was not draft eligible and the manager of the Spurgeon's in Washington Iowa was called into service and was replaced by my dad's promotion there. When the former manager completed his military duty and returned, my dad remained in Washington but left Spurgeon's and became an insurance salesman.

    My mother was from Boone and my dad from Ames and in 1947-48 they took advantage of an opportunity to "come home".......purchasing a suburban grocery and house next door (on Crawford near 17th street) for a total package of $13,000. He operated that grocery, built a new one (the Superette) on the north side of 17th street between Crawford and Carroll for a number of years before closing it and then working as a library or study hall supervisor and assistant baseball coach at BHS until retirement.

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.....

kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Janet Ann Main Judge, 87, Nevada. Passed at her son's home in Randall. Born in Boone. BHS-53. Married Michael R. Judge in Boone in 1956. Was very active in church, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and enjoyed playing cards. Survivors include two sons. Services in Nevada.

     Rev. Dr. Dennis Gordon Tevis, 75, Hornick. Survivors include a sister, Cheryl Tevis (Stan) Lingren. of Pilot Mound.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Elaine Marie Cottrell, 89, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Minnesota. Married Herbert Cottrell in Minnesota in 1955. A minister's wife, the couple served in several churches in the Midwest. She was a homemaker and caregiver. Enjoyed playing the French horn in the Boone Municipal Band for many years. Also favored reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, making greeting cards with rubber stamps, camping and gardening. Survivors include a son Kevin (Kathie) Cottrell, daughter Brenda Babbitt and daughter-in-law Cathy Cottrell all of Boone. Services in Boone.

     Eloise Mae Runyan Davis, 74, Boone. Born in Boone. Married Gregory J. Davis in Boone in 1964. She worked for the Boone County Hospital and Randy's Meats. Enjoyed attending races, fishing, camping, gardening, jigsaw puzzles and shopping. Survivors include her husband, Greg, daughters Chelley (Chris) Clark and Melissa (Ken) Hilsabeck, son Scott (Bobbi Jo) Davis and her sister, Adeline Hilts. Services in Boone.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     James A. (Jimmy) Wester, 71, Ocoee, FL. Born in Boone. BHS-70. Army vet. Worked for the railroad and at his parent's carpet store (Wester Furniture) as a carpet and tile installer. Survivors include a son, a sister, Pamela Wester Goldsworth, and a very special cousin. Winter Oak Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. 

     Lois Kathryn Grove Johnson, 89, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Missouri. Grand Junction HS. Married Wilbur Grove in 1950 and started a secretarial career. Her last job was as a secretary at Iowa State. She had battled scoliosis and dementia for many years. Enjoyed nature, animals and in retirement, enjoyed being a foster grandmother. Survivors include three adult children, including two from Boone, son Joe Grove and daughter, Kathy (Dave) Springer. Two sisters also survive. Services in Boone.

BOONE AREA DEATH

     Beverly Ann Cowan Beeman, 90, Ames. Born near Luther and grew up on a farm near Luther. She played on Napier High School's state tournament basketball team. Married Joe Beeman in 1951. The family lived in Ames. She was musically gifted, playing the piano and clarinet. She encouraged all four of her boys to play a musical instrument. Loved the Statler brothers and was a wonderful caretaker. Bev received a liver transplant in 2000 with a predicted lifetime of five years. She lived 23 more years. Her parents were Ralph and Lois Cowan of Boone. Survivors include three sons and four siblings, including Janella Kammin of Boone. Private graveside service.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Pamela (Pam) M. Borkowski, 55, Boone. Formerly of San Diego. For over 30 years, was a special education teacher for the San Diego Unified School District and the Boone Community School District. Most recently, she took her years of experience in special education to become an academic strategist for the Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. Survivors include her husband, Todd Borkowski, her son Steven Borkowski and baby sister Britney Bruin, her parents, three sisters and her twin brother. Services in Boone and San Diego.

