BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

     Linda J. Loach, 71, Ogden. Born in Chicago. Chanute Kansas HS. Earned a GED in 1973. Neosho County Community College, 1985. Earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Emporia State University in 1988. Married Mike Schultz. They divorced. Linda earned a master's degree from Emporia State University in Rehabilitation Counselling in 1991. Was employed by the Kansas Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and visually impaired in Topeka, KS until she was forced to take disability in 2002. In 2003, she moved to Ogden. Linda is survived by a brother and a chosen family, including Linda Cox of Ogden. Burial in Ogden.

     Robert David Elsberry, 80, Montana. BHS-63. His wife, Carleen, survives. 

     LATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Jacquelyn Lee Parrish, 80, Ankeny passed October 16. Born in Boone. BHS-63. A two-time all-state basketball guard for the Toreadors, she had a fierce competitive spirit that followed her in college where she maintained a place on the Dean's List. As a teacher, she made an indelible impact. Jackie loved to travel worldwide and was a savvy entrepreneur, often scouring garage and "going out of business sales" to find salable treasures for her eBay account. She loved tending her gardens and horses, taking her dogs to the park, puzzles, playing cards or reading a good book. Survivors include her loyal service dog, Sophie, two daughters, and a sister, Pam Dearinger, BHS-63. No word on services.

     Christie Ellen Thede Alexander, 84, Boone/Eastern Star. BHS-59. Married Ivan Alexander in Luther in 1959. Chris worked for Iowa State University for nearly 50 years. She enjoyed cheering for the Cyclones and she and Ivan enjoyed many trips to the Mesquaki Casino in Tama. Chris always kept the best snacks for her grandkids and she nicknamed some of them "Pizza Grandma" and "Snack Grandma,"and carried those nicknames with pride. Her final years were spent at Regency among many friends. She loved doing anything for her grandkids, "the best Grandma ever." Her husband, Ivan, a son, Mike, and 12 siblings preceded her in death. Survivors include sons Carl and Don and grandchildren. Burial in Boone. 

     Dorothy F. Wilmot, 95, Ames/Westhaven in Boone. Services in Ames and Nebraska. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

     Philip Berglund, 91, Dayton. Stratford HS-52. Army vet. Married Lila Louise Mechaelsen in Kamrar in 1957. Phil was a farmer and excellent welder. Survivors include his wife, Lila Louise, and four children, including Ruth Berglund of Boone. Services in Stratford. 

      Marci Kay Bargenquast Lass, 67, Ogden. Born in Des Moines.The family moved to Boone in 1968. BHS-77. Married Gary Dean Lass of Ogden in 1979. Marci walked beans and detasseled corn in her early years and then worked at Eastern Star. A homemaker, for 17 years, she provided day care. Starting in 2003, Marci worked for 20 years before retirement from City State Bank in Ogden. She taught Bible classes and, being a fan of Mickey Mouse, she took the entire family to Disney World in 2023. Survivors include her husband, Gary, and children, Daniel (Amanda) Lass; Jeremy aka Oly (Laura) Lass and Kara (TJ)  Klith all of Ogden. Daughter Charise Bailey and brother Rob Bargenquast of Boone also survive. COL in Ogden. 

     Amanda Raye Rivers Eubanks, 57, Atlanta, GA./Stratford Specialty Care. Master's Degree in accounting from Colorado Technical. Her children, Derek (Melody) Zach; Alayna (Matthew) Kyle and Haley survive as do her parents, Larry (Margie) Eubanks and Angela (Hank) Rivers.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

        Roger K. Musser, 63, Boone. Born in Boone. Worked at Sonoco in Boone until it closed. Was currently working for Bauer Built in Paton. A huge Hawkeye fan, he loved NASCAR. Roger was known to be a clean freak who loved working on cars, taking care of his lawn and participating in various pool and bowling leagues. In his younger days, he played with the Boone Raiders Slow Pitch softball team. Survivors include a daughter, Tegan Musser, a son, Trey (Jessica) Price and two brothers, Dale (Debbie) and John (Sherri) Musser. His nephew, more like a brother, David (Carol Ann) Musser, also survives. A COL will be held in Boone.       

         Delos Edward Patzner, 91, Boone/Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City. Born in Guttenberg. Iowa School for the Deaf and Guttenberg HS. Married Jeannie Lee Maisel in Guttenberg in 1962. Delos was a sheet medal worker at Percival Manufacturing in Boone and also worked at Ray's Body Shop. He loved hunting and fishing, camping, traveling and helping the Ihm family on their farm. A jokester, his favorite times of year were the Christmas and Halloween holidays with lots of decorations. Survivors include a son, Mark Patzner and a daughter, Virginia (Wayne) Stadler. Services in Boone.

