Obituaries

Area Funerals

Merle Alberts

Merle Alberts, age 77 of Hartley, IA, passed away at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City on Monday, January 20, 2014.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 24th at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 23rd from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Hartley Funeral Home Chapel with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

The Hartley Funeral Home in Hartley is in charge of the arrangements for 77 year-old Merle Alberts of Hartley, IA. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.sanborn-hartleyfuneralhomes.com

Merle Gene Alberts, the son of Rancy and Alice (Bruns) Alberts was born June 25, 1936 in Worthington, MN. He grew up and received his early education at Worthington. On January 19, 1955, Merle enlisted in the United States Army, serving as an MP. He was honorably discharged on October 24, 1957. He later worked with the Secret Service.

Merle married Donna Postma in 1999. The couple made Hartley, IA their home. Merle served on various boards over the years; was a member of the Sanborn City Council, worked with the Fire Department for nearly 20 years, and served in several capacities within his church.

Merle loved working with, and being around people. He worked as a propane manager for Skelgas and Thermogas collectively for 35 years, and then at Shoppers Supply until he suffered a stroke in 2001. Merle passed away at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA on January 20, 2014 at the age of 77.

Survivors include his wife, Donna of Williamsburg, IA; his children and their families: Connie (Steven) Wiersma of Sanborn, IA, Joel (Brenda) Alberts of Excelsior, MN, Jay (Janelle) Alberts of Chagrin Falls, OH; step-children: Dawn (Ryan) Burns of Williamsburg, IA, Jason (Amber) Postma of Hartley, IA, Cheryl Koele of Williamsburg, IA; six grandchildren: Brandon and Trevor Krikke, Emma and Isaac Alberts, Abigail and Grant Alberts; five step-grandchildren: Dylan and Austin Burns, Adilynn Postma, Kiley Koele, and Thomas Kunzman; two sisters: Joyce (Daryl) Harberts of Rushmore, MN, Janice (Merle) Spoolstra of Cushing, WI; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Roger Alberts.

Wilbur J. Vande Brake

Mr. Wilbur “Bill” Vande Brake, age 89, of Orange City, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2014, at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

There will be a memorial service on Friday, January 24, at 10:30am, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Mark Haverdink will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a prayer service on Friday, at 9:30am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Thursday, with the family present from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, at the funeral home.

Wilbur John was born on July 12, 1924, on a farm northwest of Orange City, the son of Bert J. and Bessie (Tiemersma) Vande Brake. He was raised on that farm, where he attended the West Branch No. 7 Country School through the eighth grade. He then graduated from the Sioux Center High School.

On September 3, 1945, he married Wilma Jean Aalberts in Orange City. At the end of World War II (1945-1946), he served in the 15th Infantry of the United States Army, stationed in Japan. He and Jean then made their home in Boyden, where he was employed at Dethmer’s Implement. In 1952, they moved to the family farm northwest of Orange City. Wilma Jean passed away on April 29, 1971, at Orange City.

On August 25, 1972, Bill married Joan C. Roelfson in Alton. They continued to farm until 1986, when they moved into Orange City. Joan passed away on February 7, 2005, in Sioux City.

In later years, he lived at the Pioneer Memorial Home and the Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community, both in Orange City.

Mr. Vande Brake was a member of the First Reformed Church and the Pressman-Kosters American Legion Post in Orange City.

He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s activities, fishing, bowling, watching Minnesota Twins baseball games, and spending time playing cards and cribbage with his special friends at the Orange City Adult Activity Center. He loved farming and was known for his friendly smile and sense of humor.

He will be lovingly remembered by his two daughters and their husbands, Anita and John “Jack” Vogel, of Orange City; and Vicki and Henry “Hank” Huisman, of Banning, California; seven grandchildren, Jonathan (Julie) Vogel, Joel (Lisa) Vogel, Jacqueline Vogel, Joshua (Shiho) Vogel, Amy (Mike) Siebersma, Matthew Huisman, and Michael (Becca) Huisman; twelve great-grandchildren, Gabie, Jaxon, Aleena, and Jenna Vogel; Charlie and Evelyn Snyder; Max, Trey, Zoe, and Emerson Siebersma; and Josie and Henry Huisman; two brothers and their wives, David and Kathy Vande Brake and Marion “Mick” and Betty Vande Brake; a sister and her husband, Marla and Delano Horstman; a sister-in-law, Gerry Mouw; and many nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his son, Robert Vande Brake; two grandsons, Dustin and Craig Haarsma; three sisters, Florence Gunderson, Josephine Wielenga, and Betty Mouw; three brothers-in-law, Louis Wielenga, Kenneth Mouw, and Randall Gunderson; and two sisters-in-law, Arloa Vande Brake and Gertrude Vande Brake.