     Stephanie Jeanne Borkowski, 32, Boone. Survivors include her father, Todd Borkowski, her brother, Steven Borkowski and baby sister,  Britney Druin, her grandparents, aunts and uncles. Services in Boone and San Diego.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Maurice H. Phipps, 82, Boone. Born in Texas. Family moved to Boone in 1950. BHS-60. Attended tech school in Des Moines and became a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33. Also a member of the Tall Corn Club, Buick Club of America and enjoyed time at the Boone Speedway. Survivors include three adult children Mark (Toni) Phipps of Monroe, Matt Phipps, Pam White and Don Sturtz of Boone, a brother, Ronnie (Bessie) Phipps, of Boone, a sister-in-law, Phyliss Lindahl, and brother-in-law, Howard Williams, all of Boone.Services in Boone.

     Janette (Jan) Friedrichsen, 61, Gowrie. Earned a Liberal Arts Degree at Boone Campus, DMACC.

CORRECTION.....CORRECTION

     Sorry, we said in the last edition the membership meeting of the Boone County Historical Society was to be Saturday, Feb. 7. NOT TRUE.

     THE 7TH IS TOMMORROW (TUESDAY)........NOT SATURDAY.

     THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE WAYNE ERICKSON ROOM AT THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE CENTER AT 7 P.M..

     HOPE YOU CAN ATTEND.

BOONE AREA DEATH

     Russell (Johnny) Dean Johnsen, 72, Madrid/winter home in Texas. Born in Madrid. MHS. Army vet. Life member of Madrid VFW and American Legion. Retired from MH Equipment in Des Moines. A classic car fanatic and member of the Pacers Car Club of Madrid. Loved traveling, camping, fishing and riding motorcycles with his wife. Survivors include his wife, Jan, two sons, two brothers and a sister. A celebration of life will be held later.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

      Ruth Reinhart McKim, 75, Boone. Born in Ames. Nevada HS-65. Married Steven McKim in 1966. Ruth worked as a telephone operator while in Nevada. She became a photographer's assistant after the couple moved to Boone. She also owned her own craft business. Very creative, loved to paint, sew, play cards and quilt. She belonged to quilt guilds and participated in many activities at Sacred Heart Church in Boone. Survivors include her husband, Steve, of Boone, a daughter, Dana, and several brothers and sisters-in-law, including Mike and Lori McKim of Boone. A celebration of life will be held at a later time.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Lois Kathryn Johnson, 89, Boone/Eastern Star.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Helen M. Crouse Highland Duffee, 106, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Boone County. Jordan HS-34. Was a clerk secretary in the Boone County Hospital administrative office from 1934-41 and worked in the Boone city clerk's office for 15 years. Married Robert E. Highland in 1940. He passed away in 1967. Helen then married Raymond Duffee in 1990. She enjoyed golf, ceramics, playing bridge, ballroom dancing and gardening. Following retirement, she was a volunteer at the Mamie Eisenhower Home and the Boone County Hospital for 23 years. Survivors include a son, a daughter, a step-son, Steven (Sue) Duffee of Boone, and a step-daughter. Services in Boone.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Leanna Kay Fullerton Barber, 79, while visiting in Florida. Born in Boone. Survivors include two daughters, a son, a brother and sister. Services in Ankeny. Burial in Story Memorial Gardens.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Jean Helen Buss Guenther, 76, Osage Beach, MO. Formerly of Boone. Born in Boone. BSH-64. Married William J. Guenther in Boone in 1964. After being a stay at home mom, Jean began a 25-year career as a personal banker at Hawkeye Federal Savings Bank, which later became Commercial Federal Savings Bank. She retired in 2013 and the couple moved to Lake of the Ozarks. Jean enjoyed a good game of bridge, loved to travel, dance and was well known for her baking skills. Survivors include her husband, Bill, of Gravois Mills, MO., a son, a daughter and her brother, Dan (Sandy) Buss, of Boone. Services in Boone.

