BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Gary Grosnickle, 90, Bella Vista, AK area. A former Boone resident. BHS-53.        

       Diana "Di" Weddell, 82, Boone. Born in Clarion. ISU and Eagle Grove Community College. Married James "Jim" Weddell in 1963. The couple moved to Boone in 1966. Diana worked at Hawkeye Savings and Loan and then as office manager for Pollard Family Dentistry. She appreciated nature, time at the family cabin in Minnesota and traveling. She was also a dog lover. Di suffered through some dementia challenges but was always known as "the sweetest, kindness" lady. Two children survive, Michael (Jamie) Weddell of Alaska and Jana (Randy) Stambaugh of Boone. A sister, Sue (Jim) Snider of Boone also survives. A COL is planned.       

       Rebecca Lou  "Becky" Johnson, 76, Colo. Survivors include a son, Dennis (Rita) Stoeffer of Boone. A COL in Nevada and burial in Colo. 

EMERGENCY.......

       At Kelley's Korner we seldom interrupt regular service with special notifications BUT.....

       THIS IS THE TIME AND THE PLACE........IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE LEDGES STATE PARK.....SOON.

        THE ROADS ARE GREAT SINCE THE LATEST PAVED WORK ON THEM AND THE WEATHER, OF COURSE, THIS TIME OF YEAR......FANTASTIC.

         JO AND I JUST FINISHED A TRIP THROUGH.....AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT PARK CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY DESCRIBED. IT HAS TO BE THE BEST OF ALL IN IOWA.

         AND, THE PLACE WAS OVERLOADED WITH PEOPLE OF ALL SIZES AND SHAPES AND BACKGROUNDS ENJOYING A WONDERFUL DAY

         YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED BY A QUICK TRIP.......SUCH BEAUTY AND UNBELIEVABLE ACTIVITY BY PEOPLE AND CARS FROM.......EVERYWHERE.

         FIND A WAY TO GET THERE AND THEN TELL ME LATER, "YOU WERE RIGHT. THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW"

          

 

 

          

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Steven Wesley Shaler, 85, St. Cloud, MN. Born in Boone. BHS-59. His parents were Signe and Wesley Shaler. Air Force vet. After service, he moved to Minneapolis to work for Northwestern Federal Savings. There, he met and in 1969, in Des Moines, married Wendelyn (Wendy) Gilman. Steve built a career in savings, loan and financial services. In 1975, he became President of First Federal Savings in Grand Rapids, MN and in 1995, he joined AgStar Financial Services in St. Cloud, retiring in 2008. A participant in several sports at Boone High, he became a lifelong runner, completing 13 marathons, including the famous Boston Marathon. He enjoyed reading, was a dapper dresser, loved cherry marshmallow malts and 1950's music. Every April, Steve met several of his high school teammates and lifelong friends, including Chuck McGrifff and Tim Croxen,, at the Drake Relays. Survivors include his wife, Wendy, daughters, Sara and Stephanie, and sisters, Sara, (BHS-55) Sally Harwood, Mary, (BHS-61) Day and Emily, (BHS-62) Osam. Service details pending.

       Barbara Ann "Barb" Hunt, 76, Newton. Born in Arkansas. Her parents were Clarence and Mildred (Nelson) Hunt. BHS-68. DMACC. Barb worked 10 years as an NFL seamstress before driving a special needs van for the Ogden school district for six years. She retired in 2017. Barb enjoyed knitting, crocheting, crafts, bird watching, gardening and yellow flowers, especially yellow roses and lily of the valley. Survivors include two daughters, Traci Wilcox of Newton and Jennifer West of Alaska. Three brothers, Jerry, James and Roger Hunt also survive.       

       Beth Ellen Meyer Stockton, 74, Diamond Bar, CA. Born in Boone in 1952. Her parents were Reuben and Rosella Freie Meyer. South Hamilton HS. Private family service. 

DEATH, LOVE AND MEMORIES

        I'm so sorry to report this but Jo and I have lost another close friend.

        For years, we have received and depended on some news from our friends, good and bad, back and forth, news that was shared as good friends normally do.

        Fact is, however, I guess  old age has simply caught up.

        A simple service is planned with further details to come a bit later. 

        Yup, we're finally making the move and yielding to better, more modern technology. Our land line telephone is being laid to rest.

