Category: Family News

Karen told us that her mother passed away on February 2, 2014. She gave us permission to post her Mom’s obituary as a tribute to her life.

Marian “Maisie” Villhauer

Maisie was born on December 17, 1926, the daughter of Albert and Lucy (Kaplan) Stockman. She grew up in Oxford, IA and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Iowa City. On June 4, 1947, she married David Villhauer. Maisie worked at various jobs including Sheller-Globe, Killian’s Beauty Salon and First National Bank.

In addition to spending time with her family, Maisie enjoyed bowling and playing cards. Most of all, she loved to laugh and to hear a good joke.

Survivors include her 8 children: Steve (Niki) Villhauer of Iowa City, Dale (Jean) Villhauer of Tomah, WI, Shirley (John) Bothell of West Liberty, Marsha Anderson of Iowa City, Karen Michalec of Cedar Rapids, Keith (Kim) Villhauer of North Liberty, Jan (Bill) Robertson of West Branch, and Julie (John) Strabala of Riverside; a brother John (Florence) Stockman of Iowa City, 19 grandchildren: Luke (Athena) Villhauer, Ben Villhauer, Emily Villhauer, Brianne (Mary Formea) Bothell, Tony (Alicia) Bothell, Jonathan Bothell, Joseph Anderson, Angela Michalec, Julia Michalec, Brandi (Paul) Roesler, Jake Villhauer, Rylee Villhauer, Evan Yeutsy, Molly Robertson, Katie Robertson, Jack Robertson, Sarah Strabala, Anna Strabala, and David Strabala; 5 great-grandchildren: Isaac Villhauer, Roman Villhauer, Jaiden Roesler, Emerson Roesler and Ainsley Bothell; brother-in-law Donald (Marcia) Villhauer of Tipton, IA, sisters-in-law: Joan Hummer of Oxford, IA and Dorothy Villhauer and Mary Villhauer both of Iowa City; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Maisie was preceded in death by her husband David, parents, six brothers, four sisters, and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to offer their sincere appreciation to those who cared for Maisie during her years with Alzheimer’s Highland Ridge in Williamsburg and Oaknoll Health Care Center in Iowa City.

Jim and Judy Houghton’s son David passed away while home for the holidays, and they gave us permission to post his obituary as a tribute to his life.

David Houghton, 32, of Iowa City, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep Saturday morning, December 28th, 2013.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 4th at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be held Friday, January 3rd from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City. Memorials may be directed in David’s name to Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, P.O. Box 10704, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410 or to the Nebraska Humane Society, 8929 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68134.

David was born in Iowa City on February 3, 1981, the son of Jim and Judy Houghton. He was halfway finished with law school at Creighton University in Omaha with plans to work with Jim in his law practice. He graduated from City High School in 1999 and had a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in philosophy from the University of Iowa.

David was tender-hearted and compassionate with an easy grin and a wry sense of humor. He deeply valued family, including long time girlfriend, Allie Brunn, of Cedar Rapids. His beloved chihuahuas, Gizmo and Halle accompanied him everywhere. David loved to spend time at the family “home away from home” in Door County, Wisconsin, and working on “special modifications” to his car and motorcycle. He was passionate about photography, rescue animals, cooking a new recipe, and World War II, particularly the veterans. He loved to send handwritten notes to people.

Winning the state doubles tennis title with cousin Jon Houghton, as well as the team title at City High in 1999 was a thrill for him. David carried a persevering spirit into all of life’s adventures; from flying model helicopters, to exploring new places, to studying law, and to all the smaller adventures in between.

David is survived by his parents, Jim and Judy Houghton, his grandmother, Joan Houghton, his grandparents, Calvin and Betty Lavely, his two sisters, Laura Houghton and Heather Houghton, all from Iowa City, Allie Brunn of Cedar Rapids, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

David is preceded in death by his grandfather, Clark “Bud” Houghton.

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

Dave –

I wanted to share this with you. Our mother, Mirriel Bedell, is 94 years old and living out here in Seattle at my brother’s house. I visit with her every Sunday, and usually take my guitar. We sing old Weavers songs, Woody Guthrie, Roy Rogers tunes, what ever strikes our fancy. Last week, my sister stopped by and took some pictures of us singing. Some of the class may have had Mrs. Bedell for Science at Northwest Junior High. She’s still pretty spritely.

Andrew Hummel-Schluger

Bonnie (Tappan) Weldon told us that Doug Hetzler’s mother Martha passed away on Friday December 13th. We reached out to Doug to express our sympathy for his loss, and got his permission to post his mother’s obituary on our bulletin board as a tribute to her life.

Martha L. Hetzler, 83, of Muscatine, died on Friday, December 13, 2013, at Trinity Hospital-Rock Island.

Funeral Service were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 16, 2013, at the Sweetland United Methodist Church. Private burial took place in Greenwood Cemetery. Reverend Richard Sebeniecher officiated.

Memorials may be made to the Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill.

Martha was born on September 27, 1930, in Muscatine, the daughter of Edgar E. and Beulah French Kemper. She married Herbert Hetzler on July 19, 1953, at Sweetland United Methodist Church. He preceded her in death on April 19, 2012.

She was a member of the Sweetland United Methodist Church. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1948 and attended Iowa State Teachers College. She was an Iowa Hawkeye fan. She enjoyed her family and helping with family gardening.

She retired from Procter and Gamble in 1990.

