Under the Water Tower Lovilia News

Robert “Bob” S. Crumley, 74, of Allison, Iowa, died Saturday, December 19,2015 at Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa.

He was born October 29, 1941 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Donald V. and Geraldine (Carr) Crumley.  Bob attended Lovilia High School and then graduated from William Penn college with a degree in music.  He served his country in the United States Army during Vietnam and was a member of the 74th Army Band.

He was united in marriage to Margaret Flahive on June 3, 1967 in Lovilia, Iowa.

He was a social worker his entire professional life and was promoted to Director of Butler County Human Services.  Later he worked as the Butler County Relief Director until he retired.

Bob was a member of the American Legion and the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greene, Iowa.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.  His passion was music, especially Dixieland Jazz music.  He was a member of many bands:  The Saints Dixieland Band in Cedar Falls, the Red Sneakers Dixieland Jazz Band in Des Moines, the Raiders of the Lost Art Dixieland Jazz Band in Mason City, and the Jazz Coalition Big Band in Mason City, the Allison Five Jazz Band and many other bands throughout the state.

He is survived by his wife Margaret of Allison, son Tim (Terri) of Marion, son Bill (Jenn) of Tiffin and grandchildren:  Ian, Ella, and Reese Crumley.  Also, surviving is his sister, Margaret (Raymond) Vittetoe of Ottumwa.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother John William.

Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Basin Jazz Festival in Cedar Falls or to the Lakeside Jazz Festival in Clear Lake.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. at Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home, 308 Birch St., Allison.  Funeral services will be Wed., Dec. 23, 2015  at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 105 N. Main St., Greene, Iowa.  Lunch following services at the Am. Vets. Hall, Allison.

Burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lovilia, Iowa on Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.

May he rest in peace.

Helen Rosezetta Baker, age 84, of Lovilia, died Saturday, December 12, 2015 under hospice care at Monroe County Hospital in Albia, Iowa.

She was born April 12, 1931 to Otto and Beulah (Adams) Corrick in Grinnell, Iowa.  Helen went to school in Keswick and graduated with the class of 1949. She then attended AIB for one year and went to work for Look Magazine in Des Moines.  Helen and Merrill LeRoy Baker were married June 19,1954 at Trinity United Methodist church in Albia.  They shared 59 years of marriage before Merrill passed away.  They were blessed with five children:  Kevin, Jolinda, Kim, Jeff, and Brian.

After marriage she was a homemaker and worked ten years for Chamberlains in Albia.  She enjoyed sports and watching her children and grandchildren in their sports.

Helen was an award winning basketball player and set the state scoring record for high school basketball.  As a freshman she played as a guard and as a sophomore she scored 101 points in a game in 25 minutes.  She was referred to as “Corky” and “the Keswick Flash”. After high school she played basketball for Look Magazine and at AIB where she was named All American.  In 1978 Helen was inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame.

Surviving are her five children:  Kevin (Jane Sinnott) Baker of Albia, Jolinda (Ed) Wilson of Lovilia, Kim (Steve) Haluska of Decorah, Jeff (Jamie)Baker of Ankeny, and Brian Baker of Cedar Falls, and a special nephew, Greg (Holly) Shelford of Knoxville.   She is also survived by ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, her brother Richard of Adel, and five sister-in-laws:  Betty Baker of Des Moines, Hazel Baker of Albia, Norma Barnes of Lovilia, Gayle Hastings of Lovilia, and Lola (Bob) Ivins of Albia.

Preceding her in death were her husband, her parents,  brother Gerald, sister Thelma, sister Joyce, and granddaughter Brooklyn Kamerick.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia.  A private family burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Lovilia at a later date.

Visitation will be 12-8 pm. Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia. Helen’s family will be present from 4:30-8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Welcome Home Soldier or to the Southeast Iowa Kidney Foundation.  May she rest in peace.

St. Peter’s Pot Luck

After mass Sunday, Dec. 13th, parishioners were entertained at Father Pat Lumsden’s rectory with a Christmas potluck.  Twenty four people enjoyed the meal and fellowship and each was given a pretty Hallmark ornament by Gerald and Bev Sofranko.

United Methodist Party and Special Services

Wednesday, Dec.16th will be a K-8th grade Christmas party from 3:30pm-5 p.m.  Food and activities for children who attend.

Candlelight services will be Christmas Eve at 6:30 p.m. for everyone.

Santa Claus makes a stop in Lovilia

Santa is making a stop on Christmas eve at 6 p.m. at the Lovilia Community Building.  All children are invited to stop by and visit with Santa. HOHOHO.

Blood Donor Drive in Lovilia Dec. 28th

Donors may give blood Dec. 28th, Monday from 3-6:30 p.m. at the Lovilia Community Building.  New donors are welcome. Just stop in with a picture ID and they will help you learn to be a donor.

January 11, Monday, Festival planning and Community Planning

5 p.m. Sadie Dykstra will chair the first meeting of the year to plan the Lovilia Fall Festival.  Everyone is welcome to come help with the plans and committee work.

Following this meeting will be a Community Betterment meeting to make some long range plans and goals for Lovilia town improvements.  Again, everyone is welcome to come with ideas and suggestions for making Lovilia a better place to live.  This meeting will be a brain storming meeting. So if you have ideas big or small to improve the town bring them to the meeting. If you cannot attend but have an idea, please call Susan Beary at 946-7952.

Eldora, age 87, passed away Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 at her home in Lovilia.  She was born November 12, 1928 to Theodore and Helen (Kment) Klug in Stanton, Nebraska. After going to school in Stanton, she married Thomas Wayne Ryan in Norfolk, Nebraska on August 15, 1946.  They shared 60 years together before he died on August 30, 2006.  They were blessed with five daughters:  Diane, Sharon, Sandra, Debra, and Pam.

In 1956 the family moved to Albia where they managed the movie theater.  Later she worked at the Continental Overall Factory in Knoxville.  Then Eldora and Tom ran the tire/bait shop in Lovilia.  After that she worked at Chamberlains in Albia.

She was a member of Albia Eagle’s Club, enjoyed making crafts, and enjoyed most of all time spent with family.

She is survived by daughters: Diane Love of Ankeny, Sharon Cunningham of Albia, Debra (Dan) Felton of Albia, and Pam Owens of Lovilia as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister, Lorraine Klawonn of Madison, Nebraska and a son-in-law, Leon Chamberlain of Lovilia.

Eldora was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Helen; her husband, Thomas; a daughter, Sandra Chamberlain; and two son-in-laws, John Love and Keith Cunningham.

As was Eldora’s wishes her body was donated to the University of Iowa for Academic Studies.  A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tharpfh.com.  May she rest in peace.

New Christmas Decorations Adorn E Avenue (Main Street)

Lovilia city government applied and received a grant to purchase the decorations. The city parks committee studied the options available and chose the bright red banners which say “Welcome to Lovilia” and large “led” lit snowflakes.  The cost was about $2700.  The electrical hookups on the city poles were  probably 30 years old and were no longer workable.  The  city then agreed to pay the $145 per box so each snowflake could be lit up.  Each snowflake cost $400 and each banner cost $123.  This is mentioned just to make you aware that these beauties come at great cost and we should appreciate the effort made to make it possible.  We should all thank the city for this beauty brought to us for the holiday season.

A fund has been started to add more decorations if enough money is donated, currently $125 has been given to the fund from Lovilia residents.  Thanks to those of you who gave to the fund.