         As simple as some pleasures are, they can still be difficult to remove and will, eventually, be missed. Perhaps the best thing our land line offered was the notification on the television screen the name of a party seeking our attention. If  it was something, obviously, not of our interest, we either quickly went back to our doze or tried to maneuver ourselves to that phones location, wherever it happened to be.

         Anyway, there are a few family members or friends that are still accustomed to that number so the notification of a necessary change will have to occur. 

         Soon, 1-515-432-1530 will be reaching its demise. So, on your calendar etc., replace that with Mo's cell phone number 1-515-230-0267 or Jo's 1-515-783-3985. Especially effected will be Korner viewers. Since the Korner's existence, we've always encouraged any feedback using that 1530 number. Now, our cell numbers will prevail, like it or not. Its progress......I guess. And, as always, our email address can be used for contact. Its listed at the end of each edition.

K-----K

       I love absentee voting.

       As Jo and I have aged, we have become more reliant on that type of participation. WHY NOT?

       I imagine just "getting out" is a solid reason to continue voting at a designated center on the exact day of the election, where you may see some folks you haven't seen for quite some time. HOWEVER, you can never depend on Iowa's weather, which could be bad or worse, or the length of large crowds waiting to vote that exact day. Regardless of the weather, with absentee ballots filled, all we need is a way to re-connect with the courthouse, before the deadline date, via some type of mailing device at our pleasure.

       And we've found that absentee voting is so simple. There are designated dates involved in the various elections but initially, well in advance, we indicate to the courthouse that we want to vote absentee. They quickly respond with the ballots whenever they are available and then, we fill them out to our desire and return them to the courthouse. 

       That's it.......DONE.

       While all those television advertisements continue, we can ignore them as much as possible and await election day and the final results.

       Yes, as pointed out......there could be a chance of late breaking news that might have effected our final vote but chances of that are probably pretty thin.

       So, the Kelley's have already voted and now, we do await the final results.

K-----K

       The Kornerman hadn't heard from an old friend and classmate, Richard Longworth, in some time but the recent Korner mention of the great Johnny Bright, yanked Dick's chain a bit and he had some great remembrances of Bright.

      Richard recalled, "Bright once played in Boone....softball, not football. The state championship was decided at the diamond in McHose Park and Bright was the star pitcher for one of the teams involved. I covered those games for the News Republican and was even appointed official scorer. Where Bright was concerned, it was an easy job---K's all the way. He was unhittable, a truly superior athlete. As I recall it, his team won the tournament."

      The Kornerman adds, "what memories of those great fast pitch softball state tournaments held right here in Boone on our McHose Park diamond. Huge crowds and great competition which could lead to a great story by itself."

K-----K

       Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 1-515-230-0267. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices......https:/kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com 

        

       

 

 

 

          

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Norma Jean Fast, 83, Marshalltown. Formerly of Boone. Born in Des Moines. Her parents were Carl and Emma Fast. Gilbert HS-61. Worked in Chicago at Alden's department store for many years and then was at CDS Global in Boone until retirement. Known as "sis," she was an avid reader and known for her kindness to everyone. She loved the Chicago Bears, crossword puzzles and traveling. Two sisters, Carol (Leon) Lamer and Elizabeth (Rick) Browning, survive. A private family graveside service at Gilbert Cemetery.       

       Terry Crouch, 69, Lakefield, MN. Born in Boone. His parents were Bill and Doris Crouch. Grand Community HS. He started working in his dad's convenience store/gas station, along with his uncle Deck. After working briefly for Sandler Built Homes in Boone, he attended Lincoln Technical Institute of West Des Moines, learning about automotive and mechanical technology, then, Ellsworth Community College. He returned to Boxholm, working with his dad and then became a fuel manager at a truck stop in Des Moines. Terry, eventually, returned to Boxholm to take over the family business. Rosenbloom of Spirit Lake became his next employer, where he became a vital part of its maintenance program. A special part of Terry's life was the Shayla Bee Foundation, a mission centered on bringing hope, support and meaningful experiences to children and families facing childhood cancer and other serious illnesses.After marriage to Randine, Terry became the father of a daughter, Melissa, and a son Garrett. They, along with a brother, Robin, various in-laws and uncles survive. Services in Lakefield, Pilot Mound and Boxholm.

