Harold was born Jan. 28, 1941 to Mathew C. and Evangaline (Johnson) Wright in Lovilia, Iowa. He married Anna M. Casper on March 21, 1959 in Unionville, Missouri. They had three children: Lora Lopez of Chatham, Ill; Kevin Wright of Coal Valley, Ill.’ and Allen Wright of Colona, Ill. Eight grand children and six great children also survive him. One sister survives, Lillian Lennie of Cookville, Texas. His parents and one brother and three sisters preceded him in death.
He worked for 32 years for John Deere Harvester and retired as an assembler in 1998. He enjoyed yard work, bird watching, and fixing things.
Funeral services were at Esterdahl Morturary and Crematory in Moline, Ill. Burial was at Coal Valley Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
May he rest in peace.
Robert”Bob” Barnes Dies April 20, 2014
Bob’s parents were Arnold and Esta (Nedderman) Barnes. He was the youngest of nine children and was born March 9, 1922. He was schooled at Lemon grade school and graduated from Lovilia High School in the class of 1940.
He wed Beth Davis on July 4, 1942.
Nov. 1942 he was drafted into the army. He began with 903 Quartermaster Company but later volunteered as a paratrooper. As a paratrooper he was in the 11th Airborne Division and stationed in the Philippines. Eventually serving in the MacArthur Vanguard during the first days of occupation in Japan.
After the war he farmed west of Lovilia until his retirement. He spent many years researching and updating the Barnes and Nedderman family geneology.
He is survived by his wife Beth; son Gary of W. St. Paul,MN; daughters Brenda of Overland Park,KS; Connie of West Des Moines,IA; and Shelley of St. Paul, MN. Also four grandchildren and four great grandchildren survive. His parents and siblings preceded him in death: Icyle, Jesse, Howard, Orville, Phillip, Florence, Emmett, and Preston.
Funeral services were at the Independent Bible church in Bussey. No burial services. Open memorials.
May he rest in peace.
Rathbun Music Theater Open for the Season
John Bain of Lovilia and his father have purchased and opened the theater. It is one mile north of the dam on Hwy J5T. It is family entertainment with a concession stand available and no alcohol. It opened April 19th. Shows are planned for every Saturday at 8pm through the month of November. Check it out! (Doors open at 7pm)
Monroe County Democrats Select 2014 Leadership Team
Susan Beary was elected Affirmative Action Chairman. Representatives for our local precinct which includes Lovilia, Cedar, Union, Bluff Creek and Guilford Townships are James Elliot, and Sandy Showers.
Michelle Manser Excelling in Spring Track at Albia High School
April 8th the Lady Dees competed in Bloomfield. In the first of the events, Michelle, a Lovilia home town girl, won the 3000 meter run. Her time was 12:46.95. This gave her nearly a 15 second victory over the other runners. Congrats on your big win, Michelle!
Later she won the same event at Eddyville in first place with a time of 13.08.
Samantha Hunt of Lovilia Wins Art First Place
Albia Comm. High School had its annual art show the first week of April. Samantha won first place and she also earned an honorable mention for a second piece of artwork. Congratulations Samantha!
Trap Shooter Case Scieszinski Scoring well
Case competed in April at Knoxville with ten different schools teams in the competition. He was the top shooter for the Albia team and hit 40 out of 50 targets. His family tree comes back to the Lovilia Papich family. Way to go Case!
At the April 19th trap shoot at Russell an Albia team took home first place team trophy. The team included three of the six with Lovilia roots. Case, Hunter McAninch (Wynn family) and Ryan Romanco( Romanco family) Congrats team!
Recycling Employee Retirement Planned
David and Susan Beary who are coordinators for recycling in Lovilia, Melrose, and Albia told the Mon. Co. board of supervisors at their meeting April 22nd that whey will retire Dec. 31, 2014. The board will start to look for a replacement coordinator. Beary’s will step down as soon as a replacement is found. The program is working and the county hopes to continue upgrading the equipment and site to handle even more participation by residents in the state mandated recycling efforts. The goal is to prevent valuable resources going to the landfill.
April 30, Wednesday Supper at Comm. Building
United Methodist Church of Lovilia will hold a Chicken noodle supper from 5-7pm at the Lovilia Community Building. Free will offering for the meal. Good home cooking!
May 2 Sign up Your Child for Headstart
If your child will be three years old by Sept. 15 of this year, they can see if they are eligible to enroll. Call Jessica 641-799-6070 to find out what to bring to registration and when to come to sign up.
May 5, Monday Lovilia Firemen’s Fundraising Supper
Come to eat from 5-7pm at the Lovilia Community Building. Eat well and support your hometown firemen!!
St. Peter’s Catholic Church Sacrament Celebration
Those receiving first communion this year are Ethan Stalzer and his cousin, Kyle Kuhlmann. Also Taryn Brown of Lovilia will receive at her church, St. Mary’s in Albia.
Confirmation students who celebrated with the Bishop in April were Marty Beary, Cole Kurimski, and Hunter McAninch.
Best wishes to all the students for these landmarks of their faith they have reached.