Obituaries
Obituaries for Pauley Jones Funeral Home
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
Michael Eugene Poorker, Sr.
Aug 22, 2019
Full Obituary Pending Survivors include his wife Stephenie Poorker of Harlan, IA; children Isabella Poorker of Neola, IA; Michael Poorker, Jr. of Omaha, NE; Erick Bazemore of Harlan; Caleb Schlotfeld of Omaha; Mason Bergantzel of Harlan; Jamie Bergantzel of Harlan; granddaughter Olivia Bazemore; mother Kimberly Poorker of Avoca; grandma Beverly Poorker of Harlan; brother James (Carolin) Mills of Avoca; mother-in-law...
Abigail Rose Whitford
Aug 22, 2019
Even as a baby, Abigail Rose Whitford always had a twinkle in her bright blue eyes. Her parents had to keep a close eye on her because she was fearless enough to try anything—like nearly testing a socket with the car keys, or seeing what happened when you pour milk down a floor vent. She got up to plenty of...
Larry Dent Axland
Aug 21, 2019
Larry Dent Axland, son of Clifford and Inona (Dent) Axland, was born on April 28, 1938 at his family’s home near Irwin, Iowa. He attended grade school in Irwin and graduated from Irwin Kirkman High School. On August 9, 1959, Larry was united in marriage to Bonnie West at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin. Four children were born to...
Wilbert Robert Piittmann
Aug 20, 2019
Wilbert Robert Piittmann was born on June 24, 1926 in Hancock, Iowa. He was one of seven kids born to Christian and Mary (Berge) Piittmann. During his high school years he played basketball and had to shoot the ball under hand. He was most often late to school because he did chores in the morning. He graduated with the Hancock...
Alan "Aj" Jensen
Aug 19, 2019
Alan L. Jensen was born to Sivert and Alice (Christensen) Jensen on the family farm near Manilla, Iowa on July 12, 1936. He died on August 19, 2019 after struggling with multiple illnesses for two years. Alan attended country school for four years before going to Manilla Public School, where he graduated in 1954. He entered the Army in January...
Mary Ann Assmann
Aug 17, 2019
Mary Ann Assmann was born August 14, 1932, at home in Portsmouth, Iowa. She is the daughter of Henry and Mary (Katzer) Thraen. She was baptized in the St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth. In high school Mary Ann acquired the nickname Blonde. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in 1950. On September 6, 1954,...
Scott R. Beam
Aug 17, 2019
Full Obituary Pending Survivors include siblings: Stanley Beam, Sheila Beam, Shirlene Simon and husband John, and Suzette (Robin) Kroll and husband Terry, all of Dow City, Iowa, and Stuart Beam and wife Carol of Defiance, Iowa; five nieces and nephews: Kandi and husband Justin Rickert of Dow City, Chad and Jesse Kroll of Dow City, Dakota and Jericho Beam of...
Dale John Ruha
Aug 17, 2019
Military Rites will take place at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Survivors include his wife Patricia Ruha of Harlan, IA; children John Ruha of Lytle Creek, CA; Barbara Ruha of Rosemont, MN; brothers Michael Ruha of Louisville, CO; Dennis Ruha of Plymouth, MN.
Vonda Lorraine Koch
Aug 17, 2019
Vonda Schories Koch was born on April 5, 1929 on a farm in Harrison County to her parents, Gustav and Bertha (Ronfeldt) Schories. She was the fourth of eight children. She attended country school by Portsmouth, Iowa and graduated from Tennant High School in Tennant, Iowa in 1947. In her Junior and Senior years, Vonda played on the basketball team....
Norman "Gene" Wiig
Aug 15, 2019
Norman E. ("Gene") Wiig was born to Margaret (Batten) and Norman M. Wiig on June 20th, 1945, in Harlan, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irwin, Iowa. He attended school and graduated from Irwin-Kirkman Community School in Irwin, Iowa. On April 15, 1964 Gene was united in marriage to Julienne Kaufman at St. Boniface...
Dorothy Joan Alff
Aug 10, 2019
Dorothy Joan Alff was born on December 22, 1932, on a farm by Neola, Iowa to John and Marian Osborn. Dorothy was baptized and confirmed at the English Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. She attended first grade in Shelby, Iowa until March 1st when they moved to Avoca. She finished first grade in Avoca and graduated from Avoca High School...
Janice Ann Illingworth
Aug 10, 2019
Janice Ann (Volk) Illingworth was born March 31, 1944, to John Volk Sr. and Goldie (Ludwig) Volk in Algona, Iowa. She spent her youth residing in foster homes. Janice attended school until the eighth grade and then moved in with her sister, Dolores, and her brother-in-law to begin caring for her nieces and nephews. In 1972, Janice became a mother,...
Laverne John Schuning
Aug 9, 2019
LaVerne LeRoy "John" Schuning, son of Lloyd and Ella (Neve) Schuning, was born on June 14, 1935 in Avoca, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. He attended school in Avoca. At age 17, he left high school and joined the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He spent 14 months in Korea and...
