AREA CONNECTED DEATH

     Emma Ann Moreno, 15, Audubon. Born in Ames. Started school at South Hamilton. Was attending Audubon Middle School. Loved tennis, swimming and cooking. Survivors include her father, Jose, of Audubon, her mother, Mary Truckenmiller of Ames and grandparents, David and Carol Truckenmiller of Luther. Services in Jewell.     

1965 - OVER AGAIN? WHY NOT!

     Alright, it struck a nerve.

     Rummaging through some material I had saved for many years, I couldn't help but think of it in terms of Boone, Iowa this very day.

     The object of my attention was a program of 'The Boone Story." Now, right now, I'll say that you have to be of a certain age to have any recollection at all of this production.

     Here's the skinny. In the week of September 12-18, in the year 1965, our community celebrated, in a very big way, our centennial. That was 58 years ago......that's why I say only a certain segment of today's population will remember it.

     This was a very, very big deal for this community. In my 88 years, I can't recall any match to it.

     I wish I could show you the eight-page program that details this "story" in its entirety. It was directed and choreographed by a Joseph Cole Simmons and each day of the centennial week was a special day.

     Sunday, September 12, was Faith of Our Fathers Day; Monday, September 13, Homecoming Day; Tuesday, September 14, Agriculture Day; Wednesday, September 15, Pioneer and Ladies Day; Thursday, September 16, Industry and Commerce Day; Friday, September 17, Youth Day and Saturday, September 18, the Centennial Parade was highlighted.  

     But it was the "Boone Story" production at the Boone County Fairgrounds that, actually stood front and center, due to the enormous community involvement......hundreds, if not a thousand citizens participated in various roles of the two act production which followed Boone's history from its very beginning. 

     And each, of many scenes, featured Boone residents in starring roles. There were few if any professional actors involved but it seemed like every single citizen, regardless of status, took part in some important way.

     Here's my point. We've just completed an important process here, a city election. One of the most contended and watched local elections in quite some time. And, there are still important questions about the city's future to be answered, hopefully, in a thoughtful and mature way.

     Wouldn't this be a great time to come together again, as hundreds of Boone citizens did in 1965, in a most cooperative effort to move our community forward in its most positive way possible?

     Wow! Just thinking.........this could be done.......it was done in '65.....in trust, in cooperation and minus any rancor......and it can be done again......to the benefit of all if we are willing, collectively, to  pursue it.

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....http://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Richard D. (Dick) Hora, 84, Faribault, MN. Born in Boone. BHS-57. ISU. Navy vet. Married Marilyn Pesek, BHS-57, in Boone in 1961. The couple moved to Faribault in 1969. Was Director of Human Resources at Seagate for 30 years, and the business administrator at Divine Mercy Church from 1994 until retirement. Dick was Sergeant of Arms of the Faribault Sertoma Club, and a previous board member of the Faribault Senior Center. He enjoyed target shooting, woodworking, World War II history, fishing and hunting. Marilyn passed in 2020. Survivors include four adult children, a sister, Diane (Duane) Ely, of Boone and two sisters-in-law, Donna Pesek of Omaha and Marge (Bill) Cronin of Ashland, Or. Services in Faribault.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Barbara Jean Germer Low, 83, Norwalk. Born in Boone. BHS-58. Married Gary Low in 1958. She was very active as a volunteer, homeroom mother, Sunday and Bible School teacher, a member of the Norwalk Garden Club, Christian Women's Club, 4-H leader, gardener, loved bingo and helped start the Red Hat Club in Norwalk. She worked as a secretary for a church and Mercy Hospital and Clinics. The couple spent many winters at their home in Apache Junction, Arizona. Survivors include her husband, Gary, a son, five sisters, a brother and brother-in-law.....many from the Boone area. Services in Norwalk.

     Daniel Lynch, 79, Citrus Springs, FL. Born in Boone. Dana Elementary. East Greene HS-62. Marine vet. Auto mechanic and independent trucker. Owned and operated Dan's Place in Beaver for many years. A farm boy, he enjoyed helping on the family farm. Retired to Florida and started a lawn service and worked at a golf course. Survived by three adult children, a daughter-in-law and six siblings. Services in Grand Junction.

     Ronnie Lowe Madison Jr., 45, Dana. Passed away at the Boone County Hospital. Survivors include his wife, his mother, five daughters, a brother and a sister. Services in Jefferson.

     Jeffrey Jordison, 61, North Liberty. Born Fort Dodge. Ames HS-80. DMACC/ISU. Retired from Wells Fargo in 2021. A world traveler and photographer who was the photo champ for the centennial art contest in Boone. Services in Ames and Fort Dodge.

