Iowa County obituaries, July 7, 2011

Paul McMann, 87

Funeral services for Paul McMann, 87, Blairstown, a resident of Highland Ridge Care Center, Williamsburg, were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 1, at Grace Lutheran Church, Blairstown. He died Monday, June 27, 2011, following a brief illness.

The Rev. David Rempfer officiated at the service.

Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Blairstown, with graveside military rites by the M.J. Kirby American Legion Post 170.

A memorial fund has been established.

Phillips Funeral Home, Blairstown, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Paul McMann was born March 10, 1924, the son of Clint and Mary McGivern McMann, in Marengo.

He married Arlene Rathje Feb. 4, 1948. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He farmed near Marengo and Luzerne before settling in Blairstown, where the couple farmed southwest of town for many years.

Following his retirement from farming, the couple moved to town. He was very proud to drive a school bus for the Benton Community School District for many years.

He was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church where he participated in dart-ball and fellowship club. He served as a 4-H leader for many years and was proudly a State 4-H Family.

Most of all, he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He especially enjoyed giving them rides on his John Deere lawn mower.

McMann is survived by his wife, Arlene, a resident of Rose Haven Nursing Home, Marengo; four children and their spouses, Colette and William McMosley, Salina, Kan.; Rick McMann and Deborah Parker, Iowa City; Jean Tatman, Golden, Colo., and Mark and Kay McMann, Williamsburg; 12 grandchildren and their spouses, Tammi and Mike Farrelly, Todd Niebes, Lisa Olson, Jason and Erika Rabe, Andy and Shannon Rabe, Chris and Shea McMann, Joel and Amy McMann, Dena and Christian Shonts, Nickolas and Christy Dellamuth, Ty Tatman, Jodi and Brad Buchan, Mike and Christie McMann; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, Francis McMann Sr., Cedar Rapids, and one sister, Mary Possehl, Williamsburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Terry Niebes, and five brothers, Ed, Bing, Joe, Cop and Jim.

Naomi Franey, 89

Celebration of life service for Naomi Franey, 89, Williamsburg, was held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Williamsburg. She died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Highland Ridge Care Center, Williamsburg.

The Rev. Kirk Statler officiated at the service. Vocalists were Bill and Rita McDonald, Sandra Ficken and Richard Cloeter.

Burial will be at a later date. Casket bearers were Casey Smith, Chad Driscoll, Perry Rich, Patrick Brummel, Korwin Dougherty and Harrison Dougherty. Honorary casket bearers were Sheli Dougherty, Shelon Bormann, Darcy Rich, Jodie Driscoll, Gina Brummel, Madeline Dougherty and Lannie Smith.

Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous.

Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Naomi Franey was born Sept. 1, 1921, in Columbia, S.C., the daughter of Ollan and Addie Boney Hatchell. She graduated from Blythewood High School in South Carolina.

She married Dr. Keith Dougherty and they had three children, Linda, Mike and Van. They were later divorced.

She married Joseph E. Franey Jr. April 13, 1974, in Cedar Rapids. She was a sales associate at Armstrong’s Department Store for 17 years, retiring in 1987.  The couple lived in Cedar Rapids until moving to Highland Ridge Retirement Community in August of 2008.

She was a former member of the Eastern Star and the Elk Auxiliary. She enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, golfing, playing bridge, bowling and attending Hawkeye football games.

Franey is survived by her husband; two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Bob Driscoll, Williamsburg, and Patti and Steve Smith, Johnston; two sons, Mike Doughery and wife Gaye, Okoboji, and Van Dougherty, Iowa City; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Register, and two brothers, Richard Hatchell and Tom Hatchell.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Lannie, Alma and Dina, and three brothers, Bill, Jimmy and Herb.

Roger Strasser, 64

Celebration of life services for Roger A. Strasser, 64, Parnell, were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 1, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead. He died Sunday, June 26, 2011, in Marengo.

The Rev. Terry Small officiated at the service.

Burial was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. Casket bearers were Cory Strasser, Brian Strasser, Brent Strasser, Brad Strasser, Jim Sweet and Aron Sweet. Honorary casket bearers were Kim Sweet and Rebecca Strasser.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead; Central Lutheran School, Newhall, and Lutheran Interparish School, Williamsburg.

Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Williamsburg, was in charge of arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Roger Allen Strasser was born March 6, 1947, in Williamsburg, the son of Marion and Mildred Stahl Strasser. He attended English Valleys Schools.