         Lawrence Eugene (Larry) Tetmeyer, 82, Ottumwa. Memorials suggested to Camp Hantesa, Boone.      

         Kathleen K. (Kathy) Williams, 75, Boone. Born in Nebraska. United Community HS-68. Boone Junior College. Married Robert Williams in Boone in 1974. Kathy worked at the Boone County Hospital, then Boone State Bank for two years prior to starting her own in-home daycare. After 12 years, she returned to Boone Bank and Trust for another 10 years before finishing her working career at West Central Cooperative. Kathy loved family vacations and snow mobiling trips to Wisconsin. She had a passion for Arabian horses and horse shows and was the proud founder of Rural and City Newcomers 4-H Club in Boone which she led for more than 20 years. Survivors include three Boone sons, Mike (Shari); Chris (Angie); and Kelly (Amie). A brother, Bob (Mary) Flynn of Boone also survives. Services in Boone.

EVEN MORE "CATCH UP"

         Steve Mathis, 79, Montrose, CO. Born in Chicago. BHS-64. Cornell College. Army vet. Drake University law school. In 1975, he and his wife, Cathy, moved to Montrose and he opened a law practice. The couple divorced in 1987 and Steve met and married Mary in 1988. His passion was flying and he had many airplanes over 45 years of being a pilot. Steve was involved in amateur radio and boys scouts, becoming an Eagle Scout at age 16. He was an active Rotarian for nearly 50 years. Survivors include his wife, Mary, a sister Barb, BHS-67, (Jim) Gohman and four children. Services in Montrose.   

        Cristine Rosemary Cromwell, 80, Boone. After many years in Oregon, moved to Boone in 2020. Survivors include a son, Christopher Cromwell of Boone, and three sisters. A memorial will be held in the spring.  

        Rebecca "Becky" Hand, 76, Salem, IA. Services will be held in Madrid.

        Diann Sarah Arthur, 86, Ames. Survivors include a daughter, Ouna (Tim) Killam of Gilbert and a grandson, Jason (Emily) Killam of Boone.

CATCHING UP.....AFTER A 4-DAY ABSENCE

     Dwight Johnson, 82, Boone.

     Corey Davis, 70, Boone. Born in Greene, IA. Lived in Charles City before moving to Boone in 1969. BHS-74. Was a concrete finisher and foreman at Dean Snyder Construction until retirement.  He loved golfing and the Hawkeyes. Two brothers, Joel, BHS-76, and Michael, BHS-72, and a sister, Melissa, survive. No formal services planned.

     Alan Wayne Johnson, 75, Ames. Married Ida Jo Cleveland, (BHS-66) Draper in 1991. 
She is a survivor. Private family service.

     Douglas "Doobs" Davidson, 63, Rural Orient. Born in Boone. BHS-80. While growing up in Boone, Doug had a paper route, worked at Fareway, Boone Bowling Alley and had a Hiland Chip route. Was married in 1981 and in 1984, moved to Creston to manage Letts Bowl, which he later purchased. He also ran the Pizza Shack and a sports bar and grill. In 1995, he married Kristie (Conley) at Las Vegas. An avid bowler, he also helped construct their family home. In 2010, he purchased a Conoco station in Orient. A man of many talents, through the years, he also was a school custodian, operated his own cleaning business, was a mail carrier, worked for housing rehabilitation and owned a pool supply store. Survivors include his wife, Kristie, his children, Katie, Nicolas, Kayla, Chantz, Triston and Jase as well as a sister Janelle, (BHS-84) (Keith) Good of Boone and a brother, Steve, BHS-81, Davidson. Services were held in Creston.

     Richard "Smitty" Laverne Schmidt, 86, Ogden/Accura. Grew up in Ogden. OHS-57. Army vet. Married Lorraine Burgess. He partnered with Laverne Morain to establish Ogden Car Wash and M and S Trailer Park. A long time volunteer with the fire department, he served as a city councilman and worked in the Ogden Sewer/Street Department from 1985 until retirement in 2004. Survivors include a step-daughter, Rhonda Maas of Ogden, and sons, A.J. Schmidt and Ogden resident, Julian Schmidt. Three siblings also survive. Services in Ogden. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Larry "Rabbitt" Wilkening, 83, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Nevada. Maxwell HS-62. Rabbitt worked on a farm in his teen years and ended up in marriage with the farmer's daughter, Charlene Laughlin, in 1966 in Maxwell. U.S. Army vet. Two years of active duty and 20 years with the Iowa National Guard. Wife Char passed in 2014 and Larry found another "sweetheart" in Lynn Sinram. She passed in 2023. Larry's main job was with John Deere where he worked for 30 years. Retiring from Deere, he went to work part time for Busch Bros. and Sons Farms. Larry was a member of the Moose Lodge #104, was a 
Free Mason and Shriner and 50 year church member. He enjoyed music, playing cards, bowling and fishing. Survivors include his twin brother, Lanny, and two daughters, Julie (Scott) Wilbur, Jennifer (Brian) Thilges all of Boone and a son. Services in Boone.    