Brett Allen Petersen
Aug 9, 2019
Brett Allen Petersen, son of George and Karma (Strandskov) Petersen, was born March 6, 1965 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa. He attended Laurel School in Harlan and graduated from Harlan Community High School. After high school, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and South West Iowa Community College...
Pauline Myrna Mogensen
Aug 5, 2019
Survivors include her children Lynn (Dave) Hall of Morrison, Colorado; Terri Sutton of Anchorage, Alaska; Randy Mogensen of Avoca, Iowa; 3 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren
Loretta Doonan Petersen
Jul 25, 2019
Loretta J. Doonan Petersen, daughter of Abner Earl and Gladys Olivia (Worden) Abel, was born September 4, 1922 in Silver City, Iowa. She was baptized into the Methodist faith and attended and graduated from Walnut Community Schools in Walnut, Iowa. In 1941, Loretta was united in marriage to Gaylord Doonan at the Monroe Methodist Church in rural Shelby County, Iowa....
Raleigh Ernest Woltmann
Jul 25, 2019
Raleigh Ernest Woltmann was born June 20, 1924, to Ernest and Irene (Jens) Woltmann in Shelby County, Iowa. When he was five, the family moved to a farm west of Avoca where Raleigh farmed with his father, and later his son until he was in his late eighties. He attended country school at Township Number One with his sister, Corrinne...
Betty Jean Boeck
Jul 24, 2019
Betty Jean Boeck, daughter of Anna Margrete (Laugesen) and Nels Hansen Olsen, was born on February 7, 1926 at the family farm west of Harlan, Iowa. She was baptized at home at the age of four by the Immanuel Lutheran Church minister out of Harlan. Betty attended the Lincoln Township Number 4 country school, a one room school that had...
Eileen Elenor Pauley
Jul 20, 2019
Eileen Elenor Pauley, the daughter of Anthony and Elenor (Thraen) Schleimer, was born on a farm in Panama on April 29, 1943. She attended country school and St. Mary’s High School in Panama, graduating with the class of 1960. After high school, Eileen was employed at the A.S.C.S. office in Harlan and also worked at Mickel’s Café in Harlan. On...
Donna Sorensen
Jul 19, 2019
Donna C. Kersten Sorensen, 92, of Harlan IA passed away on Friday, July 19, 2019, surrounded by her children at the home of her daughter Nancy Kersten Carlson of Moorhead, IA. Donna was born on October 13, 1926 to William A. Lockling and Laura Bell (Piercy) Lockling at Sandy Point on the Missouri River. She graduated from Modale High School...
Michael Eugene Poorker, Sr.
Aug 22, 2019
Full Obituary Pending Survivors include his wife Stephenie Poorker of Harlan, IA; children Isabella Poorker of Neola, IA; Michael Poorker, Jr. of Omaha, NE; Erick Bazemore of Harlan; Caleb Schlotfeld of Omaha; Mason Bergantzel of Harlan; Jamie Bergantzel of Harlan; granddaughter Olivia Bazemore; mother Kimberly Poorker of Avoca; grandma Beverly Poorker of Harlan; brother James (Carolin) Mills of Avoca; mother-in-law...
Abigail Rose Whitford
Aug 22, 2019
Even as a baby, Abigail Rose Whitford always had a twinkle in her bright blue eyes. Her parents had to keep a close eye on her because she was fearless enough to try anything—like nearly testing a socket with the car keys, or seeing what happened when you pour milk down a floor vent. She got up to plenty of...
Larry Dent Axland
Aug 21, 2019
Larry Dent Axland, son of Clifford and Inona (Dent) Axland, was born on April 28, 1938 at his family’s home near Irwin, Iowa. He attended grade school in Irwin and graduated from Irwin Kirkman High School. On August 9, 1959, Larry was united in marriage to Bonnie West at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin. Four children were born to...
Wilbert Robert Piittmann
Aug 20, 2019
Wilbert Robert Piittmann was born on June 24, 1926 in Hancock, Iowa. He was one of seven kids born to Christian and Mary (Berge) Piittmann. During his high school years he played basketball and had to shoot the ball under hand. He was most often late to school because he did chores in the morning. He graduated with the Hancock...
Alan "Aj" Jensen
Aug 19, 2019
Alan L. Jensen was born to Sivert and Alice (Christensen) Jensen on the family farm near Manilla, Iowa on July 12, 1936. He died on August 19, 2019 after struggling with multiple illnesses for two years. Alan attended country school for four years before going to Manilla Public School, where he graduated in 1954. He entered the Army in January...
Mary Ann Assmann
Aug 17, 2019
Mary Ann Assmann was born August 14, 1932, at home in Portsmouth, Iowa. She is the daughter of Henry and Mary (Katzer) Thraen. She was baptized in the St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth. In high school Mary Ann acquired the nickname Blonde. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School in 1950. On September 6, 1954,...
