Jeraldine N. Karstens - Age 87

     Jeraldine "Jerry" Nora Karstens was born on her father’s birthday, December 29, 1922, in Lincoln Township, Rural Walnut, Iowa to Jerry and Nora (Linkletter) Glissmann. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. She attended grade school in Lincoln Township and graduated from Lewis High School with the Class of 1940.

     Jerry worked for the telephone company and the United States Navy Supply Depot during World War II and met Vernon in Long Beach, California, even though they grew up about ten miles apart.

     On December 12, 1945, Jerry was united in marriage to Vernon Karstens at her parents’ home south of Walnut, on her parents’ anniversary. Three children were born to this union: Karen, Ronald, and Donald.

     Jerry was a housewife and helped her husband with the field work on the farm. She did a lot of cooking, baking, and canning vegetables from her garden. The family was active in the 4-H program and in Trinity Lutheran Church.

     She enjoyed polka dancing and playing cards. Going to the neighborhood card club was the highlight of her month. She also enjoyed camping and fishing after retirement.

     Jerry and Vernon lived on the Karstens family farm for over sixty-three years. She moved to the Avoca Assisted Living in May of 2009 and lived there until September 14 when she moved to Avoca Nursing and Rehab. It was there that she died on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, having attained the age of eighty-seven years, one month, and four days. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son Donald and his wife Debra.

     She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years Vernon Karstens of Avoca, Iowa; her daughter Karen and her husband James Hansen of Walnut, Iowa; her son Ronald Karstens and his wife RoseMarie of Woodbury, Minnesota; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; her sisters Hazel Henningsen of Walnut, Dorothy Beckendorf of Walnut, and Ethel Wood of Omaha, Nebraska; other family members and friends.

     Pastor Dennis Reich officiated the 11:00 AM funeral service on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Kevin Hansen, Nathan Hansen, Philip Hansen, Nicole Campbell, and Brooke Maine. A private inurnment will be held at Graceland Cemetery.

Roman C. Katzer - Age 70

     Roman Charles Katzer was born on February 22, 1938, on the family farm near Portsmouth, Iowa, to John and Alma (Pauley) Katzer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Portsmouth. In 1950, the family moved to a farm near Defiance, Iowa where Roman attended St. Paul’s Catholic School and graduated with the class of 1956.

     After completing high school, Roman pursued many interesting passions. He worked for Schneider Furniture Company in Council Bluffs, did farming custom work, and became a top salesman at Rose Novak Auto Company. He was also involved with the rental home business and owned several rental properties with his brother, Gene.

     In 1976, Roman decided to move to Atlantic with his brother, Gene, and begin farming. He had an intense passion for farming which he grew into a prosperous business. In 1978, Gene returned to Omaha to keep up with their rental business.

     Roman made friends easily, loved the farming community and the people in Atlantic. He loved eating out at restaurants with many close friends to listen to his homespun humor, his political views, his agricultural forecasts, his plans for better farming methods and hopes for the future. Many people took his advice seriously. He loved auctions and sales; wherever there was an auctioneer Roman was in the midst of hoping for that incredible bargain, or making sure that the price was honest.

     Roman remained in robust health throughout his life because of his zest for living and his acceptance of people. He suffered a stroke at his farm home on Wednesday, December 10 and died on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the Cass County Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa, having attained the age of seventy years, nine months, and nineteen days. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Rita Katzer, and two brothers: Ernest and Larry; and his brother-in-law Joe Fleming.

     He is survived by his siblings: Eugene Katzer of Omaha, Nebraska; Marge and her husband Jim Trierweiler of Denison, Iowa; Marvin Katzer of Brea, California; and Mary Fleming of Fountain Valley, California; six nephews and nieces: Sherri and her husband Jim Freml; Julie and her husband Doug Schmidt all of Denison, Iowa; Scott Trierweiler and his wife Stefanie of Las Vegas, Nevada; Chad Trierweiler and his wife Caron of Denver, Colorado; Cindy and her husband Brett of Maryland; and John Fleming of Fountain Valley, California; his faithful agricultural protegee, Byron Way of Oakland, Iowa, of twenty-five years, who made sure all the farming operations and decisions were carried out; other family members and many friends.

     A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, December 15, 2008, at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Iowa with Rev. John Dorton celebrating the 10:30 AM service. Serving as casket bearers were: Milton Boll, Matthew Redinbough, Byron Way, Doug Schmidt, Doug Redinbough, and Jim Freml. Burial was held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portsmouth.

Martin J. Kenkel - Age 72

     Martin "Pep" Joseph Kenkel, son of Emil and Carmen (Scheuring) Kenkel, was born on January 17, 1937, in Earling, Iowa and was raised on a farm near Defiance. Martin attended country school near Defiance and St. Paul’s Catholic School in Defiance. He remained on the family farm until his dad passed away in a tractor accident. Martin moved to Glenwood for a short time before becoming a resident at the County Care Center outside of Harlan on February 23, 1965.

