Under the Water Tower Lovilia News

Logan Williams and Kensington Ryun are the proud parents of a baby boy they have named Liam Patrick Williams.

He was born July 18th at Pella Hospital.  He and mom are home and doing well.

Proud grandparents are Clyde Williams and Julie Shaw who are Logan’s parents.  John Kelly and Debbie Ryun-Kelly are Kensington’s parents.

We are happy for you and wish you all the best Liam!

Gilbert/Post Wedding

Jacquelyn Kate Gilbert an Timothy Joseph Post were united in marriage by Richard Grimes on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at Soap Creek Lodge near Unionville, Iowa.

It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a gazebo in the woods with family and friends present.  The bride’s colors were pink and white.

They are living in Lovilia on E Avenue South.  Congratulations and best wishes !

Former Lovilian’s Welcome Second Child

Nikki (Gilbert) Force and Jake Force have a baby boy. They have named him Elijah.  They live and work in the Des Moines area.  Congratulations and best wishes to you Elijah!

Lovilia Fall Festival will be Saturday, September 23rd

Mark your calendars so you don’t forget to save the day for fun and action. There will be a car show you can enter, bag tournament you can enter, kids games, good food, musical    entertainment, and an evening parade at 7 pm. you can enter or watch also. Watch here for more info. and posters will be going up soon.  Firemen water fights in the afternoon too.  Lots to see and do for all ages. We welcome all former Lovilians to come home and visit us for the festival!

Tess, age 90, passed away at Monroe Care Center in Albia surrounded by family.

She was born to William Martin and Mary Ann (Bingaman) Flahive in Weller, Iowa on Oct. 13, 1926.  She attended Lovilia School and graduated from high school with the class of 1945.

She worked in Des Moines as a file clerk for an insurance company until she married Emmett Grimes at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lovilia in November 1946.  They were blessed with four children: Bob, Kathy, John, and Barb. They were married 34 years when he died in 1981.

After raising her children, Tess worked at Chamberlain’s factory in Albia  and then at HyVee in the bakery until her retirement.

Tess was an active member of the Catholic church over the years in Lovilia, Albia, and Knoxville and served in the Altar and Rosary Society of all three. She also served by bringing communion to the sick.

Her enjoyments were: sewing, playing canasta, gardening, canning, dancing, and entertaining guests on Sunday evenings.

Tess is survived by her three children:  Bob (Beverly) Grimes of Agency, Mo.; Kathy (Steve) Herwehe of Cedar Rapids, Ia; and Barb (Joe) Crall of Albia; eleven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.  She is also survived by four sisters:  Marjorie (Edward) Martin of Cave Creek,AZ; Florence (Donald)Welch of Winterset, IA; Catherine (Jack) Thomas of San Marcos, CA; and Delores Littlejohn of West Des Moines, IA.  She leaves one brother, Jim (Diane) Flahive of Albia, IA.

Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, son, a grandson,  three brothers (Edward, William and John Flahive) and four sisters (Madeline Stanley, Jo Ann Derby, Bernice Flattery, and Geraldine Grimes).

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 17, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia with Father MIchael Volkmer, Father Mark Yates, and Father Kevin Anstey officiating.  Burial will follow services at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Albia.

Visitaion will be Sunday, July 16th from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia.  Her family will be present throughout that time to greet family and friends.  There will be a rosary at 4 p.m. led by St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society and a wake service will be at 6 p.m.

A memorial has be established to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

May she rest in peace.

Connie was born to Wayne and Virginia (Ammons) Allen on Sept. 26, 1945.  Connie was the oldest and had a sister, Karen and two brothers, Gary and Terry.  The family shared hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and time with horses.  Connie’s personal talent was music.  Because she was always singing as a child she was nicknamed “Cricket” by many.  She even tried singing at the dinner table but her father said, ” Only fools and gypsies sing at the dinner table” which stopped her performance.  Her vocal talents did earn her a 1 in the state vocal contest in high school.  Connie graduated from Albia Community High School with the class of 1963.  She also attended Centerville Community College.

Connie married Daniel Creagan and they had a daughter, Julie Lynn.  The couple later divorced.

She married William “Bill” Barnes 111 on  September 13, 1969.  Bill brought to the family a daughter, Melissa, from a previous marriage.  Bill and Connie added three daughters to the family:  Dana, Amy and Ginny.

Connie had a working experience that was varied from:  Mick’s Drive In, Dick’s Drive In, Dept. of Human Services (social worker and case manager), Contel and GTE phone companies (secretary), and lastly as secretary with Monroe Co. Secondary Roads Dept.

Connie and Bill raised their family and made their home in Lovilia, Iowa for 47 years. She played piano for church (almost 40 years) and bible school and was a youth group leader for some years. Some of her favorite activities were:  crafting, sewing, knitting, flower gardening and bowling.