He married Annette K. Moennich July 20, 1974, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead. They lived in the Williamsburg community before moving to Parnell.

He was a truck driver for Amana Refrigeration and Dieomatic Trucking and most recently owned and operated Strasser Trucking, Parnell.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Homestead. He enjoyed hunting, going to his grandkids’ activities and most of all, spending time with his family.

Strasser is survived by his wife; his children, their spouses and grandchildren, Kim and Jim Sweet, Aron, Ashley (Michael Plotz) and Danielle, all New-hall; Cory and Brooke Strasser, Zachary and Elizabeth, Blairstown; Brian Strasser and Vicki Bender, Homestead; Brent and Monica Strasser, Austin and Cody, all Williamsburg; Brad Strasser and Rebecca Strasser, both Parnell; two sisters, Patricia Little, North English, and Linda Huff and husband Harry, Iowa City; one brother-in-law and his wife, Milferd and Frankie Moennich, Williamsburg, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his father- and mother-in-law, Arnold and Lorena Moennich.

Bless Rusk, 94

Funeral services for Bless R. Rusk, 94, Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Conroy, were held at 8 a.m. Friday, July 1 at Sunland Memorial Park, Sun City, Ariz. He died June 28, 2011, at the Sterling House of Peoria, Peoria, Ariz.

Burial was in the National Memorial Cemetery, Phoenix, Ariz.

Memorials may be made to the Highway Christian Hospice of Phoenix or the American Lutheran Church of Sun City, Ariz.

Bless Roy Rusk was born in Biloxi, Miss. He graduated from Biloxi High School in 1935 and from Ole Miss with a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy. He was in glider training in Spencer, where he met his wife, Bernita. The couple were married in Albuquerque, N.M., while he was in the service.

He was a decorated 2nd Lieutenant and World War II glider pilot and served in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he was a medical service representative for Eli Lilly and Company, working out of Fort Dodge. He operated drug stores in Marshalltown and Webster City, prior to owning and operating Rusk Drug and Jewelry, Algona, for 20-plus years with his wife by his side in the family business. They also owned a second store in Estherville for a period of time.

The couple moved to the Gulf Coast where he was a hospital pharmacist at the Singing River Hospital, Ocean Springs, for eight years. He retired and then studied art and voice and became a qualified boat captain, operating a deep sea fishing boat. He also served as an officer in several coast art associations. The couple moved to an acreage in rural Van Cleave, Miss., where he enjoyed gardening, fishing and golfing, as well as painting in his art studio.

In 1994, they relocated to Conroy, to be closer to family. In 1996, they moved to Chanute, Kan., where they lived until 2007, when they moved to the Phoenix area.

Rusk is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bernita, Peoria; one son, Gary Rusk, and one daughter, Cheryl Mintle Orr, Surprise, Ariz.; three sisters, Elizabeth Wells, Rita Stevens and Mary and Jack Tardy; one sister-in-law, Arlene Tyler; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and 21 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Agatha (Lean) Minckler, and one brother, Joseph Rusk.

James Conrad, 73

Funeral services for James W. Conrad, 73, High Amana, were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, rural Wayland. He died Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids.

The Rev. Richard Swartzendruber and Nathan Luitjens officiated at the service.

Burial was in Sugar Creek Mennonite Church Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

James Wesley Conrad was born Sept. 10, 1937, in Mt. Pleasant, the son of Daniel and Luetta Kaufman Conrad. He graduated from Wayland High School in 1956. He served in 1-W for a year in Denver, Colo.

He married Shirley Ilene Gingerich Nov. 14, 1959, at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Kalona. He was a farmer and was also employed by Farmers Implement, Washington, in the parts department, and then was a truck driver for Agri-Way Feeds, Wayland.

He loved John Deere tractors, playing with his grandchildren and spending time outdoors and walking around his farm. He also enjoyed music, especially Johnny Cash. He was a lifetime member of Sugar Creek Church and most recently attended Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church.

Conrad is survived by two sons and their wives, Michael and Colleen, Marengo, and Ronald and Christina, Wayland; one daughter and her husband, Amy and Brad Yoder, High Amana; five grandchildren, Jory, Daniel and Brinley Conrad and Gracie and Simon Yoder, and one brother and his wife, Willard and Hettie Conrad, Hesston, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his wife, in 2009; his parents; one brother, Edwin, and one sister, Ruth Liechty.