Under the Water Tower Lovilia News

Free movie at the Lovilia Community Building, Saturday, Feb. 5. Building open at 6:30pm so you can pick your seat. Movie starts at 7pm.

The PG movie is “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”. It is the story of a boy and his step father in New Zealand who get lost in the wilderness and there is a search party out to try and find them.

Bring your own snacks and blanket to get comfortable for the show.

Hosted by John Hogeland and his wife Beth Hoffman. Free but donations accepted to pay the rent for the buildings use. Come join the fun!

Tom Gullion Obit

Thomas “Tom” Duane Gullion, age 75, of rural Attica, Iowa passed away on January 25, 2022 at his home.

He was born September 27, 1946 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Thomas and Dena (Raveling) Guillion. Tom received his education in Attica and then went to high school at Twin Cedars where he graduated with the class of 1965. He joined the US Air Force where he served from 1965-1969.

After discharge he worked nearly 30 years at Pella Rolscreen Company and then drove a truck for Iowa Aluminum in Albia.

Tom and Julia De Haai were wed on November 24, 1984 and shared 37 years before his passing.

Tom was a member of the Newton American Legion and the Newton Legion Riders. His interests included reading, history, storytelling, and visiting with friends.

He is survived by his wife; sister, Mary (Charlie) Spitler of Des Moines; nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents, and sister-Alice Blalock.

Visitation at Winfield Funeral home in Knoxville, Iowa is Sunday, January 30, 2022 from 3-5 p.m. with family present.

Funeral services are Monday, January 31st at Winfield’s at 1 pm. Burial with military honors will take place at Silent City Cemetery in Monroe, Iowa. Following burial, refreshments and fellowship will be at Attica United Methodist church.

Memorials may be given to Newton American Legion or Attica United Methodist church.

May he rest in peace.

Richard Sterling Obit

Richard (Dick) Lee Sterling, age 87, of Knoxville, Iowa passed away December 18, 2021.

Dick was born August 2, 1934 to Everette and Madge (Wilson) Sterling at home in Marion County. His family moved to Lovilia a year later and he went to school and graduated with the class of 1952.

January 7, 1956 he and Lily Lucille Jones VanLoon were married in Ottumwa, Iowa. He adopted her children, Vicki and Ross. Together they had a daughter, Gwen,

They spent most of their married life in Knoxville. Dick worked at Maytag in Newton 41 years until his retirement. He was member of the First United Methodist Church.

Surviving are Vicki and Ross and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, daughter Gwen, parents, and siblings: Glenn Sterling, Karen Courtney, Jack Sterling, and Marilyn VandenBerg.

Burial was at Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville, Iowa. Memorials may be given to Knoxville First United Methodist Church.

Rest in Peace.

In Columbus City, Iowa on August 23, 1920, Velma was born to Harold Merton and Viola Merle (Smith) Schabilion. She graduated with the class of 1937 from Columbus Junction High School. Velma continued her education at American Institute of Commerce in Davenport, Iowa.

She was joined in marriage to Michael J. Slofkosky on July 4, 1946. They were blessed with four children: Carolyn, Larry, Paul, and Kenneth.

Together the couple owned and operated Slofkosky Hardware in Lovilia, Iowa from 1946-1970. Michael passed away in 1970.

She worked from 1975-1984 at the First Financial Savings and Loan in Albia, Iowa and achieved the position of office manager.

Velma was married to John Schleier from 1980 until his death in 1983. She married Larry Mishler in 2003, moved to Knoxville, and remained with him until he passed away in 2008.

She is survived by her four children: Carolyn (John Lutz) of The Villages, Florida; Larry (Sharon) Slofkosky of Spring Valley, California; Paul Slofkosky of Knoxville, Iowa; and Kenneth (Lois) Slofkosky of Kansas City, Missouri. Velma was blessed with four grandchildren and six great grand children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two sisters (Catherine Locke and Esther May Schabilion) , and a brother (Dan Schabilion).

Velma was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Peter’s Catholic Church of Lovilia. Her volunteer time was spent at Helping Hands, The Shared Food Program and Monroe County Hospice.

Visitation will be at the Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia, Iowa on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 starting at 3pm. Her family will be present from 5-7 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lovilia at 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery at Lovilia.

The family requires that all who attend wear a mask and practice social distancing due to the very contagious Omicron virus variant.

Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Welcome Home Soldier Memorial, Hospice St. Croix Knoxville or Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

Velma was blessed to live to celebrate 101 years of life. May she now rest in peace.

Lowell passed away at his home in Colorado at age 85 on Dec. 21, 2021.

Born in Lovilia to Willard E. and Minnie May (Jackson) Findley on February 7, 1936. His mother passed away 10 days later. Willard cared for Lowell by himself and did his farm work too. A relative said he would place the baby in a box at the field, the family dog would keep watch, and if the baby cried or fussed he would call the dad over by barking. As he grew he liked music and started piano lessons while very young. He was a Lovilia High School graduate with the class of 1954 and played the trap drum in the school band.

In 1957 he went to college in Le Mars, Iowa and served two churches too. Then he went to seminary school and eventually earned a Doctrine of Divinity.

In 1963 he began a career on a native American reservation in the South west. Eventually working as head master at the Window Rock school.

He enjoyed preaching, teaching, playing the piano, flute and other musical instruments. He also enjoyed having a dog as a companion most of his life.

In 1980 he returned to Lovilia to care for his father for four years until his dad passed. He cared for him with all the love his father had given him as an infant.

In 1985 her returned to the reservation and worked there until his retirement.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 6, 2022 at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia with Pastor Dan Hatfield officiating. Interment will follow in Osborn Cemetery near Lovilia. A luncheon will be served after burial at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia.

Memorials be be directed to Osborn Cemetery.. May he rest in peace.