 

Theresa Post

Theresa Post

Theresa Post, age 91 of Sibley, Iowa, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014 at her home in Sibley.

Funeral Services will be Monday, January 20, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Reformed Church in Sibley. Rev. Bruce Wilterdink officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, January 19, from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M. with the family present from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home in Sibley.

Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com The Andringa Funeral Home of Sibley in charge of arrangements for Theresa Post. 

Theresa Minnie Post was born on May 3, 1922 in Hull, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jacob and Lena (Huibregtse) Moss. She graduated from Hull Public High School and received her teaching certificate from Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, Iowa. She taught at Greenville, Iowa for two years and then Hull Public for three years.

She was united in marriage to Harold Post of Ocheyedan, Iowa on May 28, 1947 in Hull, Iowa. They lived in Sheldon, Iowa for two years and then moved to Allendorf, Iowa and later to Melvin, Iowa, where they farmed. In 1975, they retired from farming and moved to Sibley, Iowa. Theresawas employed at Country View Manor in Sibley for 12 years. Theresa and Harold enjoyed camping and spending time with their family. Harold passed away on March 29, 1985. Theresa enjoyed going on mission trips across the United States and also went on a Holy Land Tour. She enjoyed cooking, baking and playing games with family and friends. She volunteered many hours helping others through Osceola Hospice.

Theresa was a member of the First Reformed Church in Melvin, Iowa where she was actively involved in Women’s Guild and teaching Sunday School for many years. Later, she joined the First Reformed Church in Sibley where she enjoyed attending Bible Study and participating in the Women’s Circle.

Theresa lived at Fieldcrest in Sheldon, Iowa and at Legacy Pointe in Waukee, Iowa before living with her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Leroy Stevenson in Sibley, where she passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014.

Those left to cherish her memories are her four daughters and sons-in-law: Cheryl and Richard Henrich of Emmetsburg, IA, Linda and George Gross of Fort Dodge, IA, Karen and Leroy Stevenson of Sibley, IA, Marlene and Gary Martens of Des Moines, IA; 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law: Harriet Moss of Hull, IA.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold Post, her parents, two brothers, Henry Moss and Arthur Moss, one sister, Esther Wilson.

 

Angeline C. Van Es

Angeline C. Van Es, age 86, of Boyden, Iowa passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa. 

Her services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 20, 2014 at the First Reformed Church in Boyden, Iowa with Rev. Matthew Draffen ~ officiating. Burial will be at the Sheridan Township Cemetery in Boyden, Iowa.

Visitation with the family present will be from 2 – 4 P.M. on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden, Iowa.

Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com

  Angeline Catherine Van Es, the daughter of John and Lydia (Van Otterloo) Starkenburg was born on November 23, 1927 in rural Osceola County, Iowa.  She received her education from Alton Schools graduating in 1945.  On November 23, 1948 she was united in marriage to Arnold Van Es at the Starkenburg family home in Alton, Iowa.  The couple moved to Boyden where they remained for many years until 2005 when Arnold moved to Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon and Angeline moved to the Christian Retirement Home, also in Sheldon.  In 2010 Angeline moved to Sanford Senior Care.  Arnold preceded her in death on September 13, 2011.  Angeline passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Sanford Senior Care Nursing Home reaching the age of 86 years, 1 month and 23 days.

Angeline was a very active member of the First Reformed Church in Boyden.  She was involved with the Reformed Church Women’s Group and taught pre-school Sunday School and Catechism for many years.  She enjoyed playing cards, dominos and scrabble.  She was also known to have the remedy to take out any stain you could think of.