Surviving are her husband, and daughters:  Julie Spears, Melissa Lenger (Kyle VanZante), Dana Lennie, Amy (Jason) Simmons, and Ginny Halling (Jeff Beath).  Also she has sixteen grandchildren and her sister, Karen Pottorff.   She also leaves her mother-in-law, Norma Barnes and Bill’s sisters:  Christy, Pamela, and Loita.

Preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers, father-in-law (William Barnes Jr.), sister-in-law (Judy Geno), and brother-in-laws (Jerry Geno and Pete Pottorff).

Visitation will be at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia on Friday July 7, 2017 from 1-8 p.m.  Family will be present from 6-8 p.m.

Services will be held Saturday, July 8, 2017 at the Lovilia United Methodist Church with Rev. Marvin Lindley and Rev. Raymond Doser officiating.  Her body will be cremated following services per her wishes.  A luncheon will be served at the Lovilia Community Building after services.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimers Association, Lovilia United Methodist Church, or Pella Comfort House.

May she rest in peace.

New Property Owner in Lovilia

Martin McMillen has purchased the former Tony Loncarich residence in the north end of town.

Mitzi, age 78, of Marysville, Iowa died under the care of Hospice of Pella with her family by her side.

She was born June 28, 1938 in Ada, Minnesota to Paul and Lyla (Bulson) Wallace.  Mitzi was a graduate of Lovilia High School.  On May 5, 1956 she married Clifford “Harp” Pettyjohn.  They were blessed with five Children.  Delbert, Doreen, Donald, Karen, and Mark.

Mitzi played softball for Marysville, was a girl scout leader for many years, served on Marysville City Council, and Twin Cedar Booster Club. She loved her church family at Crossroads Gospel Church in Attica.  Her homemade bread was famous and she was a sports fan especially for Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings.

She is survived by her husband; son, Delbert Pettyjohn of Marysville; daughter, Doreen Pettyjohn and Don Carter of Flagler; son, Donald (Debbie) of Marysville; daughter,Karen (Gary) Ballalatak of Lovilia; son, Mark (Wendy) Pettyjohn of Marysville; and one sister; Paulette (David) Carlson of Bussey.  She also has 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Arlene, and granddaughter Christina Pettyjohn.

Mitzi’s body was cremated per her wishes. A graveside service was held Sunday, June 18, 2017 in Marysville Cemetery with Pastor Leo Freel officiating.  Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Pella or the Marysille Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.

Catherine Julia Beary died July 1, 2017

Catherine, age 96, died July 1, 2017 at Homestead Assisted Living in Albia under the care of HCI Hospice.  She was born September 4, 1920 to Mike and Julia (Navin) Knowles.

Catherine and Martin Leo Beary were married September 25,1941 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Iowa.  The lived on a farm west of Lovilia together for 51 years until Leo died in 1993.  They were blessed with six children: Jim, Don, Marge, Mary Kay, Rita, and Gene.

She graduated with the class of 1938 from Melrose High School and then received her teaching certificate from William Penn College. She taught for three years at Jack Oak country school east of Melrose before she married.  When her children were raised, she worked as a substitute teacher for over 25 years in Albia and Twin Cedars school districts.

Catherine was a devout Catholic and served in Weller and later Albia in Altar and Rosary Society.  She was a 4-H leader and on the county 4-H committee and was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.  She was a member of the Monroe Country Retired Teachers Association.  She was a skilled cook and seamstress.

She was proud of her family and her favorite slogan was “We do the best we can, and if we could do any better, we would”.

Surviving are five children:  Jim (Shirley) of Lovilia, Don (Mary) of Lenexa, Kansas, Marge (Gene) Waters of Muscatine, Mary Kay (Mike)Lampe of West Point, and Gene (Shelly) of Lovilia.  Also son-in-law Gary Kalmes of Glen Allen, Virginia and eighteen grandchildren and 41 great great grandchildren, grandson-in-law Rich Purkey, and sister-in-law Lois Knowles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter Rita,granddaughter Elizabeth Purkey, great grandson Zachary Beary, sister Mary Mahoney, brother John Knowles, and brother Pat Knowles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 7, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia with Fr. Michael E. Volkmer, CPPS and Fr. Mark Yates CPPS officiating.  Burial will follow services in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Albia.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 6, 2017 from 1-8 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia with family present throughout.  A Rosary will be led at 4 p.m. and a Christian wake will be held at 7 p.m.

May she rest in peace.

Yard Sale Earned Funds for Fall Festival

July 1st the Fall Festival committee held a yard sale at the Conner garage on hwy 5.   Shoppers purchased enough to make over $400 for the coming up festival this year on Saturday Sept. 23rd. (This is one week earlier than originally planned due to a conflict with Albia School Homecoming.) So note the new date on your calendar.

You can also donate your redemption can and bottle money for the festival at Jim and Charlies grocery in Albia by telling them to put it in the Lovilia Festival account.

Thanks for supporting the festival and mark your calendar, Sept. 23, Saturday.