BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

      John E. Childs, 88, Rosemount MN. Born in Polk County, IA. Started his career as a mechanical engineer in Boone. Followed with work in Emmetsburg, Hull and 31 years in Cedar Rapids. An inventor, he worked on patents and taught at Kirkwood CC. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, a son and daughter. Services in Burnsville, MN, burial in Elkhart, IA.

BOONE PROUD

     I'm sure you've heard of "Iowa Proud." Today, I'm writing, with excessive pride, about "Boone Proud."

     The November, 2022, issue of Trail Tales, a publication of the Boone County Historical Society, has reached my desk and its a wonderful edition. Its devoted almost entirely to the 1963 Boone High School Marching Band that went after (sought) an invitation to march in the 1963 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California on New Years Day, 1963, and, with the help of many Boone citizens, inside and even outside of the community, fulfilled that dream.

     The story, written by Jeanne Carpenter Wiebke, a current member of the BCHS Board of Directors, is award worthy. It is lengthy, very detailed, well written and probably done with the same sense of pride that the Kelley's, who just read it, felt about the entire project. There are probably very few Boone residents of that era that didn't know about this community highlight. However, Jeanne, I'm sure with lots of help, has gathered and molded together numerous insights about the entire proceeding, front to back, that is simply eye-opening.

    One of the main thoughts I, the Kornerman, have taken from this detailed story is that if our community could "come together" with the same sense of purpose this band community did, the best of "any" desirable things wanted or needed could happen right here. I say, with almost 100 percent certainty, that almost every Boone resident, of that time, had some kind of hand, close or from a distance, in making this dream come through. It seems, without hesitancy, everybody helped.

    Some $25,000 was required to push this project forward and I feel confident in saying that every organization, every citizen, contributed in some way or another of meeting that goal.......whether it was bake sales or car washes or monetary donations......Boone proud came through. And, I should mention that the band members, themselves, worked mightily, in numerous ways, to earn pennies and dollars that blossomed into the thousands needed.

    What more can I say? Just that we're Boone Proud when we are reminded that when our community forgets any "can'ts and don'ts" or self serving, rather than community advancement reasons, then, "why not?", the sky is the limit and accessible. That was a graphic lesson learned from this 1963 Boone Marching Band project.

K-----K

   Among the early holiday wishes we received came a greeting from Betty Anderson Atherton, BHS-40, who was recently honored on her 101st birthday. 

   Betty resides at the Eastern Star Home and was thrilled to greet son Bob and his wife, Bonnie, from Denver and a niece, Judy, and her husband, David, from Tampa, FL. for a celebration. However, Betty reports that "we all got COVID." She had a two week quarantine but,"finally tested negative."

   She thanks all for their support, thoughtfulness and prayers and concluded, "as much as I would like to remember all of you during the Christmas season, I am unable to do more than this email greeting."

   By phone, Betty can be reached at 1-515-432-6903. The Eastern Star address is 717 W. Third Street, Boone, Iowa 50036.

   Also, Helen Duffy will have her 106th birthday on Jan. 11, 2023. She's also at Eastern Star #85, 50036-3930. Her phone number is 515-432-2071.

 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

     Donna Lee Carlberg. 95, Boone/Eastern Star since 2018. Formerly of Stratford. Born in Webster City. Stratford HS-46. Married Bertil Carlberg in 1950. She enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, garage sales and sporting events. Active in Calvary United Methodist Church. Survivors include two sons in Stratford, Dale (Tina) and Leo (Kelli) Carlberg, and two daughters. Services later.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATH

     Irvin Eugene Meier Jr., 71, Wapello. Survivors include siblings Phillippe (Annette) Meier and Marjorie Aldrich of Boone.

     Harold Dean Whitehead, 90, Panora. Survivors include grandchildren, including Kegan (Mark) Schultz of Ogden.

BOONE CONNECTED/AREA DEATHS

     Mark (Muc) McPherson, 65, Boone. Born in Perry. Married Lynette Huffman in Nashua in 1987. Muc has been a professional wrestler, Regional President of the Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club, a member of Diamond D Rodeo and the Iowa Trail Riders Association. He worked for D&J's Complete Tree Service in Boone until suffering a stroke in 2013. He loved helping his friends and the children at the Rodeo, providing horses to ride and donating saddles to give as awards. He wrestled for charity, had fundraisers for friends in need and always made sure his friend's children had presents for their birthdays and Christmas. He also loved riding his cycle and his mule "Biggs." He enjoyed fishing, westerns, wrestling and gambling. Survivors include his wife, Lynnette, sons Angus and Lando, a God daughter and foster daughter, a brother and sister. Services in Boone.

