Norman R. Shaffer, 49, of 309 S. 8th Street, Clear Lake, died Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa.
    A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m., at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd Street Northeast, Mason City, Iowa with Pastor Dennis Ganz officiating.  Military honors will be conducted by members of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel.
    Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Norman.
    Norman was born April 16, 1959, the son of Robert H. and Helen M. (Peterson) Shaffer in St. Paul, Minn.  He operated his own landscaping business out of Iowa City, Iowa.
    Norman was a member of the V.F.W. in Clear Lake. He was an outdoorsman who loved to do yard work and landscape.  In his spare time he also played drums and wrote poetry.  In his earlier years, Norman was a state weightlifter.
    Norman is survived by his two sisters, Susan (Bob) Lucas, Clear Lake, Suzanne (Mark) Haxton, Mason City; his brother, Henry (Ella) Shaffer, Redding, Calif.; half-sister, Sharon Mathey, Sterling, Va.; half-brothers, Robert (Linda) Anderson, Clear Lake, Dale (Mary) Anderson, Clear Lake, and Keith Anderson, Sacramento, Calif.; his aunt, LaVine Peterson, Clear Lake; nephews, Troy Kline, Chicago, Ill., Travis (Andrea) Kline, Mason City, Robbie Lucas and his special friend, Nicole, Mason City, and Jamie (Nicole) Lucas, Mason City, and his best friend, Marv Lumbeck, Clear Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Russ Mathey.

    Samuel Vincent Booth Sr., 75, died Friday, May 9, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
    Funeral services were held Monday, May 12, at the First United Methodist Church, Mason City, with the Rev. Rhoda Preston officiating.  Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or Ventura United Methodist Church.
    Samuel Vincent Booth was born May 24, 1932, in Mason City, the son of Vincent and Laura (Wanless) Booth.  He attended Mason City Schools.  Samuel was united in marriage to Marjorie Wilkerson on June 10, 1950; to this union four children were born.
    Samuel worked at Mason City Iron and Metal, retiring after 47 years of service.  Later Samuel was the consultant for Behr Scrap Yard, where he was currently working until the time of his illness.
    Samuel’s passion was fishing and taking many fishing trips to their cabin in South Dakota.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren teaching them how to fish.  He was an avid Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, and Iowa Hawkeye fan.  Samuel also enjoyed watching professional boxing.  He was a well respected and well liked man with a great sense of humor.  Samuel was a member of the Ventura United Methodist Church and the Clear Lake Fishing Club.
    Samuel is survived by his wife, Marjorie Booth, Ventura; children, Glen Booth and very special friend, Connie Terrazas, Elkhart, Ind., Wendy Christenson, Owensville, Mo., Lori (Ted) Lawyer, Manly, Iowa; daughter-in-law Barb (Richard) Weiner, Nora Springs, Iowa; grandchildren, Jamie (Jareese) Williams, Mason City, Derek Trca and Jill Register, Albert Lea, Minn., Vincent Bohl, Owensville, Heather Christenson, Willmar, Minn., Nathan Hendrickson, Owensville, Samuel Vincent Booth III and Tiffani McWilliams, Mason City, Dustin (Andrea) Weiner, Ankeny, Iowa, Bobby (Katie) Weiner, Mason City, Kelli Jo Weiner and fiancé, Jake Heimer, Nora Springs, Iowa, Charlie Weiner, Nora Springs, Brittany Coolican and Cole Kiburz, of Phoenix, Az., Remington Lawyer, Johnston, Iowa, Ericka Coolican, Manly; great-grandchildren, Jareese Jr., Jada, Adriana, Marquis, Quiana, Qiara and Aleesia; sisters, Laura Davis, Independence, Iowa and Dixie (Irwin) Holstad, Chandler, Az.; best friend, Oscar Crawford, Mason City, along with nieces, nephews and friends.
    He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Samuel Vincent Booth Jr.; grandson, Samuel Guy Christenson and brother, Gerald Booth.
    Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.