WHAT? ON A THURSDAY?

     I, the Kornerman, just told wife Jo, "I need a job, I need to go back to work, this retirement thing is killing me."

     Not true, of course, but retirement does have its challenges. A little history. The original Kelley's Korner, which started appearing in the Boone News Republican in the winter of 1962, was followed by more of the same in the "other" Boone News Republican, eastern location, until I did retire.....I don't know, maybe 2008 or 09. Anyway, I then started the KK blog on March 6, 2010. 

     For its almost 13 years existence, we've posted local death notices on a daily basis but limited any story type content to Wednesday's and Saturday's. As older supporters, story contributors have faded away, we've had fewer and fewer people submitting column material. So, I've decided "what the heck," lets not limit to just those two days.....whenever we have story content, we'll submit it on any day of the week.

    By the way, the word "transparency" is being floated a lot because of the documents etc. you hear about on national media every day. So, we want to be transparent and show that there is still support for the Korner.....not as much as in the past......but enough to keep an interest. So, here are some up-to-date figures. Yesterday, 512 people took a look at the blog, we had 10599 last month which is about 342 per day and would you believe the grand total....dating clear back to 2010..... now stands at 819, 687. 

     So, onward.....even though its Thursday, here's some "catching up" I need to do.

     (1) My class, BHS-53, lost another member recently. Sharon Aspengren Thompson passed away. That spurred a tribute from another  classmate, Richard Longworth, who wrote, "Sharon and her husband, Dick, made a major impact on farming through their Practical Farmers of Iowa organization, with their emphasis on sustainable agriculture, with new methods of crop rotation and a reduced reliance (but not a ban) on chemicals. All of this got them coverage in the New York Times and other national publications. By all accounts, she and Dick were a real team. Among other things, they hosted some 40,000 visitors to their farm, to see what they were doing and learn from them. A valuable life, very well lived."

     (2)  Andy Anderson, BHS-62, wrote, "you mentioned McVicker painting in a recent obit. Mr. McVicker lived a block from me on Cedar Street. I was always amazed how that BIG building could be approved to be built behind his house. I think it is still there. I doubt planning and zoning would approve that today. I recall that Mr. McVicker and his son, Larry, perpetually painted all 22 of the Fareway Stores. I thought that was the only customer McVicker had or needed. I wonder if I'm correct about any of this data?" The Kornerman notes that this must have been many years ago because Fareway now has over 100 stores in its chain.

     (3) Vern Modeland, BHS-50,  responded to some talk we had in the Korner about Boone golfers, including some Modeland's. He wrote, "this Modeland was a lousy golfer after trying to hold up the family's interest in the sport. My cousin, Bill Modeland, was a statewide achiever in the 40's and my uncle, Lee, was groundskeeper at the country club. He got after me regularly as I then lived on Aldrich and considered the second green and fairway from number one to number two to be my proving ground for all sorts of explosive experiments that a Gilbert Chemistry set would allow an inventive mind to try. Ah, the fun of growing up in Boone long, long ago. The Kornerman remembers, yes indeed, that Bill Modeland was the state high school golf medalist as a Toreador athlete.

     (4) The Kornerman thought this was kind of interesting. This month, February, 2023, cannot come in your lifetime again....ever. That's because this year's February has four Sundays, four Mondays, four Tuesdays, four Wednesday's, four Thursday's, four Friday's and four Saturdays. This happens once every 823 years. Its called a Miraclein.

     (5) The Boone County Historical Society tells us that the General Membership Meeting will be held this Saturday, February 7, at 7 p.m. in the Wayne Erickson room on the lower level of the Boone County Historical Center. Also, a reminder that all Society memberships ended 12/31/2022, so, its time to renew. Dues and donations, of course, are an essential revenue source to keep the museum open and moving forward.

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....

kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.