Scott R. Beam
Aug 17, 2019
Full Obituary Pending Survivors include siblings: Stanley Beam, Sheila Beam, Shirlene Simon and husband John, and Suzette (Robin) Kroll and husband Terry, all of Dow City, Iowa, and Stuart Beam and wife Carol of Defiance, Iowa; five nieces and nephews: Kandi and husband Justin Rickert of Dow City, Chad and Jesse Kroll of Dow City, Dakota and Jericho Beam of...
Dale John Ruha
Aug 17, 2019
Military Rites will take place at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Survivors include his wife Patricia Ruha of Harlan, IA; children John Ruha of Lytle Creek, CA; Barbara Ruha of Rosemont, MN; brothers Michael Ruha of Louisville, CO; Dennis Ruha of Plymouth, MN.
Vonda Lorraine Koch
Aug 17, 2019
Vonda Schories Koch was born on April 5, 1929 on a farm in Harrison County to her parents, Gustav and Bertha (Ronfeldt) Schories. She was the fourth of eight children. She attended country school by Portsmouth, Iowa and graduated from Tennant High School in Tennant, Iowa in 1947. In her Junior and Senior years, Vonda played on the basketball team....
Norman "Gene" Wiig
Aug 15, 2019
Norman E. ("Gene") Wiig was born to Margaret (Batten) and Norman M. Wiig on June 20th, 1945, in Harlan, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irwin, Iowa. He attended school and graduated from Irwin-Kirkman Community School in Irwin, Iowa. On April 15, 1964 Gene was united in marriage to Julienne Kaufman at St. Boniface...
Dorothy Joan Alff
Aug 10, 2019
Dorothy Joan Alff was born on December 22, 1932, on a farm by Neola, Iowa to John and Marian Osborn. Dorothy was baptized and confirmed at the English Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. She attended first grade in Shelby, Iowa until March 1st when they moved to Avoca. She finished first grade in Avoca and graduated from Avoca High School...
Janice Ann Illingworth
Aug 10, 2019
Janice Ann (Volk) Illingworth was born March 31, 1944, to John Volk Sr. and Goldie (Ludwig) Volk in Algona, Iowa. She spent her youth residing in foster homes. Janice attended school until the eighth grade and then moved in with her sister, Dolores, and her brother-in-law to begin caring for her nieces and nephews. In 1972, Janice became a mother,...
Laverne John Schuning
Aug 9, 2019
LaVerne LeRoy "John" Schuning, son of Lloyd and Ella (Neve) Schuning, was born on June 14, 1935 in Avoca, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. He attended school in Avoca. At age 17, he left high school and joined the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He spent 14 months in Korea and...
Brett Allen Petersen
Aug 9, 2019
Brett Allen Petersen, son of George and Karma (Strandskov) Petersen, was born March 6, 1965 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa. He attended Laurel School in Harlan and graduated from Harlan Community High School. After high school, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and South West Iowa Community College...
Pauline Myrna Mogensen
Aug 5, 2019
Survivors include her children Lynn (Dave) Hall of Morrison, Colorado; Terri Sutton of Anchorage, Alaska; Randy Mogensen of Avoca, Iowa; 3 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren
Loretta Doonan Petersen
Jul 25, 2019
Loretta J. Doonan Petersen, daughter of Abner Earl and Gladys Olivia (Worden) Abel, was born September 4, 1922 in Silver City, Iowa. She was baptized into the Methodist faith and attended and graduated from Walnut Community Schools in Walnut, Iowa. In 1941, Loretta was united in marriage to Gaylord Doonan at the Monroe Methodist Church in rural Shelby County, Iowa....
Raleigh Ernest Woltmann
Jul 25, 2019
Raleigh Ernest Woltmann was born June 20, 1924, to Ernest and Irene (Jens) Woltmann in Shelby County, Iowa. When he was five, the family moved to a farm west of Avoca where Raleigh farmed with his father, and later his son until he was in his late eighties. He attended country school at Township Number One with his sister, Corrinne...
Betty Jean Boeck
Jul 24, 2019
Betty Jean Boeck, daughter of Anna Margrete (Laugesen) and Nels Hansen Olsen, was born on February 7, 1926 at the family farm west of Harlan, Iowa. She was baptized at home at the age of four by the Immanuel Lutheran Church minister out of Harlan. Betty attended the Lincoln Township Number 4 country school, a one room school that had...
Eileen Elenor Pauley
Jul 20, 2019
Eileen Elenor Pauley, the daughter of Anthony and Elenor (Thraen) Schleimer, was born on a farm in Panama on April 29, 1943. She attended country school and St. Mary’s High School in Panama, graduating with the class of 1960. After high school, Eileen was employed at the A.S.C.S. office in Harlan and also worked at Mickel’s Café in Harlan. On...
Donna Sorensen
Jul 19, 2019
Donna C. Kersten Sorensen, 92, of Harlan IA passed away on Friday, July 19, 2019, surrounded by her children at the home of her daughter Nancy Kersten Carlson of Moorhead, IA. Donna was born on October 13, 1926 to William A. Lockling and Laura Bell (Piercy) Lockling at Sandy Point on the Missouri River. She graduated from Modale High School...
