BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

      Michael J. "Mick" Jacobson, 71, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-71. Married Susan Gus in 1988. Lifelong Yankee fan, he enjoyed coaching and umpiring Little League games and playing slow pitch softball. He also enjoyed drives by the river looking for wildlife. Survivors include his wife, a son, Riley (Michele), a daughter, Heidi (Aaron) Acela, sisters Denise Morth, Donna Doran and Susie DePont and a brother, Tim Jacobson. Services in Boone.

      Thomas A. Doran, 72, Luther. Earned a degree in Diesel Equipment Mechanics in 1989. He enjoyed family potlucks after church, old westerns and antique cars and tractors. Remembered for his laugh and onery nature. A real life John Wayne. A hero, teacher, protector and hard worker. Survivors include his children, his mother and siblings. A COL will be held later.

     Norman "Tom"Willard, 76, Ames. Moved to Ames in 2004 due to Tom's career in the printing field. He retired from BASF in 2011. A COL will be held at the Central Iowa Expo.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Ted H. "Teddy" Craven Jr., 80, Apache Junction, AZ. Formerly of Boone. Also lived in Des Moines and Norwalk before his residence in Arizona. He worked all over Iowa as an independent truck driver, hauling for his father and other companies. After a move to Arizona in 1995, he hauled rock for the many roads being built. He retired at 79 years of age. Survivors include three daughters and two sons. He also helped  raise four stepchildren. There will be a COL in Arizona and then another in St. Mary's, IA. Burial in Des Moines.   

       Donald S. Myers, 72, Pilot Mound. Born in Boone. BHS-70. In high school, participated in football, basketball and baseball. Viet Nam vet. Served in the U.S. Army from 1970-72. Married Pamela Grimm in Boone in 1975. They divorced after 40 years of marriage. Started work for the Chicago Northwestern in 1975 and retired from the Union Pacific in 2012. He loved his yearly trip to Vegas, was a Chicago Bears fan and enjoyed deer and mushroom hunting. A brother survives. Also surviving is a nephew, William Curtis Myers of Boone. Services in Boone.

       Karol DeMoss Johnson, 84, Boone. Born in Storm Lake. Fonda HS. Morningside College. Married Douglas Johnson at Fonda in 1960. After her early years as a homemaker, she worked various administrative assistant roles in Iowa, Texas and Colorado. She enjoyed reading, a good glass of wine and spending time with family. Survivors include four sons, including Kirk (Holly) Johnson of Boone. A brother also survives. No services.

     Judy Faye Stiles, 79, Madrid. Two sons survive. No services planned.

     Helen Zollars, 93, Jefferson. Burial in Lawn Cemetery, Boxholm.

BRAKKING NEWS

     Open your calendars........the dates for the upcoming Pufferbilly celebration have been announced along with some other pertinent information.

     Pufferbilly 2024 will be celebrated September 20-22. Can you believe this will be the 48th edition?

     Topping the celebration entertainment will be the Pork Tornadoes, recently featured in the famous Rolling Stone magazine.

     AND.....the 2024 Pufferbilly parade Grand Marshall will be George Eckstein. That could not be a more fitting selection. George was, of course, one of the initial group of citizens who were the driving force behind the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, who's great history helped propel the Pufferbilly celebration.

     George has also contributed to the community in many other ways, especially notable are  many hours of work with the Boone County Historical Society and the Mamie Eisenhower birthplace.

     Jo and I were honored a few years back when we were asked to be the Grand Marshall. However, we, honestly, have never done much for Pufferbilly Days, except watch the parade and eat a brat. So we declined the invitation. We felt that there surely would be someone, among the long-time volunteers, who have worked tirelessly on the event and deserved that honor more than we did. Someone like George Eckstein. A good choice.

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/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

     Eldred James Bechard, 96, Boone. Survivors include his wife, Tita, of Boone, a son, two daughters, including Sally Bechard of Boone and a sister, Ima Lee Erickson, of Boone. Two area grandchildren also survive, Betsy Keebler and Cory Elsberry, both of Ogden. Services in Grand Junction.

REMARKS ON MUSTAPHA COLUMN

     The recent Korner column about the "Greatness of Jack Mustapha Jr." has produced many comments, particularly from fellow baseball players of that era, mid-60's.

     Pat Ahlstrom, BHS-64, wrote, "musty definitely had the ability to pitch in the major leagues......would have loved to have seen that."

     Dick Musser, BHS-64, said, "besides his pitching, I was always amazed at how he could get hits going to left field, even when we played for that."

     John Hinz, BHS-64, wrote, "in my three years of Little League and three more years of Babe Ruth baseball, I remember Jack's speed like it was yesterday. Six years yielded only two singles by me, hit by pitches three times and the rest were all strikeouts. His fast ball caused great pain as did Mike Loehrer's. You never forget those pitches."

     John Hendricks, BHS-64, said, "Jack was truly gifted. The times I was his catcher, from Little League through Babe Ruth and high school ball he was a "oner." I always wore a big sponge in my mitt to protect my palm from his fast ball. The back injury was cruel fate since there was little doubt he was headed for the big time."

     Regarding the story about pole vaulter Clyde Hovick, Mark Campbell, BHS-67, recalled, "walking through the gym, I'd see Clyde walking on his hands.....back and forth. When track season began and he began pole vaulting it had become clear why he did that. I remember I was the P.A. announcer that day and sat beside Athletic Director Howard Stutzman and we watched him clear the bar. It was so exciting. Thanks for prompting the memory."

