BOONE AREA DEATH

     Clifford Davis Jr., 57, Stratford. Born in Pennsylvania. Grew up in Gary, Indiana. Horace Mann HS. Moved to Ames in 1988. He enjoyed cooking, playing cards, watching movies, and listening to old school R&B. Worked as a chef and enjoyed cooking in his leisure time. Survivors include his loving partner and best friend, Shellie Anderson, of Stratford. His parents and three brothers also survive.

BOONE CONNECTED/AREA DEATHS

     Carleen Denise Sharp Gunion, 62, Boone. Born in Kansas City. Married Doug Gunion in 1985. Worked at the Woodward Resource Center for 30 years. The couple were members of the Mopar Car Club and traveled the midwest attending car shows with the numerous Mopars. Carleen was an avid scrapbooker, loved attending the Iowa State Fair, going to concerts and she was a professional traveler. Survivors include her husband, Doug, adult children Scott and Melissa Gunion and Josh Schneulle all of Boone, her mother, Sharon, Debbie (Tom) Ray and Mike (Deb) Sharp both of Boone. Services in Boone.

     Dale Laverne Mount, 87, Boone. Grand Junction HS. Attended telegraphy school in Minneapolis. Worked for the railroad in Marshalltown. Then, took a job with the railroad employees credit union and consolidated 13 credit unions in Cedar Rapids. The family moved to Ames where Dale managed United Methodist Ministers Credit Union for over 30 years, retiring in 2000. He was on the Board of Directors of several Iowa credit unions during his 30 years and during that time, many Iowa Credit unions consolidated their share draft and credit card processing into one organization called the Members Group, which he helped organize. Dale loved trains and was a board member and president of the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad as well as helping in various other ways. Upon retirement, he took a job responsible for transporting railroad crews to and from their trains. A member of several railroad historical societies, he organized Ames area railroad fans for once a month meetings. He completed 34 RAGBRAI's. He and wife Linda traveled extensively overseas. Survivors include his wife, Linda, two sons and a step-daughter. Services in Ames and Grand Junction.

     Kristine Sue Jones Geneser, 70, Madrid. Born in Ames. Grew up on farms in Maxwell, Farrar, Colo and the Ames area. United Community HS-70. Married Bill Geneser in 1975 and they made their home in Granger until moving to Madrid in 1979. She managed BJ's Lounge in Madrid for over 20 years and the VFW for two years. She served as co-President of the Madrid Booster Club in the early 90's. She loved fishing, watching NASCAR, gardening, cooking, canning, bowling, softball and big family vacations in Minnesota. Survivors include her husband, Bill, son James Geneser of Madrid and a sister. Services in Madrid and burial near Granger.

BOONE CONNECTED, AREA DEATHS

     Betty M. Snider Strait, 84, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Madrid. Married John Strait in 1975. The couple lived on an acreage south of Perry where they raised small animals and had a large vegetable garden. Betty was a State of Iowa employee for 27 years before retiring in 2000. Survivors are three adult children, including Debbie (Lowell) Hurley of Boone and Roger (Kris) Peterson of Madrid. A sister, Connie LaValley, of Madrid also survives. Private services.

     William (Bill) Joseph Long, 61, rural Woodward. He grew up in Madrid. Married Robin Malone in 1981. They divorced. In 1998, he married Melinda Stielow (Leefleur). Bill worked at the Woodward State Hospital throughout his life. However, he did take a year off to build a dream home along the Des Moines River near Woodward. He was a Bill of all trades and enjoyed various hobbies including hunting, fishing, boating, mushroom hunting and a nice ride on his Harley. Survivors include his wife, Melinda, four adult children, three brothers, including Larry (Sharon) Long of Madrid and three sisters, including Donna Walker of Boone. Services in Madrid.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Carla Rae Dixson, 75. Born in Ames. BHS-65. Served in the Women's Army Corps from 1965-75, including time in Viet Nam and Germany. After discharge, worked at the Centers for Animal Health as a Safety Specialist. She retired in 2011. Survivors include a brother and three sisters. Graveside military services Friday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. at Boone Memorial Garden. 

     Steven Dale Kelley, 69, Boone. Born in Wisconsin. Stratford HS-71. Then attended Iowa Central Community College. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, walking his dogs and hiking. He also enjoyed writing, painting, flint-knapping and cooking. Survivors include his wife, Diana, three adult children and a sister. Services in Boone and Dayton.

A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT

     In athletics or any other phases of life, things are much different today, than say they were in the 50's/60's.

     Today, opportunities are much more available for financial success or even widespread name recognition. In the 50's/60's, the world seemed much smaller, much more "contained" to larger, more populated areas and with that, came more chances for obtaining the biggest bucks in those areas and, perhaps, only those areas.

     So, what are you getting at Mo? Well, a bit of today and a bit of yesterday.

     Today, I'm thinking of Cooper DeJean, the University of Iowa football defensive back/safety. He's a 19-year old, 6-1, sophomore, who played high school football on a state championship team at OABCIG....the IG is Ida Grove. At quarterback for his high school team, he passed for 3,447 yards and rushed for 1,235 yards. In basketball, he scored 1,832 points in his career and, as a senior, he had the fastest 100 meter time in the state track meet. 