     Brian A. Lage, 34, Ogden. Born in Waterloo. AGWSR HS-2006. Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo and earned a B.S. in Agronomy from Missouri State University. Married Mikael Ahrens in Ogden in 2017 and the couple made Ogden their home. Was employed by Key Cooperative in Kelley. Loved farming and agriculture, hunting, fishing, shooting and riding his cycle. Survivors include his wife, Mikael, two sons and a daughter, all of Ogden. Survivors also include his mother and father-in-law, Jill and Mike Ahrens, and a brother-in-law, Stephon (Cassie) Ahrens all of Ogden. A brother also survives. Services in Ogden.

BOONE CONNECTED DEATH

     Lelia Yoder LaRue, 90, Boone. Born in Woolstock. Married Earl C. LaRue in 1955. Earl passed away in 2011. Survivors include two sons, Dean (Kathy) LaRue and Don LaRue, both of Boone and two daughters. A sister also survives. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

THEY REFUSED TO LOSE

     I, the Kornerman, have never been bashful about my appreciation and love for our Boone Campus, Des Moines Area Community College. Yes, I'm a biased Boone Junior College graduate. However, this admiration runs much deeper than individuality. What a tremendous asset it has been for this community. I hate to think had we "missed out" those many years ago when a group of strong citizens dedicated themselves to making sure of its future presence and growth HERE.

    The most recent issues of the DMACC newsletter prompted my great interest in reliving some of the history of Boone Campus.

    My Boone High School classmate, the late Lloyd Courter, BHS-53, and my old boss, Bernie Saggau, at the Iowa Boys High School Athletic Association, were two of the most forward thinking individuals I've ever known. Lloyd was a member of the Boone Community School System Board of Education and then a member of the DMACC Board of Directors at the time Boone Junior College evolved into the DMACC Boone Campus. He understood there would be detractors from out of Boone County regarding this proposed development and fought hard to keep the DMACC connection here, in Boone.

    That importance of a Boone connection on the DMACC Board has continued. Many years back, in 1966, Harold Welin of Boone was a charter DMACC Board member and when committees were being developed for the Boone JC to DMACC changeover, the Boone County Superintendent, Marvin Sturtz, was an important contributor. Later, Boone's Dr. Wayne Rouse was a board member and even now, Fred Greiner represents this community on the board through 2023.

    The newsletter points out that two more individuals, with Boone connections, have just completed terms on the DMACC Board. They are Jim Heckman, CEO and General Manager of the Ogden Telephone Company and Tamara Wilson Kenworthy, BHS-77.

    Tamara, the daughter of the late Chuck and Bette Wilson of Boone restaurant (Bon Appetite/Colonial House) fame, went from DMACC to the University of Northern Iowa and then earned an MBA at the University of Cincinnati. She and Marty Kenworthy, who came to DMACC to play baseball and take pre-engineering, met at Boone Campus in the late 70's  and have been married for over 30 years. 

    In "real life," Tamara is the Founder and President of On Point Strategies and has 30 years experience in planning, research and marketing. Marty practices business, commercial real estate and construction law. He followed up his DMACC training with work at Bradley University.

    As long as we're on the subject, let's highlight "how Boone Campus got to where it is."

    There was never a doubt about Boone wanting to continue what Boone J.C. had to offer. In the early 1960's, a federal grant for over $1.5 million was sought and approved for construction of classrooms and a separate physical education building. An additional federal grant of $925,000  was also available providing approval via a community election. Boone citizens came up with overwhelming support, over 96% approval.

    Next, in late 1965, a location for the new facilities was sought and 22 acres at the current location were purchased. The former BJC sites, the third floor of the high school building and the former home of the "old" Franklin Elementary school, were shut down and movement to the new facilities took place in late 1968. 

   Finally, July 1, 1969, the the long-time, hard work and dedication of many Boone supporters along the way resulted in the purchase of Boone Junior College by the Des Moines Area Community College.

   Thankfully, Boone Campus is here, it continues to grow and expand and its not going anywhere else.

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.