Raymond Hovey

Raymond D. Hovey, 77 of 208 South Iowa, Charles City, IA died Thursday, November 28, 2008 at the Veterans Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at Fullerton Funeral Home, 401 Blunt, Charles City. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm Monday at the funeral home and again one hour prior to services. A parish wake service will be held at 6:00 pm Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery will full military rites by the Charles City VFW. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Raymond D. Hovey memorial fund. Thoughts, condolences, and stories may do so on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Raymond Dever was born on November 8, 1931in Independence, Iowa the son to George A. and Velma A. (McDonald) Hovey. At age 3 the family moved to Charles City and Ray received his education through the Charles City educational system. He was inducted into the Army and entered service at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland serving during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954 form Camp Carson, in Colorado. For 38 ½ years he was employed at White Farm retiring in November 1993. On June 6, 1955 he was united in marriage to Helen M. Frascht at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greene. To this union was born three daughters. Ray was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the VFW. He enjoyed his flower and vegetable gardens and decorating his yard and home for Christmas. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandson. For several winters he traveled to Arizona.

Surviving Ray are his three daughters Debra (David) Raper, Oregon; Vicky (David) Bast, Nashua; Patsy (Michael) Barragy, Clear Lake; seven Grandchildren Misty Hanke, Shane Hultgren, Jessica Raper, Brian Bast, Amanda Hanson, and Christopher and Taylor Barragy, and two Great Grandchildren Alex Hanson and Alexis Hultgren; one sister Ruth (Dale) Chestek, Charles City; one brother George (LuJane) Hovey, Dickinson, Texas; and two sister-in-laws Katherine and Betty Hovey both of Charles City.

His wife Helen in 1993, his parents, one sister Lois Hovey and two brothers Glen and Kenneth Hovey preceded him in death.

Fullerton Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt, P.O Box 185, Charles City, Iowa 50616 641-228-4211 www.Fullertonfh.com

Dean Edward Coyle

Dean Edward Coyle, 74, of Floyd, died Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at his home with his family present.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 29 at the Immaculate Conception Church, 106 Chapel Lane, in Charles City. Father John Hougan will be the celebrant. There will not be a public viewing prior to the service. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 Scripture Service on Friday, November 28 at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt, in Charles City. Stories, thoughts and condolences may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Dean was born in Dougherty, Iowa on August 8, 1934, the son of John V. and Grace (Nielsen) Coyle. He graduated from Northwood High School. Dean was united in marriage to Audrey Kuhlmann on August 11, 1953 in Manly. The couple have made their home in the Floyd area since 1963. Dean was a maintenance supervisor at Solvay Animal Health for 32 years, retiring in 1996. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Charles City and the Ressurrection Church in Alamo, Texas, the Floyd Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and was a consultant for C & B Timber of Alaska. Dean was a journeyman and a licensed plumber and one of his greatest joys was involving his entire family in home renovations and snipe hunting.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Audrey; children, Connie (Mike) Johnson, Chris (Rick) Mayer and Ed (DeEtt) Coyle; grandchildren, Jesse Johnson, Cody (Jennifer) Johnson, Deacon Gary Mayer and Brad (fiancé Courtney Arndt) Mayer; great grandchild, Landen Johnson; sisters, Lois Hegtvedt and Helen Arnett; sisters-in-law, Kalla Lodge and Frances Coyle; brother-in-law, Elton Kuhlman; and many other relatives and many, many friends. He will be sadly missed by all who loved and knew him.

Dean was preceded in death by his children, Penny Sue Coyle and Patrick Coyle; his parents and parents-in-law; brother, Jack Coyle; brothers-in-law, James Lodge, Eddie Hegtvedt, LaVerne Kuhlmann, Arthur Kuhlmann and John Arnett; and his beloved pug, Missy.

