Stories from Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Okoboji Middle School Physical Education teacher Wes Hunziker's philosophy has evolved throughout his 28 years as a faculty member. It's vital for him to show his students the importance of maintaining lifelong physical fitness using the boundless recreational activities the world has to offer...

A dietetics major at Iowa State University may not be the conventional path to stardom, but Okoboji High School graduate Whitney Packebush has found a way to get noticed. Channel surfers can find her representing the Fareway grocery store chain on commercials and cooking shows. ...

Mini-Wakan State Park is OK to walk on. But don't dig -- at least not yet. That's the word from Dan Higginbottom a review archeologist with the State Historic Preservation Office. He's working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to adjust the timing of plans for a parking lot at the state park...

Dr. Kurt Trucksess, the senior pastor at Faith Church in Spirit Lake, wanted the community to know about a change to Sunday services on Oct. 21. He isn't having any. No one will open their hymnals. Stage lights will stay dark. The doors will be closed at his church near the Spirit Lake High School football field...

Last week I watched a movie "Support Your Local Sheriff" starring James Garner. It was a satirical comedy about a town in the old west with a dysfunctional government. Laughing so hard, I nearly fell out of my chair, but with a jolt realized this is what is happening in our national government...

I am writing this letter as a reminder to everyone not to base your vote strictly on party affiliation. There are often great candidates that choose the party that they belong to for a lot of different reasons. We need to vote for the person that is qualified to do the job and not choose them because of superficial reasons...

They say patience is a virtue and, boy, have I ever come to appreciate that saying over the last few weeks. We all go through our streaks of bad luck and misfortune, but if we all were to fight back against it, things would just continue to get worse...

Water temperatures are far warmer than usual for this time of year. Fish have had an extra long growing season and the arrival of yellow bass in the area a decade ago may have caused a population explosion in the Iowa Great Lakes. Some, or all of those factors may be contributing to an unsettling scene along the shores of Dickinson County lakes this fall. ...

Aug. 27, 1964 -- Oct. 7, 2012 A funeral service for Todd Nance, 48, of Spirit Lake, was held Thursday, Oct. 11, at Spirit Life Fellowship Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Todd LeRoy Nance was born Aug. 27, 1964, in Estherville, the son of Cordell and Lorna (Wilcox) Nance. ...

Feb. 6, 1936 -- Sept. 26, 2012 Robert E. Kraft, age 76, of Terril, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at his home in Terril. He was born Feb. 6, 1936, in Spencer, to Earl and Norma (Newby) Kraft. Robert worked for Winnebago Inc. delivering motor homes for many years. He enjoyed spending his spare time watching sports and talking with his friends...

Oct. 17, 1930 -- Oct. 6, 2012 A funeral service for Norman Bremer, 81, of Spirit Lake, was held Saturday, Oct. 13, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Norman Lewis Bremer was born Oct. 17, 1930, in Sibley, the son of Robert and Florence (Hesebeck) Bremer. He graduated from high school in rural Osceola County. Norman enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1954...

Sept. 16, 1928 -- Oct. 10, 2012 Martha "Marty" Jane (DeVore) Hall, the daughter of Albert and Edith (Runyan) DeVore was born Sept. 16, 1928, in Lincoln, Neb. Marty passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S. D., at the age of 84...

Aug. 12, 1923 -- Oct. 14, 2012 Marjorie A. (Welch) Mardock, 89, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Webster City, died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake. Private family services will be held at a later date. Marjorie Alnora Welch, daughter of Forest and Ruth (Schauf) Welch was born Aug. ...

Oct. 6, 1924 -- Oct. 9, 2012 Luverne "Dutch" Darrell Nielsen, age 88, of Spencer, formerly of Sutherland, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, at V.A. Hospital in Sioux Falls, S. D. He was born on Oct. 6, 1924, in Sutherland, to Niels and Marie (McCosh) Nielsen...

Dec. 17, 1930 -- Oct. 12, 2012 Loraine Marie (Christensen) Wallace, age 81, of Lakefield, Minn., formerly of Spirit Lake, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield. Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Oct. 16, at St Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. ...

Jan. 26, 1924 -- Oct. 10, 2012 Funeral Services for Franklin Little, 88, of Milford, were held Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Franklin Craig Little was born Jan. 26, 1924, in Charles City. His parents were LeRoy John and Pearl Laura (Craigmile) Little. ...

Feb. 26, 1918 -- Oct. 10, 2012 Florence Eleanor Hanson, age 94, a former resident of Spirit Lake, passed away peacefully Oct. 10, 2012, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Florence Eleanor Dahlstrom, the daughter of Swedish immigrants, Fred and Judith Dahlstrom, was born Feb. ...