    Edna Sopia (Thompson) Engebretson, 89, 216 7th Ave N., Clear Lake, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.  A funeral service was held Monday, May 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with Rev. Dean Hess officiating. This will be a Celebration of her Life, as it  would have been her 90th birthday.  Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Edna Engebretson Memorial Fund.
     Edna was born May 12, 1918, in Ridgeway, Iowa, the daughter of Sander and Ellen Matilda (Guttormson) Thompson.  She graduated from Cresco High School in 1936.  She worked for a grocery store in Ridgeway where she met Clifford Engebretson.  They married Feb. 21, 1950 in Decorah, Iowa.  They moved to Clear Lake, where she worked for Ted’s Super Value, Jensen’s Grocery Store and other grocery stores in the area.
    Edna worked for Clear Lake Bank and Trust as a bookkeeper for 15 years following her retirement, she then worked part-time at the Clear Lake  Variety Store on Main Street.
    Edna enjoyed doing crafts and sewing.  She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was a member of ladies circle. She was also a member of Rebeka Lodge 105.
     Edna is survived by her four children, Gary Engebretson and his wife, Lára, Shepherds Town, Va., Tom Tuttle and his wife, Mary, Alameda, Calif., Robert Engebretson and his wife, Sarah, Clear Lake, and Dennis Engebretson, Garner, Iowa; 15 grandchildren, Allen (Lon) Engebretson, Janet (Bruce) Law, David Engebretson, Margie (Steve) Sabine, Denise (Kevin) O’Donnel, Bobbie Jo Engebretson, Michael (Sheri) Voortmann, James (Tammie) Voortmann, Robert (Sarah) Engebretson Jr., Ryan Engebretson, Dennis Engebretson Jr., Michael (Tina) Engebretson, Shanda Malek, Derrick (Katie) Halvorsen and Trisha Engebretson;  22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Katie Thompson, Ridgeway, Iowa and an aunt, Ruth Vlekeberg, Decorah.
     She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifford on Nov.16, 1988; one brother, Marvin Thompson and sister, Junice Cassom.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

    Stanley (Stan) Ray Grell, 61, of 13391 Grouse Ave., Clear Lake died at his home May 5, 2008.
    Memorial services will be Thursday, May 8, 1:30 p.m.at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Rev. Carl Hedberg of St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Garner, Iowa officiating.  Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.  Visitation will be Thursday from noon until time of service.  Family suggests memorials to Stanley Ray Grell Memorial Fund.
    Stan was born Aug. 19, 1946 in Mason City, the son of Raymond and Ruby (Hagerud) Grell.
    He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church Sept. 22, 1946 and confirmed on April 10, 1960.  He graduated from Ventura High School.
    Following high school he farmed in the Ventura area.  In the early ‘70s he started Stan’s Hunting and Fishing Agency.  He later became a professional hunting and fishing guide in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and the Northwest Territories, where he owned and operated the northern most fishing camp in the world, Artic Char Lodge from 1976-1982.  He built a lot of furniture for businesses and residents in the Jackson Hole, Wyo. area.  He moved back to Iowa in 1988, where he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, family, friends and doing woodwork.
    He is survived by his three daughters, Gina Welp and her husband, Greg, Ventura, Iowa, Abbie White, Clear Lake, and Misti Thoe and her husband, Lance, Ventura; nine grandchildren, McCayla Welp, Morgan Welp of Ventura, Gage White, Brekkin White, Duchovny White, Clear Lake, Seth Carolus,  Nicole Thoe, Ventura, and Steven Thoe; two great-grandchildren, Cayla Colby and Edan Thoe; three sisters, Ardella Enoch and her husband, Duard, Sun City West, Az., Dolores Boehnke and her husband, Carrol, Garner, Iowa and Virginia Monroe and her husband, Don, Sun City West, and several nieces and nephews. 
    He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, baby Grell and a grandson, Dustin Colby.