Fullerton-Hage-Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt St., Charles City, IA 50616. (641) 228-4211 www.fullertonfh.com

Dean Coyle

Dean Coyle, of Floyd, died Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at his home. Funeral
arrangements are pending at Fullerton Funeral Home, 401 Blunt Street, in Charles
City, IA.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt Street, Charles City, IA.
(641) 228-4211. www.fullertonfh.com

Donald "Don" Berk

Donald "Don" Berk, 69, of Charles City, died Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

A funeral Mass for Don Berk will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. The Reverend Carl Ries will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery, Charles City.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday where the Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday.

Donald Wayne Berk was born December 29, 1938, at Charles City, the son of Henry and Ina Mae (Baxter) Berk. He graduated from the Charles City High School in 1957. In 1964, he attended Barber College in Waterloo. On June 20, 1964, he was united in marriage to Lorna Bouska at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma. Don was a barber in Charles City for 44 years where he also owned and operated Southside Monument Company.

He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. His interests included his ponies, golfing, camping, playing joker, working, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Living family members include his wife Lorna Berk of Charles City; three children, Terry (Jenay) Berk of Pleasant Hill, Teresa Rastrelli of Cooper City, Fla. and Tim Berk of Charles City; seven grandchildren, Zachary Berk, Ashley Berk, Lizzy Berk, Landon Berk, Sophia Rastrelli, Orion Rastrelli and Isabella Rastrelli; two sisters, Kathryn Cassmann of Greene and Helen (Kenneth) Hansen of Hood River, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Roger Berk.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.

William Dell Thomas Jr.

William Dell Thomas Jr. was born May 18,1924 in Lamont, Iowa. His parents were William Thomas Sr. and Myrtle Thomas. He went to be with the Lord on November 18th, 2008. He was a veteran of World War II and a lifetime member of the VFW. He married Ruth Ellen Hakes in 1944. Three sons were born from that marriage. Harold, Mark and Barry. William (Tom) was retired from Oliver (White Farms). In 1976 he married Norma Jean Bauman Monroe.

Tom is survived by Harold and Ann Thomas of San Angelo, Texas, Mark and Kathy Thomas of St. Mary’s, Kansas, and Barry and Linda Thomas of Cobb, California; two step-children, Danny Monroe of Fort Worth, Texas and Nancy Schriever of Marble Rock Iowa; fourteen grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; twenty-eight great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; and two brothers, Jim and Jack Thomas of Olympia, Washington.

A special thanks to the Nursing Staff at Floyd County Memorial Hospital; especially Miles Humphrey. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity or the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, November 21, 2008 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City. Officiating will be Pastor Jane Keel. Interment will follow in Sunnyside Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Fullerton Funeral Home in Charles City. Stories, thoughts and condolences may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Marjorie M. Funk

Marjorie M. Funk, 91, of Charles City, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.

Funeral services for Marjorie Funk will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Howardville Wesleyan Church, rural Floyd. Pastor Gordon Berryman and Pastor Marty Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the Howardville Cemetery, rural Floyd.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Marjorie Mae Towner Funk was born April 9, 1917, at Howardville, the daughter of Charles and Lelia (Noah) Towner. She graduated from the Colwell High School. On October 22, 1936, she was united in marriage to Orren Funk at her parent's home in Howardville. She was a member of the Howardville Wesleyan Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School. Her interests included spending time with her family and being involved with the Howardville Wesleyan Church.

Living family members include her six children, Linn (Janet) Funk of Cedar Rapids, David (Diane) Funk of Brown Deer, Wis., Errol (Sheryl) Funk of Milwaukee, Wis., Clare Lowell of Hollidaysburg, Pa., Duane (Karen) Funk of Cedar Rapids and Rolan (Beverly) Funk of East Troy, Wis.; 16 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and a sister, Meredith (Paul) Kindschi of Grand Rapids, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; granddaughter, Erin Funk; daughter-in-law, Barbara Kunzman Funk; and a stillborn sister, Wanda.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Howardville Wesleyan Church, P.O. Box 205 Rudd, IA 50471.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, IA is in charge of arrangements.

