Obituaries

Thomas I. Pottebaum, 61 years old, of Alton, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, at Orange City Area Health System in Orange City. Tom “Goog” was born Aug. 10, 1960, at Le Mars, the son of Howard and Doris (Schwarz) Pottebaum. He was raised near Alton and received his education from Floyd Valley Schools, graduating in 1979. He worked with his father on the family farm then he had his own acreage where he raised cattle...

Patsy Gengler, 74, of Le Mars, died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars. Patsy Ann Marienau was born July 20, 1947, in Le Mars, the daughter of Marvin and Elverna (Swisher) Marienau. She was raised in Merrill, and attended Le Mars Central High School and graduated in 1965...

Julie K. Sitzmann, 54, of Le Mars, died unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at UnityPoint - St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City. Julie was born to Donald and Marlys (Campbell) Harms on March 6, 1967. She attended Le Mars Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1985...

LaVada Gale, 103, of Akron, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden. LaVada Gale was born April 2, 1918, in Akron, the daughter of Earl and Anna (Harms) Gale. She attended school in Akron and graduated from Akron High School. She attended college at the University of Northern Iowa. Following college, LaVada worked as a dental assistant in Akron until her retirement...

Geraldine “Gerri” Crystal (Yoerger) Baldwin, 86, of Sioux City, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. Gerri was born Oct. 8, 1934, in Le Mars, the daughter of Raymond and Crystal (Ward) Yoerger. She grew up on a farm west of Merrill and graduated from Liberty Consolidated School in 1952. She married Ardeth Baldwin, they had four children. She worked various places during her lifetime...

Robert J. Brock, 74, of Elk Point, South Dakota, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at MercyOne in Sioux City. A Celebration of Life service will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elk Point, South Dakota. Pastor Erik Olson will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at the church...

Bruce E. Badgerow, 73, of Sergeant Bluff, died at his home on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. A family burial service will take place at the Kingsley Cemetery on Thursday, Sept. 9. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars...

Mary Messerole, 83, of Le Mars, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at her home in Le Mars surrounded by her family. Mary Margaret Rupp was born June 14, 1938, in Cherokee, the daughter of Carl and Lillian Rupp. She was baptized and confirmed at Maryhill Visitation Church in rural Cherokee...

Lillian “Skip” E. Ford, of Le Mars, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. Lillian was born to Robert and Martha (Knupp) Burkett on July 2, 1924, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She married Franklin B. Golladay on July 2, 1942, in Rockville, Maryland. Franklin died in a trucking accident in New Jersey on Feb. 25, 1959. Lillian later went on to marry Royce Ford and they later divorced...

We mourn the loss of Illustrious Sir L.V. “Al” Fagan who laid down his working tools and entered the celestial lodge on high Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Leland V. “Al” Fagan was born Dec. 14, 1931, on a farm west of Merrill, to Alan L. and Verna I. (Gabel) Fagan. ...

Armeda C. (Vaughn) Freel, 83, of Gering, Nebraska, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at her home. Armeda was born Nov. 11, 1937, at Cherokee, on a farm to John and Claribel Plueger. She was the 8th of 11 children. She was raised and received her education in Le Mars...

Shirley R. Prochello, 81, of Hinton, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, at Embassy Rehab and Care Center in Sergeant Bluff. Shirley Ruth Prochello was born on Sept. 21, 1939, in Fort Dodge, the daughter of John “Jack” Harlan and Vivian Ruth (Hult) Husted. After graduating from high school in South Sioux City, Nebraska, Shirley attended Barber College...

Shirley R. Prochello, 81, of Hinton, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, at Embassy Rehab and Care Center in Sergeant Bluff. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Pastor Jim Wilson will officiate. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9 and will continue until the funeral service...

Mark Raymond Brighton, 58, of Marcus, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at his home in Marcus. Mark Raymond Brighton, the son of Rev. George and Norma (Johnsen) Brighton, was born on Dec. 17, 1962, in Belmond. He graduated from Graettinger High School in Graettinger. In 1987, he graduated from Westmar College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Elementary Education. He later graduated from Drake University with a Master of Science in Educational Administration in 1995...

Robert J. Brock, 74, of Elk Point, South Dakota, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at MercyOne in Sioux City. The Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars is assisting Bob’s family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com...

Mark Raymond Brighton, age 58, of Marcus, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at his home in Marcus. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, at the Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Pastor Travis Stevick will officiate. Burial will be at the Newell Cemetery in Newell. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m., Thursday, with family present from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the United Methodist Church in Marcus...

Raymond J. Loutsch, age 96, of Oyens, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at Bavarian Meadows Assisted Living in Remsen. Raymond was born Nov. 13, 1924, at rural Granville, the son of Emil and Rose (Hunt) Loutsch. In March 1931, Raymond moved with his family to near Oyens, where he received his education at St. Catherine’s Catholic School in Oyens. He was then a farm laborer in the Oyens area...

Madeline “Maddie” Sanson, age 17, of Orange City, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, at the Orange City Area Health System. Madeline Jo was born on July 26, 2004, in Sioux City, the daughter of Larry and Polly (Vander Linden) Sanson. While an infant, her parents lived on an acreage near Maurice. ...

Verle D. Allen, 85, of Le Mars, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars following a brief illness. Verle Dean Allen was born on Aug. 10, 1936, in Quimby, the son of Ralph J. and Iva Mae (Nafe) Allen. He attended school at Cleghorn, until transferring to Le Mars, for his senior year, graduating from Le Mars Community High School in 1955. ...

Eugene F. (Gene) Puetz of Cedar Falls, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at the age of 100. Gene was born in Merrill on Sept. 12, 1920, to John and Margaret (Hoss) Puetz. After his mother died, his father married Emma Freking, who cared for the four young children. After graduating from Merrill High School, Gene worked with his father in farming until he joined the Navy in 1942. He got his wings and commission as Ensign Naval Aviator just before World War II ended in 1945...

Dennis “Denny” Anderson, 67, of Le Mars, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City. Dennis William Anderson was born Jan. 1, 1954, in Le Mars, the son of Lurraine “Andy” and Edna “Babe” (Trobaugh) Anderson. He attended school at Union Consolidated, rural Plymouth County, and later high school in Remsen. He graduated from Remsen-Union High School...

Beverly Ann Stoos, age 54, of Remsen, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in her home surrounded by family.            Bev was born March 10, 1967, to William “Bill” and Martha “Pod” (Felts) Wurth in Le Mars. She was raised on the family farm south of Remsen and attended high school at Remsen-Union graduating in 1985...

Ashley Holtgrewe, 33, of Le Mars, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family following a courageous battle with breast cancer. Ashley Scott Kennedy was born on Oct. 9, 1987, in Mesa, Arizona to Scott and Mary Ann (Ruba) Kennedy. She attended school in Chandler, Arizona, and graduated from Basha High School in 2006. She then went on to receive a degree in early childhood development from Chandler Gilbert Community College...

Michael Dean Frolkey, 73, of Le Mars, was called to heaven on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, where he died at Floyd Valley Healthcare. Michael was born Nov. 22, 1947, in Le Mars to Nathan and Norma (Herzig) Frolkey. He was the second child of five, with three sisters and a brother, making this a family of seven...

Alice June (Carstensen) Meins died at her home in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the age of 88. Born in Merrill, she was the daughter of the late George and Katherine (Harms) Carstensen. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles “Bud” Meins Sr., daughter June Lynn Meins, and brother Wendell Carstensen. ...