    Dr. Darrel (Dick) Arnold was born on Nov. 29, 1924 in Stockport, Iowa to John and Hazel (Miller) Arnold.  Dick passed away May 5, 2008 at the home of his daughter, Patricia, in Des Moines, Iowa.
    Dick grew up on a farm in the Stockport area where he graduated high school.  After graduation he joined the Army and returned to the farm for a brief period before becoming a radio announcer in Creston and Mason City, Iowa.  He spoke fondly about showing prize steer in Chicago.  Dick married Ruth (Penney) Arnold in 1952 and moved to Sioux Falls, S.D.  Dick and his wife moved again in 1954 to Minneapolis, Minn. where he attended and graduated from Northwestern College a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine in 1957.  He opened his first private practice in 1958 in Algona, Iowa.  During his career he also had satellite offices in Mason City, Clear Lake and Garner.  He retired and closed his Algona practice in 2001 after 43 years of service.
    Darrel is survived by his five children, Timothy of Charleston, S.C., Patricia Fankell and her husband, Bill of Des Moines, Penny of Des Moines, Mark of Spokane, Wash., and David and his wife, Sara of Denison, Iowa.  He is also survived by two grandchildren, Joshua and Jessica; and one brother, Verle of Bloomfield, Iowa.
    A graveside memorial service will be held at the Clear Lake Cemetery Friday, May 16, at 1 p.m.

    Florence L. Paltzer, daughter of John and Hattie Vos Brummel, was born in rural Mahaska County, Iowa.  She passed away on Monday evening, May 5, 2008 at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake, Iowa at the age of 82 years.
    Florence grew up and received her education in the Tracy, Iowa area and graduated from Tracy High School.
    Florence was united in marriage with Minnekus “Mick” Paltzer on March 10, 1948 in Pella, Iowa.  To this union two sons were born, Thomas and William.
    Florence worked as a secretary at Pella Corporation for many years.  She also assisted her husband in the jewelry business, Paltzer’s Jewelry in Pella.  Later she volunteered at Work of Our Hands in Pella which was near and dear to her heart.  Her favorite hobbies were baking, sewing, and reading.
    She was a member of the Pella Third Reformed Church,  where she was active in the women’s organization.
    Those left to cherish her memory are her two sons and their wives, Tom and Linda Paltzer of Rochester, Minn. and Bill and Nancy Paltzer of Clear Lake; three grandchildhren, Chloe Paltzer and Daniel and Seth Paltzer; three sisters, Mae Van Zante of Monroe, Iowa, Mary Steenhoek of Pella, and Betty Bensink of Pleasantville, Iowa; nieces, newphews, and many dear friends.
          Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Mick, on Feb. 25, 1999 after celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1998; and her parents-in-law, Tunie and Willem Paltzer. 
          Funeral services were held Friday at the Third Reformed Church in Pella with burial in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton, Iowa.       The Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

    Geneva “Jimmie” Henningsen, 83, died Monday, May 5, 2008, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.
    Memorial services will be held Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake.  A private family inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel.
    Memorials may be made to the local First Church of Christ Scientist in Clear Lake.
    Jimmie was born Sept. 2, 1924, the daughter of Lauritz Lorenz and Etneta (Reeder) Predmore Henningsen in Grundy County, Dike, Iowa.  She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1942, and then attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and Webber College, in Babson Park, Fla. where she graduated in 1949.  She then worked as a part owner, secretary, bookkeeper, and livery manager at the Touristville Boat Company from 1937 to 1953.  After that she worked as an office secretary for 17 years at several local insurance companies.
    Aunt Jimmie was an aunt to more than just her own nieces and nephews.  She was actively involved in the lives of the Stanton and Davis children, in addition to the Haddy and Henningsen children.  She had a passion for knitting and every birthday and Christmas would create unique sweaters for all of her nieces and nephews.  Aunt Jimmie loved spending time tending to her enormous flower garden, and caring for her pets.
    She is survived by her niece, Lauralee (Gary) Calgaard, Clear Lake; nephew, Michael (Lisa) Haddy, Houston, Texas; nieces, Tryal Jane (David) Spencer, Rogers, Ark., and Celeste (Norman) Knights, Sheridan, Ill.; many great-nieces and nephews, several cousins, and her special caregivers and friends, Deb Frampton, Willie Grimm and Lisa Fox.
    Jimmie was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Frank “Speck” Haddy; and brother and sister-in-law, Argel and Adalou Henningsen.

