Joan Loncarich
Joan, age 85, died March 7, 2011. She was born Oct. 7, 1925 to Reuben and Minnie Lemmons. She married Tony Loncarich in 1943 and they spent most of their married lives in Lovilia. Tony died last year. She had been a secretary and a homemaker. She has two brothers in Lovilia, Don and Jack. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Lovilia.
Joshua Lee Wuebker
Josh, age 29, died March 11, 2011. He was born Aug. 20, 1981 to Kevin and Roxane (Richmond) Wuebker. He was raised in Lovilia and educated here and then graduated from Iowa State University in 2005. He had a degree in Agriculture studies. In 2007 Josh and Emily Harris were married. They were blessed with two daughters, Graecie and Bailey. The couple later divorced.
Josh was a Lovilia Fire and Rescue Dept. member, St. Peter’s Church member, and an avid Iowa State fan.
Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery in Lovilia.
Mary Wells
Mary Jane Wells, age 96, died March 27, 2011. At the time of her passing she was no doubt Lovilia’s oldest resident. She was born Sept. 7, 1914 in Truax, Iowa to Elmer and Elizabeth (Amsberry) Slay. The family later moved and Mary graduated from Lovilia High School in 1932.
In 1936 she married W. Keith Wells and shared their lives 57 years when Keith died. She had one daughter, Kae, of Lovilia and one son, Jimmie, of Lovilia. She had worked over the years at Amsberry Grocery, Tierney’s Restaurant, and the Dairy Creme which were all Lovilia businesses.
A private family burial was held at Union Chapel Cemetery in Monroe County.
George F. Gilbert
George died April 1, 2011. He was born July 23, 1934 to George S. and Frances Essex Gilbert at Grinnell, Iowa. He graduated from New Sharon High School and the Cincinnati College of Embalming. George served in the United States Army in Korea.
In 1955 he married Bonnie Gilliland of Oskaloosa. They lived in Ohio and Grinnell, Iowa before putting down roots in Lovilia in 1961. George owned and operated Gilbert Funeral Homes in Albia, Lovilia and Bussey before retiring. For the first 27 years in Lovilia he also operated Gilbert Ambulance service.
George and Bonnie had three children who all have homes in Lovilia. They are Mike, Pat, and Angie. They have nine grandchildren.
The funeral is April 5th at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lovilia and burial at Lovilia Woodlawn Cemetery. Military rites by the American Legion Post of Albia and attendance and path of flags by the Patriot Guard Riders.
George besides his business in Lovilia had served the town for a time as its mayor.
We hold these Lovilian’s in our memories and extend our prayers and sympathy to the families.
Local Wrestlers Honored
Albia’s High School’s most decorated wrestling team ever was the 1985 team. They were recently honored this year when the current Albia team won the conference championship for the first time since the 1985 team’s success.
Two of those men make Lovilia their home. Ken Ross and Scott Hugen are lifetime residents. Congratulations on the honor and your hard work to achieve it. Ken has been active with ball teams in Lovilia and Scott is a current city councilman.
Lovilia Community Betterment Receives Grant
We received word that the Iowa Community Foundation would give us $3000. This money will be used to strip clean the floors and seal them in all areas of the community building. It will also be used to replace damaged ceiling tiles that had suffered water damage. Any remaining funds could be used to purchase tables and chairs that needed replaced.
Community Betterment has also applied for KCCI mainstreet funds. If they win funding it would be used to upgrade Gibson Park on the north entrance to town on highway 5.
The next meeting of the committee will be April 18 at 6:30pm at the community building in Lovilia. Guests are welcome to come and consider joining the committee to work on projects to sustain our community.
Jewel Whicker and MacKenzie Wynn Academic Honors
Each year there is a South Central Conference Honor banquet to honor the top five percent of high school seniors from each conference school. For Albia, that meant five students were there to receive their certificates. Jewel Whicker lives here with her family. MacKenzie’s dad is David Wynn and her grandparents are Jerry and Camilla Wynn of Lovilia. Well done girls! We wish you all the best in your future education and careers.
Ted Church,M.D. Returns to Lovilia
Dr. Church and his wife Jeannie (Beary) have returned to live in rural Lovilia after some time away in Wyoming. Dr. Church will be in practice at Monroe County Hospital and Medical clinic. He is a board certified family practitioner and is accepting new patients. Welcome back Ted and Jeannie!!
Archery Shoots at Lake Miami
If you want to participate, or be a spectator this is fun action right here at home. The shoots are sponsored by Bluff Creek Archery store in Albia.
Dates are May 28-29 40 targets
June 25-26 40 Targets
July 23-24 40 targets
August 13-14 40 Targets and popups
To learn more call 641-932-2422 or 641-932-8140 or 641-799-8562.
Go out to Lake Miami for the sun, the water, and the action!!