EXCERPTS FROM THE KORNERMAN'S RECENT SPEECH

     LET'S TALK SOME BASKETBALL

     In the early 1920's, there was no Iowa High School Athletic Association so, there was no "official" State Boys Basketball Tournament. However, there were invitational tournaments at the State University of Iowa and Iowa State University and both claimed to be state championship events.

    At the Ames tournament in both 1920 and 1921, the Boone High School team claimed the championships behind the outstanding play of one of the Toreadors greatest all-around athletes, "Hap" Moran who was an all-state basketball player and later, played football in the early days of the National Football League.

   The next appearance by a Toreador team at state was in the official IHSAA tournament in 1932 and again, BHS was the state champion, coached by Harold (Bud) Fisher and led on the court by all-stater Oc Dettman. 

    Boone defeated Muscatine, 16-11, in the state title game at Drake Fieldhouse in Des Moines. The fieldhouse was absolutely "packed to the rafters" and, in fact, an estimated 1,500 fans were "turned away," not able to get in the building.

    The official attendance for that game was 8,000 and, at that time, it was the largest crowd to ever witness a basketball game in Iowa. Not even the college teams in the state drew that many fans to a game.

    BHS also qualified for the 1948 and 1963 state tournaments but were eliminated in the early  rounds.

    FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES

    Every March, the entire USA goes crazy for college basketball as tournament play leads up to the "Final Four," the top teams in the nation in both the men's and women's competition.

    The State University of Iowa made two appearances in the "Final Four" in the mid-1950's and there were Boone connections in both of those tournaments.

    The 1954 and 1956 Hawkeye teams both earned berths in the "Final Four" and both were coached by Frank (Bucky) O'Conner, who was the Boone High School coach in the 1940's, including that 1948 state tourney entrant.

    One of the other teams in that Final Four was the University of Colorado. They had an outstanding individual player who won All-Tournament "Final Four" honors because of his outstanding play. That was Jim Ranglos, another former Toreador coach, who guided BHS to that 1963 state high school tournament appearance.

    BOONE GIRLS STATE APPEARANCES

    Boone High School girls basketball teams have earned state recognition with four appearances in the state tournament. 

    Both the 1958 and 1989 six-on-six teams were in the fields while the 2017 and 2018 five player units also qualified. All lost in first round state play except the 1989 team which posted an opening round victory.

     

BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS

     Jim Eaves, 78, Boone. Married Pamela Love in Boone in 1972. Worked at Ames Engineering for 20 years. Enjoyed reading, welding and tinkering in his garage. Survivors include his wife, Pamela, a son, Christopher Eves, two daughters, Jennifer (Lennus) Drennen, Angela Spanbauer and a bonus daughter, Paula (Tommy Mohs) Love. A brother also survives. Celebration of Life in Boone.

      Ilo Marie Stark, 95, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Stanhope. Stratford HS-45. Married John V. Stark in Kansas City in 1947. Has lived in Stratford, Luther, Boone and Des Moines. A farm wife, she also worked at Bourne's in Ames, Des Moines Central Iowa Railroad in Boone and the Rock Island line in Des Moines. She retired in 1989 from the finance department for the City of Des Moines, handling employee benefits for 15 years. A member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 576 in Stratford, she loved her pets, country music, farm life and, for a time, wrote a column in the Stratford Courier. Survivors include sons Steve and Doug (Judy) Stark. Service in Stratford.

     Jolene L. Wade Miller, 85, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Boone. BHS-55. Married Donald L. Miller in Boone in 1955. A stay-at-home mom and homemaker. Enjoyed traveling, covering all 50 states. Survivors include three daughters, Jamie (Ron) Brown and Janelle (Larry) Grabill, of Boone and Michele (Patrick) Havlik of Ames. Services in Boone.

     John (Doug) Douglas Elliott, 75, Ames. Born in Ames. AHS. Worked for the Ames schools for many years prior to retirement in 2005. Among the survivors are three brothers, including Denny (Paula) Elliott of Boone. Services in Ames.

OGDEN CONNECTED DEATH

     Harry Lee Dannen, 87, Ogden. Born in State Center. Moved to Minnesota. Blooming Prairie HS-54. Austin Junior College and the University of Minnesota. Married Karen Ann Marie Thompson in Minnesota in 1967. The couple made their home in Ogden.Worked for Hallett Materials and Rasmussen Group of Ankeny for over 50 years. Enjoyed woodworking and built his own home in 1977. Hawkeye fan who loved travel and reading and was a very dedicated community volunteer. Among other things, he designed and built the gazebo at Lincoln Prairie Park. In 1998, Harry and John Kruse received the "Iowa Volunteer Award" for building the new press box at the Ogden baseball field, the first wrestling building at OHS and the concession stand there. Survivors include his wife, Karen, a daughter, son and sister. Services in Ogden.

     Walter Eugene Thomas, 61, Ogden/Accura. Formerly of Cambridge. Service in Cambridge.