     Despite all these high school accolades, he had very limited collegiate offers. He could vie for quarterback at South Dakota State or for a defensive position at the State University of Iowa. He chose SUI and defense.

    It was a wise choice for this athlete from a very small community. He's made a big impact, the latest, was the MVP award at the recent Music City Bowl when Iowa defeated Kentucky.  DeJean appears to be on a path to even bigger athletic opportunities and with that, better financial success.

    Regarding yesterday, I'm thinking of similar, young athletic success, also from a smaller community, but with far fewer opportunities for a bigger and better future.

    If you were a central Iowan, specifically a Boone Countian, in those early mentioned years, you had heard about the late Loel Johnson of Pilot Mound. Unfortunately, most of Iowa was unaware of this rugged kid who played the game of basketball with great skills, comparable to the more well known Iowa prep cage stars of that era. Despite his location, enough word got out that he did earn second team all-state recognition.

   The Kornerman received an email from Loel's son, Steve, the other day and I was overwhelmed by the memories he provided. He wrote, "I was going through some newspaper articles my Grandma Johnson had put together of dad's games, both basketball and baseball. One of Pilot's big win's dad's senior year was over Stanhope. It says in the article that you did the broadcast of the game for KWBG. I'm just thankful that my grandma put together this scrapbook of dad's games. I know you would, occasionally, write something about dad in the Boone newspaper and his cousin, Janis Anderson, would send me a copy. As a kid, I always enjoyed dad telling me and my brother about his games at Pilot."

    Actually, Loel wasn't the only good athlete produced in this small community. Steve wrote, "dad's first cousin, Bill Caldwell, was a great athlete and his son, Rick, was a multiple state championship wrestling coach at Waverly-Shell Rock. Dad's first cousin, Bill Ingalls, was an all-state football player in 1942 and bypassed a University of Iowa scholarship offer to enter military service. Bill was the second person in the family that was all-state in basketball. His aunt, Maurine Poulson Stark, was a first team selection from Stratford. Then there was Darrell Zunkel who became one of the state's best fast pitch softball pitchers......a Hall of Famer."

    The Kornerman remembers Bill Caldwell as a good fast pitch softball player as well. He was a member of the Boone Merchants team that won the state championship in 1958. Unfortunately, Bill died at age 37 and a teammate, Gary Grove, passed at 19. Steve wrote, "on the flip side, Dr. Don Crouch lives in Storm Lake and is in excellent health and younger brother, Deck, still has that service station in Pilot."

    Time passes and things change. Unfortunately, Pilot Mound's Loel Johnson, who earned well deserved, tremendous recognition locally, performed in a time when much broader opportunities were not as available. 

    Unlike Cooper DeJean,  I guess you could say Loel Johnson was a day late and a dollar short of what "could have been."

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

     Daniel Lee McDevitt, 74, Perry/Aspire. Formerly of Nevada and Boone. Born in Perry. BHS-66. Earned a Physical Education degree from ISU. Iowa National Guard vet. Worked at UBC Lumber in Boone, now Builder's By Choice, as a residential construction designer and in construction sales. He retired in 2016. Dan enjoyed photography, playing sports, golf, bowling and baseball. Survivors include a son, two siblings, nieces and nephews, including Kristy and Brian McDevitt of Boone. Services in Perry.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Louann Wood Whitcher, 92, Boone. Born in Perry. Perry HS. Married Benjamin David Whitcher in 1949. Benjamin passed away in 2005. Louann  was a receptionist at the Boone County Hospital until retirement. She enjoyed puzzles, quilting, making cookies and was devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Survivors include adult children, Mark Whitcher and Nancy Roney, both of Boone and a niece, Kelly Krause. Services in Boone with burial in Woodward. 

     Kathy Hodges Brown Jackson, 84, Rippey/Perry Aspire. Formerly of Boone. Born in Boone. Attended Ogden schools. Married Delbert Brown and they divorced. Married Merle Jackson. She enjoyed listening to country music, playing bingo and finding deals at yard sales and thrift stores. Loved attending carnivals and fairs. In Boone, she walked every street in town. Was a member of Rippey United Methodist Church. A daughter, Rhonda, and brothers and sisters, Dale, Jim, Linda, Laura and Pat, survive. Services in Boone with burial in Pleasant Hill cemetery.

     Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Peter, 80, Boone. Born in Danbury. Danbury HS-60. Grew up on a farm. Iowa Air National Guard Viet Nam vet. Married Marlys (Oakie) Rosann Oakland in Sioux City in 1967. Earned a degree in biology from Morningside College and began a teaching career at United Community in 1970. In 1997, he joined the faculty at Futures Alternative High School in Boone. Retired from teaching in 2004 after 34 years. He had taught biology and physics and coached several sports. Larry created an outdoor classroom at United that was the first of its kind in Iowa. He was honored as the Iowa Environmental Teacher of the Year in 1997 and earned the Governor's Volunteer award for his cooperative work with the DNR on the Kestrel nest box trail. For 36 years, he worked at the Evangelical Free Church Home as a CNA. A dedicated church member, he served as a Eucharistic Minister and sang in the choir at Sacred Heart for 36 years. Survivors include his wife, Marlys, and a son, Marc Peter, both of Boone. A daughter also survives. Services in Boone.