Mary Ann Chamberlain died Dec. 27, 2014. She was 97 years old. Her parents were Rose and John (Charlot) Ballalatak. She was born in Cricket, Iowa in Mahaska County Oct. 10, 1917.
On Oct. 24, 1939 in Lovilia she married Guy Chamberlain. They were blessed with three sons: Gerald, Doyle, and Leon. Mary and Guy farmed together until retirement. Then Mary managed the Lovilia senior meal site for thirty-five years.
Mary was an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lovilia. She was a dedicated volunteer with St. Peter’s Altar and Rosary and held the office of treasurer for many years.
She enjoyed people and volunteered also for SHARE program and Hospice among others. One of her joys was raising flowers and and a garden.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Guy, four brothers: John, Frank, Joe, Mike, and two sisters: Ann Kraber, and Helen Woodward. She is survived by her three sons, all of Lovilia, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral mass was De. 31, 2014 at St. Peter’s in Lovilia. Burial was at Osborn Cemetery near Lovilia. Memorials to Osborn Cemetery or Lovilia Community Building have been established.
May she rest in peace.
Joan B. Crall dies Jan. 2, 2015
Joan, age 73, died January 2, 2015 at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella.
She was born September 10, 1941 to Don and Bertine (Slykhuis) Deeringer in Knoxville, Iowa.
She received her education in Knoxville and graduated with the high school class of 1959. The following year on May 14, 1960 she was married to Billy C. Crall at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Knoxville. They were blessed with three children: Mary, JoAnn, and Bill.
Joan was a homemaker and helped Bill with farming. Later in the 1980’s she went to work at the Chicago Rivet Factory.
When younger she enjoyed league bowling. Her creativity was shown in flower arranging, cooking, baking and sewing. Joan generously donated food for church and other needs. She was nurturing and especially enjoyed time with family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Debra Bennot; a brother, Bud Deeringer; and nephews: Jeff Shilling, Rick Sager, and Paul Sager; and two brother-in-laws: Jack and Pat Crall.
Joan is survived by her husband of Lovilia; her daughter Mary (Steve) Haagenson of Virginia Beach, Virginia; JoAnn (Steven) Reed of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Billy (Joy) Crall of Lovilia; nine grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and a brother, Bill Slykhuis; as well as two sisters: Donna Thornburg, and Kayi Shilling. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
The family has established a memorial to Pella Hospice in Joan’s name.
Mass of Christian burial was January 5, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Albia , Iowa. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Weller, Iowa.
May she rest in Peace.
St. Peter’s Potluck
Families will have a potluck supper after 5:30pm mass on Saturday January 17 at the rectory basement. Altar and Rosary will furnish a variety of soups and beverages. Please join us and bring an appetizer or a dessert.
Mass time has rotated to 5:30pm on Saturday nights for Jan., Feb., March, and April.
Snowbirds Alert!
Enjoy your sunshine. We are having an arctic blast with subzero temp. today in Lovilia and a windchill that will make your knees knock. But I enjoy a warm cup of coffee and curl up with a blanket in my recliner with the dog and read when my chores are done. It is all good! But I do enjoy the thought of you all walking on the beach in the warm sand and listening to the waves hit the beach!
New Recycling Managers
David and Susan Beary retired Dec.31, 2014 from the Monroe County recycling job. The new managers are Mark and Cindy Gillespie of rural Albia. If you have recycling questions, you can call their phone: 641-932-2047.
Dave and Susan want to thank all the faithful Lovilia recyclers who help save tons of resources from being wasted by being buried at the landfill and instead recycle them for further use.
If you don’t recycle yet, you can start anytime. It is a free service provided through the Monroe County government. Place your items in the recycling trailer parked one block north of the post office. Each window is marked for you to sort the items, ie. glass, plastic, tin cans, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, bags of shredded paper, and white paper/notebook paper(mixed paper).