Under the Water Tower Lovilia News

Bill is the son of Stanley and Katherine Jackovich Papich. He was born in Lovilia on December 24, 1929. Stank and Katie will be remembered for running Papich Grocery in the south end of Lovilia all their married lives.

Bill had graduated from American Institute of Technology in Des Moines, Iowa and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

His wife of 56 years is Sally Southwick Papich. They have a son William of Decatur, Alabama. They also have three daughters. Julie Wooten of Rogers, Arkansas; Pam Papich of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Kathy Cherryholmes of Collierville, Tennessee.

Bill’s brother Stan survives and lives in Bloomington, New York. His sister, Dorothy Crum, lives  in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bill and Sally have five grandchildren.

Bill retired from working for Southwestern Power Administration Department of Energy. He was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. His pastimes were gardening, hunting, and fishing, and Wednesday poker with the guys.

Services were held Aug. 18, 2012 at his church in Jonesboro. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Rosary and family visitation was the night before at Emerson Funeral Home chapel.

John and Judy were married on August 5, 1962. They have three children: Tammy, Terry, and Tony. They both graduated from Lovilia High School and ran an insurance business here for many years and then moved the business and their residency to Albia. Best Wishes on your special day and may you enjoy many more years together.

Steve Bunch Made General Manager

Steve Bunch of Lovilia has been hired to be general manager of Motor Inn of Knoxville Auto Group (previously DeVore Motors).  They will sell GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.  The company will sell new and used cars and trucks.  The  location is at 1705 N. Lincoln (hwy 14).  Congratulations Steve and best wishes with the new company.

Ottumwa Courier headline story July 20, 2012 Front Page on Lovilia Ranch

The DeCook family bought the farmland west of Lovilia and are raising buffalo there.  Mike DeCook says they want to protect the land and seed native prairie plants there.  The buffalo are raised as grass fed organic bison and they currently have 80 head. The first bison came there in December 2011. Currently bison meat commands a higher price than beef and the bison eat less than beef so it makes good business sense.  There are 800 acres of pasture. Many of the fences have been removed to have more open space but there is electric fencing to keep the herd on the land.  Drive by and you will most likely see them grazing.  A new thing for our area of the state.

Jack’s mass of Christian burial was at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic church, Lovilia, Iowa. Officiating was Father Patrick Lumsden. Music was furnished by Julie Bettis. Pallbearers were: Bill Slofkosky, Ross Shelford, Mark Murphy, Zeke Murphy, Bill Murray, and Austin Peterson. Memorials were directed to Hospice of Monroe County.  Military rites after mass were led by American Legion of Albia, Lovilia, and Melrose.  Jack will be cremated and burial will be at a later date.

Jack Dale Shelford was born September 7, 1932 in Melcher, Iowa to Rube and Minnie (Lemonds) Shelford.

Jack was a graduate of Lovilia High School.  He enlisted in the United States Army in 1952.  He was a Prison Guard at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and also a dog trainer at Fort Carson, Colorado.

His marriage in 1952 to Doris Baker was blessed with four boys: Steve, Greg, Tony, and Michael.

Jack worked for John Morrells meat packing company for 22 years and then worked for Albia Rural electric until he retired in 1984.

He married Donna Slofkosky in 1981.  Jack was a member of the Catholic Church in Lovilia, the American Legion in Albia, and he was an avid mushroom hunter, fisherman, and hunter.

He is survived by his wife Donna of Lovilia. And his son Greg of Knoxville as well as Greg’s wife and their children KayLee and Ross.  He is also survived by his stepchildren, his brother Don of Lovilia, and many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, children:  Steve, Tony, and Michael, brother Dean Shelford, and sister Joan Loncarich.

May you now rest in eternal peace, Jack

Martha Sweem Retires as Lovilia Post Mistress

Last Friday was Martha’s last day to serve at the Lovilia office.  She had worked faithfully there serving the customers for 23 years.  She was always helpful to answer questions and did an efficient job.

I always liked to see what the stamp choices were so she would have to dig out five or six choices for me so I could pick the new cool stamps.  She very patiently did that for me the “picky” person who found the flag stamp fine but I wanted something new.

S he would say,” Could you tell that company/ person that your address is a PO Box not a street address, please?”   I  can understand that would speed sorting time.

Some of us would talk her leg off since she was a captive audience.  We didn’t have to buy a beer at the tavern or pay a counselor so we benefited and she patiently put up with us.  Her advice was always encouraging.

Martha, we wish you a relaxing and healthy retirement.  Don’t forget us!  We won’t forget you.