Gila Merfeld

Gila Merfeld, 102, formerly of Charles City, died Friday, November 14, 2008 at the Liebe Care Center in Greene.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 19, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Roseville. Officiating will be Monsignor Walter Brunkan. Interment will follow the Mass in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be from4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Scriptural Wake Service followed by a rosary on Tuesday at St. Mary's School in Roseville. Memorials may be made to the family for a charity to be determined later. Stories, thoughts and condolences may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Gila was born on September 2, 1906 in rural Marble Rock, the daughter of Edmund and Ada (Lines) Garber. She graduated from Marble Rock High School in 1925. She proudly worked for the Marble Rock Post Office until 1929. On January 29, 1929 she was united in marriage to Leander Merfeld in
Roseville, and the couple made their home on a farm near Roseville for the next 53 years. She worked side by side with her husband on the farm, as well as being a devoted mother to her children. Gila and Leander moved to Charles City in 1982. Her husband passed away in December of 1992 after 62 years of marriage. Gila then moved to Greene in 2001. She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Greene, the St. Jude's Circle, the Rosary Society and a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Gila enjoyed playing bridge with many different clubs, gardening and knitting and crocheting. Most important to her was her Faith, which she lived every day.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Richard (Rita) Merfeld of Greene, Roger (Edna) Merfeld of Rockford, Kenneth (Myrna) Merfeld of Weslaco, TX, Mary Jeanne (Francis) Stadler of Grand Junction, CO, Rose Anne Leaver of Slatington, PA and Raymond (Evelyn) Merfeld of East Dubuque, IL; 20 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Audrey Merfeld of Marble Rock and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gila was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leander; sister, Josie Keith; brother, Guy Garber; granddaughter, Julia Merfeld and son-in-law, Theodore Leaver.

Maxine F. “Mick” Fullerton

Maxine F. “Mick” Fullerton, 82 of 301 West Main, Rockford, Iowa, died Thursday afternoon, November 13, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Monday, November 17, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church, 21 3rd ST. NW, Rockford. Officiating will be the Rev. Judy Wooton. Visitation will be from 4 until 8:00 pm Sunday at the Fullerton Schumburg Funeral home 302 West Main, Rockford. Interment will be next to Roger at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the First Methodist Church, Rockford Fossil Park, or the Fire Department all of Rockford. Thoughts, condolences, and stories may be shared with the family through the www.Fullertonfh.com web site.

Maxine Fay was born on March 9, 1926 in Marble Rock to Jonathan “Joney” and Ruby (Buckingham) Laudner. Maxine was the 5th of 11 children born into the family. After several years in Marble Rock, the Laudners moved to Rockford, and it was there that Maxine (or “Mick” as she was often called) received her education. She graduated from Rockford High School with the class of 1943. Previous to her graduation she resides with close friend and mentor, Helen Walker and family. In her senior year, she enrolled in the Normal Training program, completing it by taking the extra, required classes following graduation.

For two years Maxine taught at the Owen Center School. She then moved to Washington D.C. to work in the Pentagon during the war. She returned to Rockford and with her sister Lorraine, shared teaching responsibilities at the little brick schoolhouse just West of Charles City.

On August 1, 1947, Rev Charles Fort of Sheffield, who had officiated at Maxine’s baptism and confirmation in Rockford, returned to perform the marriage ceremony for her and Roger James Fullerton, which took place in the apartment home of her friend Helen Walker, The newly married couple occupied an apartment in the same building for some time after their marriage. Mick worked along with Roger at Mosher Electric, which they had purchased from Virgil Mosher for the first five years and then “retired” to become a full time mom for her two growing children, Anne and Jim. After seeing her children off to college she returned to her bookkeeping duties at the store for the next 20 years. Both she and Roger were greatly pained by the closing and selling of the store. Over the many years as business people in Rockford, and serving countless customers in the store and at their homes they felt remorse at the need to close their business and the impact it would have on the town and surrounding area.

Maxine’s church work has always been a vital part of her life. Early on, she participated in the church as Bible and Sunday school teacher and as a M.Y.F. leader. Her involvement also included board chairwoman, financial secretary, treasurer, chairman of finance, stewardship, and auditing committee. Several times she was chairman of the pastor-parish committee, evangelism committee, and the administrative board. Her greatest challenge was being chairman of the Christmas children’s program balancing home, lots of kids, and church work at that busy season.