     Pep loved the farm and John Deere tractors and also loved living at the County Care Center. He collected John Deere memorabilia, coffee cups, keys and key chains, tools and balls He could often be found on the walking trail when the weather permitted and had various responsibilities and duties to fulfill at the center.

     Pep died on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having attained the age of seventy-two years, three months, and fifteen days. He is preceded in death by his parents Emil and Carmen Kenkel; his sister Yvonne; and his grandniece Elise.

     He is survived by his sisters Phyllis and her husband Delmar Mikels of Portsmouth, Iowa and Mary Claussen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his brothers Russell Kenkel and his wife Tresa of Marietta, Georgia and John Kenkel and his wife Lois of Lincoln, Nebraska; nieces; nephews; other family members; and his special friends and the County Care Center.

     A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa, with Rev. Tom Coenen celebrating and Rev. Bob Hoefler concelebrating the 11:00 AM service. Interment was held at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa, with Randy Clyde, Richard Scheuring, Dean Mikels, Kurt Claussen, Kevin Claussen, and Jim Sheuring serving as casket bearers.

Thelma Jane Kennedy - Age 94
     Thelma Jane Kennedy was born on December 31, 1915, on a farm near the town of Calvin, North Dakota to Samuel and Annie (McLean) Lewis. Thelma attended grade school in Byron, North Dakota but graduated from high school in Calvin, North Dakota in 1933. After graduation, she attended the State Teacher’s College at Valley City, North Dakota for two years and received her teaching certificate. Thelma began her teaching career after graduating from Drake University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Education. She taught at a country school in Fairview Township for two years and then taught 4^th grade in Shelby, Iowa for 24 years.
     Thelma was married to Frederick T. Rohlfs on April 9, 1939 at the Presbyterian Church in Avoca, Iowa. Two boys were born to this union: Frederick G. and Edward. Frederick T. was in the military service and the family lived on several Army bases, spending a great deal of time at a base in Benning, Georgia. Frederick T. was ordained in the Avoca Presbyterian Church as an ordained minister. He was killed in a car accident near Afton, Iowa several years later. After his death, Thelma and the boys made their home in Avoca.
     After her boys were grown, Thelma married Edward Kennedy from Avoca on June 29, 1962 in Fall City, Nebraska. She retired from teaching in 1980. At that time she continued to be very active in the church. Over the years she helped with Sunday School, served as co-superintendent of the Sunday School for several years and also helped with Bible School. She served one term on the church session, served as a deacon, was secretary for the Women’s UCW and served on the bazaar planning committee. She attended Bible study groups and served as a trail boss that kept the saddle bags going from member to member. She served as an usher, a greeter for worship, a committee member to appoint elders and deacons and took part in worship services when the minister was absent. She was a member of the John Calvin adult fellowship group, and Grand Worthy Matron of Eastern Star. She was a longtime member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Beta Lota Education Society and she worked many years helping with the bloodmobile.
     Thelma remained in Avoca after Edward’s death in 1984. She moved to the Assisted Living Lodge in Avoca in 2007. Thelma died on August 26, 2010 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan having attained the age of ninety-four years, seven months, and twenty-six days. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, her son Edward, grandson Andrew Rohlfs, brother Austin Lewis and a sister Una Mae Henriksen.
     She is survived by her son Frederick G. Rohlfs and his wife Carole of Jackson, Mississippi, step-daughter Marilyn Kuehn and her husband Bill of Clarinda, Iowa; grandchildren: Robert Rohlfs and his wife Christina of Liberty, Missouri, Mark Rohlfs and his wife Jennifer of Lawson, Missouri, Eric Rohlfs and his wife Trisha of Norfolk, Virginia, Kim Henggeler and her husband Martin of Barnard, Missouri, and Kirk Rohlfs and his wife Emily of Keokuk, Iowa; step-grandchildren: David Kuehn and his wife Kathy, Steven Kuehn, Cathryn Moore and her husband Randy, Linda Lynch and her husband Rick, Susan Moore and her husband Daryl, and Sandra Combs and her husband Mike; eleven great-grandchildren; eleven step-great-grandchildren; brothers Buell Lewis of Phoenix, Arizona, and George Lewis and his wife Shirley of Rocklake, North Dakota; daughter-in-law Joan Rohlfs of Toquerville, Utah; brother-in-law Edward Rohlfs of Omaha, Nebraska, many other relatives and friends.
     Pastor David Krueger officiated the 12:00 P.M. funeral service on Monday, August 30, 2010 at United Church of Avoca in Avoca, Iowa. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa with Robert Rohlfs, Mark Rohlfs, Kirk Rohlfs, Martin Henggeler, Omar Trout, and Larry Westerbuhr serving as casket bearers.

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