Obituaries from today's Courier (2024)

WELLSBURG — James H. “Jim” Geerdes, 78, of Wellsburg, died Sunday, Aug. 19, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo.

He was born July 7, 1940, in Eldora to Gratus and Tarana (Stubbe) Geerdes. He married Bonita Cooper on June 7, 1963.

He graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1958. He went on to attend Iowa State Teachers College, which has become the University of Northern Iowa. Jim worked for 21 years at the Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan of Mason City, working his way up to become the vice president. He retired from Collision Services in Hudson in 2014. While Jim lived in Mason City, he was a member of the Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church. He was a current member of the First Christian Reformed Church in rural Wellsburg. He was a willing volunteer for local and civic activities.

Survived by: his wife; a son, Mark Geerdes; a daughter, Kimberly (Patrick) Hastings; his grandchildren, Taylor (Deondre) Butler Sr., Parris Hastings, Timothy Vree (Heather Hubbard) and Toni Hastings-Gonzalez; his great-grandchildren, Amarionna Butler, Deondre Butler Jr., Ezio Vree and Josiah James Butler; his sisters, Norma (Dennis) Huisman and Marcia (Gary) Beving; a brother, Robert (Jane) Geerdes; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: his parents; and a brother, Eugene Geerdes.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at First Christian Reformed Church west of Wellsburg, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the church.

Memorials in lieu of flowers: may be directed to the Cedar Valley Hospice Home, the First Christian Reformed Church or Tom and Angie Vander Voort Ministry.

Condolences may be left at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.

Jim enjoyed softball, golf and was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan. However, his true joy in life was his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

SUMNER -- Wayne Albert Lienau, 85, of Sumner, died at home Saturday, Aug. 18, of lung cancer; services 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Peace United Church of Christ, Fredericksburg, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery with military rites by the Thomas E. Woods Post 223, American Legion of Sumner; visitation 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home, Fredericksburg,(563) 237-6212;visitation continues an hour before services at the church; condolences at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

WATERLOO — Shane Paul Wright, 24, of Waterloo, died tragically Friday, Aug. 17, at Sartori Memorial Hospital.

He was born March 30, 1994, in Waterloo, son of Andrea Ruth Lewis.

He attended schools in Waterloo. For the past four years, he worked for Hayes Brothers doing a variety of different work.

Survived by: his parents, Andrea and Dale Erickson of Waterloo; his biological father, Mark Morris; his fiancée, Jessie Aguon of Cedar Falls; two sons, Zander and Jax Wright of Cedar Falls; two brothers, Robert Wright of Waterloo and Tyler Erickson of Chokio, Minn.; his grandparents, Duane and Suzanne Lewis of Waterloo and Dale Erickson Sr. of Little Falls, Minn.; and his aunts and uncles, David Lewis of Waterloo, LuAnne and Lonnie Bibler of Waverly and Charles Erickson of Little Falls.

Preceded in death by: his paternal grandmother, Barbara Erickson.

Services: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Trinity American Lutheran Church, Waterloo. Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, An Overton Family Service, Waterloo, is assisting the family.

Memorials: may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be left at www.parrottandwood.com.

Shane was a fearless daredevil from a young age who enjoyed swimming and skateboarding, which often led to trips to the emergency room. Shane enjoyed the outdoors through camping, fishing, Frisbee golf, jet skiing and grilling meals for his family. He was a gentle soul who loved animals, snuggling and sleeping. Most of all, Shane loved his family.

WATERLOO -- Frederick A. Johnson, 82, of Waterloo, died Saturday, Aug. 18, at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital; visitation 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street, 234-6274, with burial in Garden of Memories to follow where full military rites will be performed by Waterloo AMVETS Post 19 and the Evansdale AMVETS Post 31 and the Iowa Army Honor Guard; memorials to the family; condolences at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.

WATERLOO — Elaine M. Morrison, 96, of Waterloo, died Saturday, Aug. 18, at NorthCrest Specialty Care in Waterloo.

She was born Nov., 8 1921, in Cresco, daughter of Aurel C. and Emma M. Kratz Beil. She married Joseph R. Morrison on June 29, 1944, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waterloo. He died March 16, 1986.

Together with her husband, she founded and operated the American Insulation and Roofing Co., until Joseph’s death in 1986.

Survived by: a son, Steven S. Morrison of Chicago; a stepdaughter, Judith Austin of Denton, Texas; and several stepgrandchildren.

Preceded in death by: a stepdaughter, Sandra VanHorn; a sister, Dorothy Biel; two stepsisters, Cecile Aide and Mildred Duran.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery, both in Waterloo. Visitation with be for one hour before services at the church. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street is assisting the family.

Memorials: may be directed to Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge, S.D., St. Vincent De Paul of Queen of Peace Catholic Church and the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.

GILBERTVILLE — Gloria Jan Even, 74, of Gilbertville, died at home Saturday, Aug. 18.

She was born Aug. 24, 1943, in rural Buchanan County, daughter of George Joe Walitshek and Caroline Anna (Nelson) Walitshek. On May 20, 1963, she married Thomas Joseph Even at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Waterloo.

She graduated from Jesup High School in 1961. Gloria worked for the local grocery store, known as Vogel’s Jack and Jill and later Ayers’ Jack & Jill. She also worked in the lunchroom at Immaculate Conception/Don Bosco Schools. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the church rosary society.

Survived by: her husband; four sons, Todd (Dawn) Even of La Porte City, Troy (Kelli) Even of Jesup, Terry (Carrie) Even of Denver and Tracy (Kim) Even of Jesup; two daughters, Brenda (Don) Stone of Gilbertville and Sherry Kite of Cedar Rapids; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Harold “Mic” Walitshek of Waterloo and Richard (Leslie) Walitshek of Tucson, Ariz.; six sisters, Carol (Paul) Schellhase of Garrison, Vicki Sharp of Fairbank, Georgene Glessner of Tiffin, Fran (Ronnie) McGarvey of Dunkerton, Doreen Olson of Delhi and Kris (Scott) Jensen of Cedar Rapids; and her father-in-law, Tony Even of Gilbertville.

Preceded in death by: her parents; and her mother-in-law, Ella Even.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Gilbertville, with burial in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the church, where there will be a 4 p.m. parish rosary and 7 p.m. parish vigil service. Visitation will continue for an hour before services Thursday at the church. White Funeral Home, Jesup, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials: will be directed to the church and Bosco Catholic School System.

Condolences may be left at www.White-MtHope.com.

Gloria loved to bake chocolate chip cookies, crochet and read books. She also kept the family’s garden where she grew an assortment of flowers and vegetables. Gloria rarely missed her grandchildren’s events and loved being active in all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s lives.