Angeline is survived by a son, Duane and his wife Mary Van Es of Boyden, Iowa; daughter, Brenda and her husband Laryl DeWild of Boyden, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Van Es of Grinnell, Iowa; four grandchildren and their spouses, Jill and Peter De Groot of Olathe, Kansas, Doug and Kari Van Es of Sanborn, Iowa, Andy and Anna DeWild of Sheldon, Iowa, and Dusty and Amanda DeWild of Boyden, Iowa; six great-grandchildren, Dylan, Tyler, Lindsey, Lexi, Dalton and Adalynn; brother, Leo Starkenburg of Sheldon, Iowa; sister, Lois and her husband, Ronald Klein of Maurice, Iowa; also numerous nieces and nephews.

Angeline is preceded in death by her husband Arnold; oldest son James, her parents, John and Lydia Starkenburg and a brother, Cyrene Starkenburg.

Larry Schlichte

Larry Schlichte, 43 years old, of Alton, IA, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at his home in Alton, IA.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville with Rev. Terry Roder officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville.  Visitation will be any time after 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014.  There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m., and vigil prayer service at 7 p.m., all at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com.

Larry was born June 13, 1970, at Sheldon, IA, the son of Clifford and Dolores “Dolly” (Haag) Schlichte.  He was raised in the Granville area, and graduated from Floyd Valley High School in 1989.  He then started working for Jellema Construction in Alton until he started working for Albers & Niichel also in Alton. Larry was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Infernos Motorcycle Club. Larry enjoyed riding his motorcycle, helping on the farm, spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include; His parents, Cliff & Dolly Schlichte of Granville; 3 brothers, Jeffery Schlichte of Springfield, MO, Jim (Jeannie) Schlichte of Granville, IA, Ronald (Tracey) of Osceola, IA;  4 sisters, Joanne Schlichte, Sylvia (Pat) Busby all of Alton, Debra (Mohamed) Ben Saida of Hospers, IA, Heidi (David) Feldhaus of Oldham, SD; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by: a brother, Donald at birth, 2 sisters-in-law, Judy Schlichte, Heidi Anne Schlichte, his niece, Cassie Schlichte. Casket bearers will be Greg Penning, Blaine Foreman, Rick Weber, Doug Owens, Brad Konz, Tim Paulsen.

 

Charles Buckley

Buckley, CharlesCharles W. Buckley, 85, of Le Mars, Iowa formerly of Maurice, Iowa passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble, Iowa. Monsignor Mark Duchaine will celebrate Mass. Burial with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Maurice, Iowa. Visitation will be after 4:00 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2014, with the family present after 5:00 p.m., and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., all at Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Friday at the church. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.

 Charles William Buckley was born June 25, 1928 on the family farm near Maurice, Iowa, the son of Fred and Irma (Keegan) Buckley. He attended school in Maurice and graduated from Maurice High School. He attended college at Westmar in Le Mars.

 He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in Florida, he met his future wife, Virginia Boehm. They were married on December 19, 1953. Following his honorable discharge, they moved to a farm near Maurice. Charles farmed near Maurice for many years and also was a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service for over 34 years. Virginia passed away November 10, 1995.

 Later, he married Barbara Blenner on April 25, 1997 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble. Together, they made their home near Maurice. In January of 2013, they moved to Le Mars. Shortly after, he became a resident of the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.

 Charles was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble and the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars. He was also a member of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. Charles was a former board member for Gehlen Catholic School. Through the years, Charles enjoyed gardening and traveling. But most of all, he loved the times spent with his family. He will be remembered as a gentle, kind spirited man. He will be greatly missed.

 Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Le Mars; his children: Ann (Ronnie) Lill of Le Mars, Mary (Randy) Klein of Alton, IA, Robert (Kerri Jo) Buckley of Orange City, IA, Molly Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Thomas Buckley of Brooklyn, NY; his step children: Pam (Rick) Westphal of Larrabee, IA, Jerry (Fern) Blenner of Holstein, IA, Tim (Kim) Blenner of Schaller, IA, Robert (Joni) Blenner of Holstein, IA, and Ann (Korey) Bowman of Kingsley, IA; 10 grandchildren; 12 step grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren; his sisters: Mary Kay Dunbar of Omaha, NE, and Sheila (Bill) Enders of Ponca, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Irma Buckley; a son in infancy: William “Billy” Buckley; two brothers: Dan Buckley and Dennis Buckley; a sister: Colleen Buckley; and a step grandson: Jason Blenner. ©