BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Timothy Raymond McBirnie, 58, Stratford. Born in Boone. While living in Arizona, Tim received his GED and then made the honors list via automotive courses at Central Arizona College.  Married Cheryl Robbins in Arizona in 2004. They divorced. From age eight to 16, Tim was an Iowa AAU Boxing Champion. After living in Arizona, Tim's family returned to Iowa., living in Boone. Tim enjoyed living close to his brothers, Joe and Eddie. Joe and wife Susie's baby, Macy, proved to be a spark for Tim to become a fighter again, a fighter for his health and well being, just as premature Macy was. Tim enjoyed Christian music. Survivors include his mother, Julie (Christensen) McBirnie, of Boone, and three brothers, including Eddie of Stratford and Joe (Susie) McBirnie of Boone. Services in Boone.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Allan L. Harris, 76. South Hamilton HS-76. Married Deborah Kruck of Boone. Allan's life was dedicated to his wife, family, his craft and his music. The couple owned and operated resort properties in Northern Minnesota and built Harris Painting and Wall Covering in Boone. Survivors include his wife, Deb, of Ames, a son and a brother. Service in Boone with a private graveside service later.

       Arlene Deloris Pretz, 97, Boone. Born in Pocahontas County. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone, she is survived by a son, Larry Pretz, and a daughter, Karen King. Burial at Bass Point Cemetery in Boone.

       Ron Eide, 92, Forest City/Waukee. Four children survive, including Rosanne (Daryl) of Boone. Burial at a later date.

       Jesse Micheal Murphy, 37, Grand Junction. Survivors include his parents, two daughters, including McKinley Murphy, of Ogden, two brothers and a sister. A COL will be held at Spring Lake Park. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Dona Jean Dusseldorp Van Hemert, 93, Boone/Westhaven. Lived in Pella, then Oskaloosa and finally, Boone, to live out her retirement years. Pella Public Schools. Dona shared four children, including Denny (Terri) Van Hemert, of Ogden/Boone, with Raymond Van Hemert. After her children were grown, she cleaned dorm rooms at Central College. She loved horses, had an appreciation of music and her piano and loved watching her favorite musical stars on the weekly TV shows. Dona's greatest legacy is the family she loved, especially all the children. Survivors include her four children, a brother and many grand children. Services in Boone.

        Robert John Knight, 89, Jefferson/Westhaven. Born in Boone. BHS-54. Robert worked for Skel Gas and for many years, operated the street sweeper for the city of Boone. He was a member of the American Legion, Ducks Unlimited and played in several area bands. He is survived by his life partner, Nelia Burkhart, two sons, two daughters, including Patti Boone of Boone and a step son. Graveside service planned in Boone County, followed by a COL in Boone.     

       Sharon Jayne Dunkelberger Nelson, 56. Born in Boone. Ogden HS-57. DMACC. Married Frank Nelson in 2022. Sharon cherished her faith, family, cooking and especially, her 11 grandchildren. Survivors include her husband, three children and two siblings.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

 
       Dennis Michael Pelleymounter, 78, Boone. Born in Osage. OHS-65. Earned a degree in drafting from NIACC in Mason City. Worked for an architectural firm in Mason City, followed by work for Oliver/White Farm Equipment. He returned to NIACC to earn an engineering degree while helping his dad with a flooring business. As an engineer, he worked for firms including Quinn/Besser in Boone. Married Vicki Jo McGhan in 1970 in Osage. Dennis was always very active in Boy Scouts and was a long time Knights of Columbus member. He also enjoyed fishing, woodworking and carpentry. Survivors include his wife and three sons. Service in Boone and graveside service in Osage.    

        Mary Elaine Settle Harringa, 72, Boone. Raised in Nevada. NHS-72. Boone Junior College and Elementary Education from Iowa State University. Married Merlyn Harringa in Nevada in 1975. The couple made their home in Boone. Mary devoted much of her life to serving others in partnership with her husband.She was a 4-H group leader and the co-Superintendent of the Rabbitt and Poultry programs. She played the piano and organ for area churches and served as a special education instructor for the Boone and Madrid school districts. Mary enjoyed sewing, crafting, camping, gospel outreach, visiting national parks, enjoying God's beautiful scenery and motorcycle riding. She also did voluntary work for her uncle's missionary organization. serving in Mexico and Central America. Survivors include her husband, Merlyn, and two daughters. A COL will be held later.

       Donna Malloy, 81, Carroll. Four sons survive including Rick (Sandie) Lebeck of Boone. Services in Jefferson. 

A NICE TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND

       I, the Kornerman, absolutely feel I must give a "shout out" to a long time great friend, Gary Long, BHS-73.

       Scanning the internet the other day, much to my surprise, I,  came across a tribute to Gary.

       What I discovered in my internet travels was a video that featured Joe Gibbons. He was one member of the Gibbons family, who became very well known for their success in the sport of wrestling. Brothers Joe, Jim and Jeff Gibbons won 10 state high school championships and had one runnerup finish in the late 70's and into the early 80's. The threesome had a combined state tournament record of 40 wins and one loss.

        Joe led the way with four state championships, two representing Ames High and two as a Waterloo Columbus entrant. As an Iowa State Cyclone, he became a two-time Big Eight Conference champion and in 1985, won an NCAA title.

         The video I witnessed featured Joe reviewing his wrestling career while speaking from the Waterloo Columbus wrestling facility.

          What caught my Boone eye was the fact he mentioned that his coaches there were Dennis Getz and Gary Long. In his younger days, Gary, himself, had been a pretty good wrestler, making a couple state tournament appearances as a Toreador and then competing in the sport at Coe College. He spent part of his career in education at Columbus.