Mick had a special place in her heart working with the women of the church and was past president of the UMW for four years, served as circle chairman and for many many years, and was the UMW treasurer. Along with her local work in the church she served on the district and conference in many capacities and was on the Iowa conference nomination committee. Her work with the woman of the church aided so many people not only in the church, but Rockford, Iowa, the nation and internationally as the monies raised in a small town in Iowa went to help women all around the world doing missions.

Mick also had time for herself. She and Roger were some of the first families to help build the Rockford Golf Course and many Saturday nights were spent at potlucks and special golf events. She was quite a golfer in her time and won the club championship several times. Once a year she would get Roger to quit work for a week and take the kids somewhere to get away. Most often to Clear Lake with her sister and her family. Even though the guys went back to work she made sure everyone had fun. Mick also was the family caregiver and nursed many relatives on both sides back to health or was at their sides when they died.

Mick followed football and enjoyed the Vikings and Hawkeyes but most especially loved to yell at the TV when the hawks were playing basketball or the political debates were on. This year was no exception. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed reading her daily word, uper room, and both newspapers. Her bible was well worn, earmarked and underlined.

Those who will hold dear the memory of a mom, sister and friend include her two children Anne and her husband Steve High, Dodge City, KS; Jim and his wife Kelly, Mason City, her nine grandchildren Morgan and her husband David Lemen and their daughter, Rylee, the only great grandchild, Taylor High, Samuel, Alyssa, and Taylor Fullerton, Olivia, Annika, Benjamin and Ella; sisters Wava Uker, Sheffield; Sandra (Daisy) and her husband George West, Palm City, Fla.; Dianne Massee, Rockford, Ill.; brothers Delbert and his wife Mary Lou Laudner, Larry and his wife Mary Laudner all of El Cajon, CA; Marvin (Pete) and his wife Eileen Laudner Corcoran, MN; sister-in-laws Mary Ellen Laudner and Shirley Fullerton both of Rockford, and many, many, many nieces and nephews.

Her husband Roger of 58 years, parents Joney and Ruby Laudner, Marc and Ida Fullerton, sisters Lois and her husband Charles Schulz, Lorraine and her husband Louie, brothers Dallas and Ronald Laudner, and brother-in-law Carl Uker preceded her in death.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 123 2nd ST. SE, Mason City, Iowa 50401-3904 641-423-8676 www.Fullertonfh.com

Tena Reckner

Tena Reckner, of Charles City, Iowa, died Sunday, November 2, 2008 at the age 102. She passed away peacefully at Cedar Health.

Tena was born on June 5, 1906, the daughter of Augusta and Ida (Hahn) Lubbert in Riceville, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Benjamin Reckner on May 31, 1928 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Tena had lived in Charles City for the last 80 years where she enjoyed bowling and bingo. She had been employed as a housekeeper and as a seamstress at the Floyd County Hospital for 30 years. Tena was a member of Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Moose Lodge of Charles City.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter-in-law, Judy Reckner of Westerville, Ohio; grandchildren, Michael (Deborah) and Mark (Valarie) Reckner and Marilee (Mike) Hepp; great grandchildren, Steven, David, Matthew, Jason, Daniel and Bradley; great-great grandchildren, Joshua, Chase, Jackson and Gabriella; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Tena was preceded in death by her parents; 8 siblings; husband, Ben; and sons, Donald and Russell.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Fullerton Funeral Home, 401 Blunt Street, Charles City. Officiating will be the Reverend Dennis Niezwaag. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Internment will be in the Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Chickasaw County Pheasants Forever Chapter C/O Edward Jones, Attn: Shane Piltkin, Pheasants Forever, 18 East Main Street, P.O. Box 308, New Hampton, Iowa 50659 or to a charity of your choice. Thoughts, condolences, and stories may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Fullerton-Hage-Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt St., Charles City, IA 50616. (641) 228-4211 www.fullertonfh.com