       Mary Ellen Miller Karas, 93, Chattanooga, TN. Born in Ogden. Her parents were Edgar and Rosamond Miller. OHS-51. Raised on a farm south of town. Had a career in banking. Married Richard C. Karas in 1964. The couple moved to Tennessee in 1983. She loved cats, music and caring for her yard. Survivors include a sister, Norma Jean Anderson, and sisters-in-law, Joyce and Peggy Miller. Services are pending.

A BIT OF THIS AND THAT

       The recent story on Pervical's drew a couple responses. 

        Martha Hilsabeck, BHS-62, remembered when her husband, Virgil, worked at Percival's. The couple married in 1963. Martha reported, "Virgil brought home $63.02 each week from his work there. We could spend $10.00 for a week's worth of groceries and still have money to pay rent, utilities etc. Those were the good old days. Thanks for keeping us in touch with those days."

         Mike Loehrer, BHS-64, wrote, "Percival's was the first real job I had, so I distinctly recall many events at the plant in '63 and '64. I started at $1.67 an hour and a short time later, jumped up to $1.76 and this was the same wage the guys who were supporting families received. To this day, I can name quite a number of fellow workers there and how they impacted my "growing up" period of life."

K-----K

        The latest minutes of meetings of the Boone County Historical Center board mentioned the landscaping that was continuing on the south side of the building as well as work on the front door, roof and various concrete updates. Racing in Boone County will be an exhibit feature in August/September of 2027. Work on that exhibit will begin in January.

         My-oh-my.....its hard to believe that the BCHC will soon have a 60th anniversary. There will be a special celebration on November 8, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m., with a program at 2:30 p.m. Also on your calendar add January 23, 2027, that will be the annual meeting day. 

K-----K

         Most of you are way too young to remember Johnny Bright.

         These old eyes of mine have seen and followed many great Iowa athletes but I've always said that Johnny Bright was one of, if not THE, best football player ever in Iowa, although he was not a Hawkeye State native. He came here from Indiana.

          He starred as a back for the Drake Bulldogs from 1949-51 and I see that finally, a statue of Bright has been added to the Drake campus near the football stadium to go along with the naming of the Drake Stadium in his honor. He received that honor several years ago.

          Bright actually lettered in three sports at Drake, football, track and basketball. 

          On the football field, he led the entire nation in total offense his sophomore and junior seasons and was recognized as a leading Heisman Trophy winner candidate in his senior year, again leading the nation in total offense.

          However, in a game against Oklahoma State, a tackle by the name of Wilbanks Smith became known nationwide. 

          In the first seven minutes of the game, Smith had purposely knocked Bright unconscious. Believe it or not, in those days, the Des Moines Register had an airplane that followed Iowa teams to certain games to speed up their coverage via pictures taken "from the air"  that accompanied game stories quickly back to Des Moines.

          In this particular case, clear pictures taken of Bright being targeted, actually breaking Brights jaw, became a world wide incident. The pictures of the flagrant actions earned a Pulitzer Prize for the Register and the actions by Smith  ended Johnny's college career.

          It was an amazing story and anyone interested in more details can find them on wikipedia.

          P.S. Bright was a first round pick in the NFL draft, but, instead, he chose to join the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League where he spent 12 years earning all kinds of honors, while breaking numerous football game and season records. 

K-----K

         Iowa's Caitlyn Clark is, of course, one of a kind nationally renowned basketball star but there have been many other ladies who call Iowa "home" and have made their own mark playing basketball.

         Not as well known, of course, but outstanding as well is another WNBA player from Iowa who continues to have an excellent career......and is, perhaps, too often overlooked.

         We're talking about Kiah Stokes, who was born in Cedar Rapids, attended Linn-Mar Marion High School and is currently a starting member of the Golden State Valkyries, a team still involved in the current playoff finals.She's already been a member of three WNBA championship teams, 2022, 2023 and 2025, with the Las Vegas Aces.

         Kiah stands 6-3 and is the daughter of a former University of Iowa star, Greg Stokes. Kiah had a successful career collegiately as a member of the successful University of Connecticut teams which reached NCAA Final Fours all four of her years there.

K-----K

         The Kornerman likes this.......Growing older is mandatory but growing up is optional. We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.

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@blogspot.com 

           

 

           

 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Rhonda Lynne Kerr Bagley, 73, Cambridge. Survivors include a niece, Teresa (Ron) Baker, of Boone. Services in Ames and Cambridge.