    LaDonna J. Gorman, 72, died Sunday, May 4, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
    A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 10, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams, Mason City, with the Rev. Jon M. Seda officiating.  Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.
    Visitation will be held Friday from 5 until 7 p.m. with a scriptural wake service at 6:30 p.m. at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd Street N.E., Mason City.
    In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to LaDonna Gorman Memorial Fund or Hospice of North Iowa.
    LaDonna J. Trudeau was born July 6, 1935, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard and Goldie (Erickson) Trudeau.  She graduated from Mason City High School in 1953.
    After school she worked for the North Western Bell Telephone Company.  LaDonna was united in marriage to Donald Ruby. A couple of years into their marriage he was killed in a car accident.  LaDonna was united in marriage to John Bakkum. To this union four children were born.  In 1958, they moved and made their home in California. There she raised her family and worked as a certified nursing assistant for various hospitals and worked at an answering service.  Later LaDonna was united in marriage to Frank Gorman. After his death she moved back to Mason City to take care of her family.
    LaDonna’s greatest love was spending time with her family and friends.  She was an avid reader she greatly enjoyed shopping and loved animals.  She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
    LaDonna is survived by her children Debra (Paul) Velardi, Palm Desert, Calif., Donna (Jeff) Rench, Manly, Iowa, Mark Gorman, Mason City and Bonnie (Billy) Nalley, Boaz, Ky.; grandchildren, Christopher, Jonathan, Stanley (Kelly), Nichole (Johnny) Angela (Matt) Jennifer, and Jossie; great-grandchildren, Ariel, Haley, Justina, Bailee, Ashley, Skylar, Kaitlynn, Sydney, Jesse, JJ, and Lorin; brother, Douglas Trudeau, Albuquerque, N.M.; sister, Bonnie Bernemann, Clear Lake; aunt and uncle, Clifford “Kip” and Ruth Trudo; special family friend, Marilyn Bakkum, Mason City; her beloved and faithful companion dog, Buddy, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
    LaDonna is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Donald Ruby, John Bakkum, and Frank Gorman, and one infant brother.

    Betty Jean Schroeder, 84, Clear Lake, died Friday, May 2, 2008 at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.
    A funeral service for Betty was held Monday, May 5, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess and Rev. Thomas Healey officiating.
    The family of Betty Jean Schroeder has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Opportunity Village in Clear Lake in her memory.
    Betty Jean Schroeder was born on Oct. 4, 1923, in rural Holland, Neb., the daughter of Berend and Theresa (Drent) Lefferdink.  She attended rural country school and graduated from Panama High School.  Betty also attended Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.  Betty began her working career for the State of Nebraska as an IBM operator.  She was united in marriage to Ralph Schroeder on May 12, 1945, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  After their marriage, Betty taught high school in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.  Betty was a supportive wife while her husband earned his masters degree in science by working for the University of Nebraska.  She was also a supportive wife, mother, and grandmother, and also a partner with her husband in the social service work.
    Betty enjoyed cooking, traveling, entertaining, was passionate about music, enjoyed sending birthday greetings for people over the age of 65 at Zion Lutheran Church, and was quick to help others in their distress, but her greatest love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.
    Betty was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, a church organist for 13 years in Rockford, Ill. and Holland, Neb., and also was a member of the Tri T Club, and Bridge Club.
    Betty and Ralph chose to retire in Clear Lake, and have lived here for 33 years.
    Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ralph Schroeder of Clear Lake; three children, Ralph (Deborah) Schroeder of Holland, Mich., Reg (Kathy) Schroeder of Omaha, Neb., and Randy (Jean) Schroeder of Holland; eight grandchildren, Matthew (Shahna) Schroeder of Washington, D.C., Joanna Schroeder-Stoilkovich and her husband Ivan of Malibu, Calif., Ryan (Jacci) Schroeder of Louisville, Ky., Amanda Schroeder of Denver, Colo., Cory (Tracey) Schroeder of Hudsonville, Mich., Kelly Schroeder and her fiancé, Justin Wendzel, of Richland, Mich., and Maude and Madeline Ashley of Holland; great-grandchildren, Amira Schroeder, Izac and Boden Stoilkovich, Emma and Nora Schroeder, and Owen Nienhuis; three sisters, Gladys DeVries of Aurora, Colo., Crystal Sterk and Evelyn Lefferdink of Denver, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Bernice Lefferdink of Ft. Collins, Colo.; many extended family members and friends.
    She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Glen and Vernon Lefferdink.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

