Class Bulletin Board

Bonnie (Tappan) Weldon let us know that Betsy (Elliott) Stough’s mom Barbara passed away recently. Betsy gave us permission to share her mother’s obituary a tribute to her life.

Barbara Lee Elliott, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, in Iowa City.

She was born July 1, 1923, in Monticello, Ill., to the late Jonah and Mabel Conard.

Barbara grew up in the middle of a large and active farm family in central Illinois during the Depression. Her parents sacrificed so that every one of their children went to college. Barbara attended Purdue University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was elected Freshman Queen and met the love of her life, “Bump” Elliott. She graduated in 1946 with a degree in home economics. Barbara and Bump were married April 30, 1949, and they enjoyed 66 wonderful years together.

Above everything, Barbara kept a loving home for her husband and family. The consummate “coach’s wife,” she endured the defeats and celebrated the victories and always had a big pot of chili waiting after every game. She was proud, intensely private, loyal and very tough.

She was active in the Iowa City community, serving St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in many capacities, was co-chair (with Bump) of the Iowa City Library Renovation Fundraising Committee, a longtime reader in the Rockin’ Reader volunteer program, a member of the Hillcrest Family Services board of trustees, among many other callings. A friend once said, “Barbara’s volunteer time is spent helping others less fortunate.”

Barbara is survived by her husband, Bump; her sister, Carol Hake; brother, William Conard (Marilyn); sister-in-law, Maerene Conard; sons, William (Janice) and Robert (Karen Jo); daughter, Elizabeth Stough (John); grandchildren, Jeffrey (Sarah), John (Stephanie), Grant, Jessica (Kyle), Madeline, Michael (Kady) and Sam; and her magnificent great-grandchildren, Levi, Mara, Daphne, Robin, Ruth, Lillian, Dexter and Corinne.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses, staff and friends at Oaknoll Retirement Community.

Judy (Becker) Bryant shared her family’s holiday letter and a montage of family photos from the past year with us.

Bill Ackerman and Don Rinehart let us know that Walt Osborne’s dad Bill had passed away. Walt gave us permission to share his father’s obituary as a tribute to his life.

James William (Bill) Osborne, age 87, passed away on Saturday December 5, 2015 at the Lantern Park Care Center in Coralville.

Visitation was Friday December 11 from 4 Ð 7 PM, with a memorial service Saturday December 12 at 11 AM, both to be held at the Coralville United Methodist Church.

Bill was born on January 17, 1928 in Pana, Illinois, the son of Ruby (Ireland) and Fred Osborne. His quest for knowledge in the sciences began in Edinburg, Illinois, leading to a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1955, and continued through his appointments in the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Bill retired from the U of I in 2002 having served as Professor and Director of the Radiation Research Laboratory and Radiation Biology Program.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; son, Walter (Nancy), son, David (Cindy); and five grandchildren, Jessica (Kevin), Sean (Lianne), Lindsay, James David (JD), and Berke.

Through his research work and teaching at the U of I, his dedication to the Coralville United Methodist Church, and the Radiation Research Society, Bill had a great impact on many lives. He enjoyed all sports – especially basketball Ð and Hawkeye athletics.

Memorials may be directed to the Coralville United Methodist Church or the J.W. Osborne Endowment Fund through the Radiation Research Society. Arrangements are with Gay & Ciha Funeral Service.

Jeff Bagford let us know that his father Jack passed away recently. Jeff gave us permission to share his father’s obituary as a tribute to his life.

Jack Bagford, 86, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Funeral Services was held at 11 am on Saturday, August 29 at First United Methodist Church, 214 E. Jefferson Street, Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Jack Bagford Elementary Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of Iowa Foundation, 1 West Park Road, PO Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244.

Jack was born on April 1, 1929 in Clarksville, OH, the son of John and Gracie (Day) Bagford. He grew up in and around Clarksville farming, fishing and getting into trouble with his only sibling, his older brother, Larry. Jack earned his B.S. degree from Wilmington College, his M.A. degree from Miami University (Ohio), and his Ph.D. degree from Indiana University. He served as a helicopter mechanic instructor in the Army, which was a perfect fit for an engineering-minded teacher. He started his family when he married Mary Catherine “Katie” Farmer and they had Jack’s two oldest children, Jeff and Becky. Katie passed away, leaving Jack raising two small children while finishing his degree. It was at this time he met Ann Jane McNamara and just a short 4 months later (June 5, 1962), made her his wife. The new family set off for his new job at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and they never left.

Jack was a beloved professor in the College of Education from 1962 until his retirement in 1991. Professor Bagford served with distinction as an elementary teacher, an elementary principal, a director of student teaching and a college professor. An active member of the International Reading Association, he was founder and president of the Iowa Council International Reading Association. A scholarship was established by a former student in honor of Dr. Bagford.

It is an absolutely impossible task to summarize all of the hobbies he enjoyed over the course of his lifetime. On the very top of his list, you would find: GOLF, fishing, gardening, hunting, horse-shoe pitching, IOWA sports, mushroom hunting, ‘coffee with the boys’, arrowhead hunting, bridge, bird-watching, teaching anyone anything, crossword puzzles and story-telling. Jack was a master at all these things and for the most part (golfing excluded), incredibly humble as well. Even in the last several years, he was able to share story after story and enrich the lives of those he met while at Oaknoll. He was tenderly cared for by so many special people and truly brightened the day of those around him.

Above all else, he was the very happiest when he was with his family. He led the Bagford Bunch on many adventures and shared his talents and love of life with his wife, children and most especially, his grandchildren. He was a ‘one of a kind’ who spent his time on this earth caring for it, learning and teaching for a lifetime and loving his friends and family. Jack is survived by his wife Ann, their son Jeff Bagford, his wife Michelle and children Lisa and Travis of Scottsdale, Az; their daughter Becky Page, her husband Tracy and children Katie, Amy, and Molly of Lubbock, Tx; their daughter Jane McCrill, her husband Mark, and son Thomas of North Andover, Ma; and their daughter, Pamela Page, her husband Roger and children Sarah Dougherty, Megan Dougherty, Garrett, Natalie and Arianna Page of Overland Park, Ks.