          I immediately wondered if Gary was aware of this "notice." He was. I caught up with him at the Villages in Florida where he spends winter time. By phone, he felt very "humbled" by the reference from one of Iowa's greatest wrestlers.

          P.S. When we talked, Gary was enroute to a Detroit Tigers spring baseball training game WITH Pat Olofson, BHS-69, another former Toreador, who also escapes the Iowa winter with residence in the Villages.

          ONE MORE THING: Gary Long will return to Boone in a week or so to again fulfill an obligation he has enjoyed for a number of years. This will be the 49th consecutive YEAR he has worked in the statistics crew at the Iowa Boys High School State Basketball tournament. Yup, he tells me he's hoping to return for at least one more year....his 50th in 2027.  

K-----K

        Vern Modeland, BHS-50, is always a good resource for "the way things used to be" in Boonetown.In fact he noted that, "I'm now older than Boone history." 

        Reporting from his Ozarks destination, Vern wrote, "I had a flash, particularly about the ice skating that was the winter occupation with the then-old Fred Crary gliding along with hands folded behind him among those of us who packed the backed-up creek at McHose Park from first freeze to last, circa 1940's and 50's era."

        Referring to another mention we've made in the Korner recently, Vern had this to say, "the very first airport after World War II was on Division Street, just north of the big Ripley barn on the way to the city dump. It was a flying school started by a World War II returned flyer with his military bonus money. His name was  "Bud" St. John. I cut the very ample grass around the house he and his wife shared and helped out any other way I could. In return, I got my very first flight in any airplane and some early lessons. He had a green Piper J-3 and a yellow Piper L-4 that had been an observation plane for the Army in an earlier life. The airport featured a runway of pasture grass, not the fancy runways out there east of town now."

K-----K

       For some reason, I received a copy of a Boone News Republican sports page from many years ago that I found interesting. Unfortunately, I have no idea what year it was. But, right there, before these old eyes was a Kelley's Korner, which I have to assume was sometime between 1962 when the Korner was started and 2010 when we went strictly online. It appears to be from the late 60's.

      The main topics were an "I" Club meeting attended in Fort Dodge by Boone fans and some Toreador football talk. 

       But the real attraction was........"a Bon Appetite advertisement, chicken and noodles at 85-cents, baked swiss steak $1.00 and fried filet of Perch, 85-cents." 

K-----K

      Worldwide Korner headquarters are still 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

       Naomi Anyelin Castaneda-Sosa, 12, Boone. Born in Boone. Was a seventh grade student at Boone Middle School. She played the flute in the school band, enjoyed singing, volleyball, playing Roblox and shopping. Her parents, Ana Sosa and Christian Castenada, of Boone survive as do her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, godmothers and godfathers and many close school friends, including her best friend, Mia Randolph. Services in Boone and burial in Mexico.      

        Margaret Ann Grabau Carter, 78, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-66. Married Dennis Carter in 1972. Margaret was a stay-at-home mom until 1991 when she started part time work as a dietary aide at the Evangelical Free Church Home. She was a life church member and belonged to the Red Hats group. Survivors include her husband, Dennis, of Boone and three children including Pam, BHS-1997, (Mike) Baumgardner, of Boone. Services at a later date.

       Carroll "David" Wilson, 72, Boone. Born in Oklahoma. Omaha North HS-72. Navy vet. Married Karen Matthies in 1974 in Omaha. The couple moved to Boone in 1975. Davd worked a short time at the Woodward State Hospital, the Iowa State University mail room and the Urbandale Post Office until health issues evolved. He enjoyed fishing, putting model kits together, was a master at trivia, telling stories and early on, helping his son with scouting. David enjoyed nature, birds especially, with the Baltimore Oriole, his favorite.Survivors include his wife, Karen Wilson, three children, Jared, Kaylene and Carolyn Wilson, and four siblings. Service in Stratford.

BOONE/AREACONNECTED DEATHS

       Carroll David Wilson, 72, Boone. Services in Stratford.      

        Debra Davis-Pooley, 69, Boone. Born in Chicago. Morrison, ILHS. Married Phillip Pooley in Clinton in 1990. Attended Sauk Valley Community College and worked at CNA for over 25 years. She loved playing cribbage, skip-bo, rummy, spades, playing dice, using puzzle books to put puzzles together, camping, fishing and drag racing. Several Boone survivors including two daughters, Tammy (Dennis) Benton and Tina (Lucas Sauer) Stuart, two granddaughters, Caroline (Austin) Cristobal, of Madrid and Maria Cabrera of Boone and three grandsons, Mac Cristobal, Michael Cabrera and Brandon Stuart all of Boone. No services are planned.

       Darlene "Dar" Pate Evenski, 71, Boone. Born in Minnesota. The family moved to Madrid and Dar worked at her mom's cafe, Min's Cafe. Madrid HS-73. After a stay in Minnesota, Dar returned to Madrid, then moved to Boone in 1994. Started work at the Woodward Resource Center but spent most of her working years at the Madrid Home and helping with the family business, Pate's Produce. Dar retired from the Madrid Home. She loved Bingo, enjoyed word search puzzle books, traveling and country music. Two children, Lisa (Tyler Davis) Anderson and Willis Evenski, both of Boone, survive. Five grandchildren, including three from Boone, Michelle Dickerson, Connor Anderson and Paige Anderson, also survive as well as a bonus grandson, Timothy Sheridan Jr., also of Boone. A COL at a later date.