    Lillian Kay “Lilly” Cannon, daughter of Alan and Amanda Cannon, and belonging to God, was born May 1, 2008 at 9:35 p.m.  She stayed long enough to touch our hearts before she died at 10:35 p.m. at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa.  A graveside service was held Monday, May 5, at the Clear Lake Cemetery.   Family suggests memorials to Lilly Cannon Memorial Fund..
     Lilly is survived by her parents, Alan and Amanda Barnett Cannon, Charles City, Iowa; brother, Samuel Cannon, Charles City; maternal grandparents, Pam and Dave Grill, Clear Lake; maternal great-grandmother, Florence Russell, Clear Lake; paternal grandparents, Rod and Verlene Dunlavey, Traer, Iowa; paternal great-grandparents, Veronica Goodale, Manly, Iowa and Clairice Cannon, Mason City, and JoAnne Dunlavey, Traer; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
     Lilly was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandfather, Daren Russell; great-grandparents, Esther and Leonard Grill; paternal grandfather, Michael Cannon; paternal great-grandfathers, William Goodale, Earl Cannon and Wayne Dunlavey.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

    Louise Ockerman, 83, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Adel, Iowa, passed away Thursday evening, May 1, 2008 in the Careage Hills in Cherokee.
    Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 10, 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church at Adel.  Pastor Tony Thurston will officiate.  The family will be present at the church on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time.  Burial will be at the Corydon Cemetery at Corydon, Iowa at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with the arrangements.   On line condolences may be sent to www.boothbyfuneral.com [13]
    Louise was born on July 22, 1924 at Corydon, to Orville and Eva Myree (Clark) Bone.  She graduated from Corydon High School in 1942.  She was married to Robert H. Ockerman on April 11, 1942 at Princeton, Mo.  She had worked for Guardsman Life Insurance Co. in Des Moines, Iowa retiring in 1982.   She had lived in Cherokee the past four years, prior to this in Fort Dodge, Clear Lake, Postville, Des Moines, Iowa and Mesa, Az.  Louise entered Careage Hills in February of 2006.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She enjoyed time spent with her family and doing genealogy.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; a grandson, David Ockerman and a sister, Margaret Ramsey.
    She is survived by two sons,  Robert Ockerman and his wife, Mary, of Adel, Iowa, Richard Ockerman and his wife, Diana, of Cherokee, Iowa; one daughter, Cheryl  Ramsey of Denver, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jeff Ockerman and wife, Tammy, of Adel, Jennifer Marshall and her husband, Kevin, of Alta, Iowa, Douglas Ockerman of Aurelia, Iowa, Margaret Ann Horn, Cady Horn and Tom Horn all of Denver; nine great-grandchildren, Scott, Stephanie and Austin Ockerman, Kyle Lee, Katie and Tessa Ockerman, Dylan Ockerman, Bryleigh and Brayden Marshall; a granddaughter-in-law, Shari Ockerman of Boise, Idaho; three sisters, Evelyn Duckworth of Arizona, Bernadine McGee of Arizona; Beverly Couchman and her husband, Paul of Ames, Iowa, and one brother, Ed Bone and his wife, Edie, of Belvidere, Ill.