Those left to honor her memory include two sons, Doug Hetzler and wife Suzanne, of Santa Cruz, California, and Byron Hetzler of Granby, Colorado; one daughter, Deb Keely and husband Stan of Longwood, Florida; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Keely and husband Leo, Patrick Keely and wife Leslie, Jeffrey Keely, Connor Hetzler, Emily Hetzler, and Erik Hetzler; two great grandchildren, Kaylyn Leon Ramirez and Darcy Keely; three brothers, Paul Kemper of Muscatine, Edward Kemper and wife Judy, of Muscatine, and Mark Kemper and wife Carol, of Elmwood, Illinois; three sisters, Mary Hauck of Bluegrass, Gladys Mittman of Muscatine, and Catherine Root of Muscatine.

She was preceded in death in by her parents; her husband; two sisters, Ruth Denison and Doris Kruse.

Miles Robert McCleish joined us on Aug 31 @ 6:24 pm (Saturday right after the Hawkeye loss to NIU, which softened the sting), coming in at 7lbs 11 oz, 19-½” long. Our daughter, Krista and her husband Nick survived the 24 hour labor. Because the baby’s head got cocked in the birth canal, Krista had a C-section. Everyone is home and doing well.

Thanks, Dave for posting this great news

Mark Ferguson

Hi Dave,

Susan and I are in Austin this weekend for the last of the cousins’ graduation. We are lucky to be staying with our oldest daughter, Krista and her husband. They are expecting a son in early September about Susan’s birthday. It will be the first grand child for both sides of the family. We are very excited!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion, that is I’d the water levels stay out of the Iowa River Power restaurant.

This week they have already closed down Dubuque Street in front of the Mayflower. By next week they are predicting the water to top the emergency spillway again by over a foot. Shades of 1993 all over again.

If we could just get someone to turn off the faucet.

Thanks,

Mark Ferguson

I wanted to give you another hearty thank you for all you do in keeping us, the class of ’73 up to date. I always look forward to your e-mails.

I thought I would give you a news bit in our household. My oldest daughter, Elizabeth and her husband had their first baby on May 13. Their son, Wyatt Alan Dressen weighed in at 9 lb 1 oz he was delivered without any pain medicine or epidural! Enclosed is a picture of Liz, her husband Nic with Wyatt and the grandparents. I am the bald one in the back.

Look forward to seeing you all in July.

Larry

Dear All

After receiving Brenda’s last email I decided to get off my duff and make some decisions. I have made plans to go to the 40th reunion. Unfortunately, Julie will not be able to attend due to office politics and vacation time. I missed the last one, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone and how they have changed.

Our family is doing great. Julie and I are about 5 years from retirement and are counting the days. We both have seen our respective careers change so much and generally not for the better. Public education is all about standardized testing with little time for anything else. I fully believe there is a need for accountability but this is just gone too far. I think the kids know less now than before all this began. Nursing is about the bottom line and patient care is well down the list.

Our oldest son in in DC working as an Engineer Specialist for the FDOT. He does a lot of research about federal shipping containers and on occasion helps with inspections of manufacturing plants. He is enjoying the single life, with a new sports car and money in his pocket. I could think of worse things. Our youngest is an Assistant Manager with Petsmart and slowly working his way up. He started out partime in high school and continues with them. The pay is not great but he likes what he is doing and they seem to like him and his work ethic.

I recently e-mailed Don Rinehart about coming, and he is a maybe. Tami’s dad passed recently and they have made a number of trips to IC to deal with estate issues. If things work out for him with regards to their estate dealing they will plan on being there.

Looking forward to July,

Arnie Moore

Sunrise Florida

Dave :

This is the obit and tribute to my wife Tami Thompson’s (Class of 74) dad, Tommy.  A lot of our classmates new him.

Don

Here is Tami’s dad’s obituary, offered as a tribute to his life:

George Edward “Tommy” Thompson III, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at his home.

Tommy was born October 13th, 1926, in Waterloo, Iowa; son of George Edward II and Maria “Mary” (Koloc) Thompson. He married Charlotte K Thompson on June 6th, 1950, at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. He and K raised their two children, Tami and Stephen in Iowa City.

Tommy was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, attending 751 football games since his first game in 1938. He was a great supporter of the Iowa Wrestling Team and crafted numerous championship belt buckles over the years. Tommy loved Hawkeye athletics, football, basketball and wrestling! He was inducted as an honorary letterman in 1986.

Tommy grew up and attended Catholic School Cedar Rapids, IA. He joined the Ice Capades in his late teens, skating until a fall that broke his shoulder, putting an end to his skating career. After skating, Tommy served stateside in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacist mate during WWII.

He was a pro golfer and attempted to join the pro tour. In the early 1950’s Tommy and K owned and ran Tommy’s Golf Range, next to the Iowa City airport, until a required airport expansion forced their closing.

Tommy joined the Cherry Burrell Corp. in Cedar Rapids as a toolmaker/welder and worked with them until his retirement in the early 1990s.

Tommy is survived by this two children, Stephen Thompson and his wife Molly (Shannon) of Eagle River, AK, Tami Rinehart and her husband, Don of New River, AZ; four grandchildren, Michael Thompson and Stephanie Powell and husband, Edward, Christopher Rinehart and Nicole Irving and husband, Nicholas; two great- grandchildren, Lawrence “Holden” and Shayla Powell, his sister, Patricia Eichenberg of Albuquerque, NM; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Charlotte K Thompson (Fisk) in 2001.