K-----K

     Back to recalling one of the remembrances I had of my long media career as related in my October, 90-minute talk, "BOONE-My Kind of Town," that I gave at the Boone County Historical Society.

     I humbly say that I think I gave one of the most "warmly received" commencement talks EVER at the Boone Campus, Des Moines Area Community College.

     My boss, Bernie Saggau, was one of the most outstanding motivational/inspirational speakers in the entire country and gave hundreds, if not thousands, of commencement speeches from border to border. In his career, he probably spoke at every single high school in Iowa.

     One morning at work at the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Bernie came into my office and it was plain to see and hear that he was struggling with some kind of illness. He indicated to me that he was scheduled to give a speech that day but didn't think he could do it......and I would have to replace him.

     I said, "when?" and he replied, "this morning......10 a.m.......at Boone Campus. Its the DMACC commencement ceremony."

     I, of course, was stunned....that and now.......but he tried to reassure me that it would be O.K.......I had done some high school commencements.....and could surely come up with some material to adequately replace him.

    I reported for the 10 a.m. assignment, gave the commencement speech and was absolutely amazed at the response. The graduates seemed especially pleased and happy and excited and even the parents and others in the audience were equally as joyful.......lots of hugging and general happiness.

   Someone had timed the speech......about seven minutes.......all those graduates and parents were ecstatic......and as I was gloating about my great success.......I, suddenly realized,.the graduates weren't overwhelmed with what I had to say........they simply wanted to get that diploma and quickly "get out of Dodge" and their new life.

 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....htt://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com.

    

   

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

         Gary Lee Thompson, 80, Kelley. Born in Boone. Married Barbara in 1968. He owned and operated G.L. Thompson Sodding from 1995-2010 and also worked at Clyde Black and Son for many years. Vietnam vet. He loved bird watching and being outside, especially mowing his lawn. Survivors include three children, four sisters and a brother. 

         Donald J. Howard, 75, Boone. Died after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Marshalltown. Green Mountain HS-66. Marshalltown Community College and a B.S. from Mankato State in 1970. Started his teaching and coaching career in Boone. Taught algebra, geometry and computer literacy. Coached girls track for 36 years and girls basketball for 26 years as an assistant. He also coached boys track, basketball and football, officiated basketball and volleyball and kept score for volleyball, basketball and football. An annual Boone track meet was renamed the Don Howard Invitational in 2023.  He was active in the Boone Educators Association, president three times and worked on contract negotiations for 15 years. Retired in 2006 but continued coaching track and field until 2023. He served Boone youth for 53 years. Was on the Board of Directors of the Boone County Fair, steering committee of Pufferbilly Days and the board of the Boone County Community Credit Union. A well known traveler, runner and RAGBRAI participant. A sister survives. Services in Boone.

         Paul (Shorty) Peterson, 97, Boone/Westhaven. Formerly of the Boxholm area. Born in Boxholm. BHS-45. Army veteran. Married Doris LaVonne Ewing in Dayton in 1949. The couple farmed south of Boxholm for over 55 years before moving to Boxholm in 2004. Served on the Board of Directors and was past president of Westside Apartments and past president of Boxholm Development. Legion member, involved in Boone County ASCS and Farmers COOP. Volunteered at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad as a tour guide, announcer for Thomas the Train and as Santa on the Santa Express. He moved to Westhaven in 2017. Survivors include his children, Janice and Tim. Services in Ogden and Boxholm.

         Linda Cox Grasso Jones, 74, Madrid Homes. Formerly of Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-68. Married Gary Grasso. They divorced. Married Gene (Dick) Jones in 1971. Dick passed away in 1978. Linda worked at Look Magazine in Des Moines for a short time before spending 20 years working at Bournes. She enjoyed camping and fishing. Three sisters survive, including Beverly (Jeff) Huston of Boone. A stepson and three sisters-in-law, Nyla Cox and Ida Cox of Boone and Linda Ann Cox of Ogden also survive. Services in Boone.

        Ilene Cooklin, 92, Jefferson. Survivors include three children and two brothers, including her brother, Glen Dillavou, of Boone.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

      Rick J. Isolini, 67, Madrid. Born in Boone. MHS. A graduate of William Penn University. He taught and coached at Mormon Trail, Schuyler Co. Missouri and Madrid. Taught P.E. and Driver's Ed while also coaching softball and football. He was a member of the state football championship Madrid team of 1991. While teaching, Rick also owned Nonni's Restaurant in Madrid. He ended his work career, prior to retirement, at Woodward Resource Center. He loved watching TV at Dalton's Lounge, making his famous Italian sausage, following Notre Dame and ISU athletics and spending time with his sister, Lori's, family. Survivors include his sister, Lori (Mark) Reddish, and a brother. Services in Madrid.    

      Gary "Pete" Jensen, 83, Boxholm since 1976. Born in DeLoit, IA. Knierim/Barnum schools-59. Worked at New Idea Machining, Bush Hog and Electrolux. He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and was an avid bird watcher. Survivors include four daughters, including Trisha (Marie) Mendez of Boone and Charlene Schiller of Boxholm. No services.     

      Gladys Cacek, 100, Boone/Eastern Star. Formerly of Sutherland. She and her late husband, Vernon Cacek, moved to the Eastern Star Home in 2013. Services in Boone and Sutherland.  

      Margaret "Jean" Kleinendorst Weuve, 81, Colo. Born in Newton. NHS-61. A.I.B. graduate. Married Hank Weuve in Des Moines in 1963. Was administrative secretary at the USDA office in Ames. Survivors include her husband, a daughter, a son, a sister and a brother, Warren Kleinendorst, of Boone. Services in State Center.