Maxine A. Arentsen - 93
     Maxine Ann Arentsen, daughter of Peter and Alma (Schlicht) Pedersen, was born on May 5, 1918 in rural Avoca, Iowa. She attended school in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School.
     On September 24, 1942, Maxine was united in marriage to Burton Arentsen in Papillion, Nebraska. Four children were born to this union: Joyce, Gary, Duane and Dennis.
     Maxine was a dedicated mother and housewife. She enjoyed spending time with her children and after they had moved out of their childhood home, she then worked in the kitchen for the Shelby school. She worked at the school until her retirement in 1980.
     Maxine loved to dance, especially to polka and big band music. She enjoyed spending time outdoors and working with her flowers.
     She joined Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, Iowa in December of 2010 before joining Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in March of 2011. She died at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 24, 2011 having attained the age of ninety-three years, two months and nineteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Burton Arentsen; brother, Arnold Pedersen; and two grandchildren.
     She is survived by her children: Joyce Jensen and her fiancé Mark White of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Gary Arentsen and his wife Theresa of Kearney, Nebraska, Duane Arentsen and his wife Kenda of Lowell, Arkansas, and Dennis Arentsen of Shelby, Iowa; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Blanche Pedersen of Omaha, Nebraska; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
     Pastor Dennis Reich officiated the 1:30 PM funeral service at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa on Friday, July 29, 2011. Inurnment will be held at Layton Township Cemetery in Walnut, Iowa at a later date.

   Henry James "Hank" Arkfeld, son of John and Mary (Keane) Arkfeld, was born on January 4, 1921, on a farm west of Panama, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Panama and then went on to graduate from Harlan Community High School with the Class of 1939.

     After high school, Henry did road construction work in Northern Iowa and in Colorado. He joined the United States Navy on August 15, 1942, and served twenty-three months as a clerk in Hawaii during World War II. He saw action off the coast of Okinawa when he was assigned to the USS Soubarissen. He received his honorable discharge from the Navy on November 6, 1946.

     Upon his return to Iowa, he became a rural letter carrier and was assigned the route out of Panama on February 2, 1948. Later he was transferred to Harlan and worked 32 ½ years as a rural carrier.

     On June 24, 1948, he was united in marriage to Irene D. Graeve at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling. To this union nine children were born: Laura, Daniel, Patrick, Timothy, twins Jane and Joanne, Phillip, Denise, and Deanna. Henry and Irene owned and operated Arkfeld Studio from 1948 until 1980 when their daughter Laura and son-in-law Mike Mohr purchased Logeland Studio in Harlan. They made their home in Panama all their married life.

     Henry served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Earling Council 1741 for a two-year term. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for sixty-two years. Henry was a member of the Luke E. Hart 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and the Chalice Club. He was also a member of the Panama American Legion Post No. 601 for sixty years and served two terms as Commander.

     In September of 1948, Henry became a member of the National and State Rural Letter Carriers Association. He was very active in the association and served state treasurer for ten years from 1965 to 1975. He was district secretary for seven years and held various county offices for a number of years.

     Henry Arkfeld died on Tuesday, June 5, 2007, having attained the age of eighty-six years, five months, and one day. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Thomas and Francis, and his sisters Madeline and Ann Louise.

     He is survived by his wife of nearly fifty-nine years, Irene of Panama, Iowa; his children: Laura Arkfeld-Mohr of Harlan, Iowa, Daniel Arkfeld and his wife Jeanne of Westerville, Ohio, Patrick Arkfeld and his wife Denise of Fresno, California, Timothy Arkfeld and his wife Denise of Maderia, Ohio, Joanne and her husband Donald Ozbun of Atlantic, Iowa, Jane and her husband Richard Hodapp of Matthews, North Carolina, Phillip Arkfeld and his wife Laura of Chino Hills, California, Denise and her husband Scott Assmann of Portsmouth, Iowa, and Deanna and her husband Roger Schwery of Jacksonville, Iowa; his brother John Arkfeld of Omaha, Nebraska, his sister Judy Knott of Harlan, Iowa; twenty-six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends.

     A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Rev. John Dorton officiated the 10:30 AM mass. Honorary casket bearers were George Schwery, Rollie Hansen, Charlie Albrecht, Gerald Schafer, Richard Arkfeld, Steve Barratt, Don Hoffman, and Duane Neppl. Serving as casket bearers were Craig Arkfeld, Stephen Hodapp, Sam Hodapp, Todd Arkfeld, James Arkfeld, and Larry Arkfeld. Military Rites were held by the Panama American Legion Post No. 601 at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Panama.

Dennis A. Armstrong - Age 46
     Dennis Allen Armstrong was born on May 31, 1965 to Cleal and Loyce (Templeton) Armstrong in Hamburg, Iowa. He was baptized at the Baptist Church in Pacific Junction, Iowa. He attended Glenwood Elementary and High Schools, graduating with the Class of 1983.
     He was married in 1986 to Gail Deputy. They had two sons: Brian and Marcus.
     Dennis worked for twenty years at various meat packing plants in the Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas as a meat cutter.
      Dennis loved gardening with his mother and sister when he was younger. He kept his love of being outdoors with new hobbies - hunting and fishing. He also loved to watch football and could be found in front of the T.V. on the weekends if there was a good game on. He liked to cook and would make different things for his family like his fried tacos.
     Dennis died unexpectedly at his home in Harlan, Iowa, on January 4, 2012, having attained the age of forty-six years, seven months, and four days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleal and Loyce and two brothers: Kenneth and Gary.
     He is survived by his sons Brian Armstrong and Marcus Armstrong, both of Glenwood, Iowa; granddaughter Niveya of Glenwood; sister Reta and her husband Gary Smith of Harlan, Iowa; brothers Niel Armstrong and his wife Charlotte of Alton, Missouri and Cecil Armstrong and his wife Candy of Imogene, Iowa; many niece and nephews, other family members and friends.
     Pastor Donna Ewert officiated the 1:00 PM memorial service on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. A private inurnment will be held at a later date at the Oakland Cemetery in Quincy Township, Carbon, Iowa.