       Melvin E. Holmberg, 85, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-59. Married Carolynne 45 years ago. Retired from the DOT after 36 1/2 years of service. The couple spent 18 winters in South Texas. He was often seen walking all over town in his one-of-a-kind, colorful shirts and pants....that is until he broke a hip. After that, he sat in his garage with always something to say to those who passed by. Survivors include his wife, Carolynne, a brother, Marvin Holmberg, and his sister-in-law, Barb Holmberg.     

       Gene Lavere Olson, 85, Boone/Eastern Star. Born on a farm near Boxholm. As a kid, he worked the family farm. He injured his elbow playing Babe Ruth baseball and that forced him to throw underhand rather than overhand and the result was a long, outstanding career as one of the state's best fast pitch softball players. He was inducted into the Iowa Softball Fast Pitch Hall of Fame in 1997 after the same honor with the Des Moines Softball Hall of Fame in 1995. He pitched for teams in Boone, Ames, Des Moines and Clear Lake. Retiring from the sport at age 57, he had recorded over 700 wins as a pitcher. Gene was employed by Hoffman LaRoche for 42 years, much of that time as plant foreman. He and his wife, Linda, enjoyed camping after his retirement. He also spent time fixing and selling John Deere lawn tractors. Gene was devoted to his family and Lori, Donovan, Brent and Mark became the center of the couple's life. Wife Linda and the four kids survive along with his sister, Judy. A COL will be held Friday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4  p.m at the Boone Senior Citizen's Center, 1112 Story Street. 

       Jonathan A. Grove, 70, Ames. Born in Jefferson. Grew up in Beaver. Ogden HS-73. Army vet. Served as a helicopter crew chief. Six years active and 19 years with the Iowa National Guard. Worked as a groundskeeper at ISU from 1995 until retirement in 2020. Married Janice Drummer in 1996 and the couple lived in Ames where they shared a love of animals and sports. Jon was an avid fan of NASCAR and the Chiefs. He also loved fishing, bowling, attending car shows and working security at Cyclone football games and at the Boone Speedway. He had a passion for classic cars and 1970's music. Survived by his wife, Janice, a twin brother, Joe, a daughter, Jana Eagan, and a sister, Kathy (Grove) Springer. Services in Ames. 

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Ella Jane Shell Bass, 93, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Boone. BHS-50. Married Jack Bass in 1952. Jane worked at Boyd's Dairy and then Nelson's Lumber Yard which later became Nelson's Doo-It Store, and then at Herrald Drug, which became Medicap Pharmacy. She loved baking, cooking, reading, poetry, watching Wheel of Fortune and Antiques  Roadshow. Five children survive, Joan Faust, Janine (Ben) Bennett, Chris and Matt Bass and Chad (Jill) Bass. Three siblings also survive, Mary Lou Sullivan, Mahlon (Fern) Shell and Joyce (Ken) Patten. Services in Boone and Ogden.        

       Jacquelyn Lee Parrish, BHS-63. Graveside service in Boone.

       Raymond "Ray" Dale Crocheck, 78, Boone/Iowa Falls Hospital. Born in Des Moines. Married Charlene Meyeraan in Boone in 1965. Grew up living with his aunt and uncle in rural Truro. Learned how to drive a truck and started that 40 year career with R.D. Reed Livestock of Zearing. Became a familiar face at Crouse Cartage where he spent 26 years of service. Closed out with Coe Transfer before retirement. Worked a cow-calf operation with his son, was an avid fisherman and loved traveling. Charlene died in 2018 and for the last five years, Ray has enjoyed his friendship with Deb Linderblood and her family. Survivors include two sons, Justin (Michelle) Crocheck of Boone and Jason (Melissa) Crocheck. A brother, Larry, of Boone and a sister, Kate, also survive. Services in Boone and Wellsburg.

        Joyce N. Carlson Aske, 83, Ames/Boone. Born in Forest City. FCHS. Waldorf College. Worked as a secretary in Minneapolis, Rochester and Phoenix. Married Duane D. Aske in 1990. Survivors include her husband, Duane, a step-daughter, Deborah (Kendall) Kruger, and a brother, Luther Carlson. Private burial in Clear Lake.