Obituary
Dean M. Nelsen, 77 of Traer died on May 14, 2010 at Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo from cancer. There will be no service and private family graveside services will be held at a later date at the Lincoln Township Cemetery rural Voorhies, Iowa Overton Funeral Home in Traer in charge of arrangements
Dean Mastian Nelsen was born August 24, 1932 in rural Traer, Iowa, the son of Marcus and Elvie Mastian Nelsen. Dean received his education at Buckingham and later Dinsdale Schools where he graduated in 1951. He then entered the United States Navy where he served his country from 1952-1955. Following his discharge he returned to Traer and on June 25, 1956 he married Carol Mitchell at Amity Presbyterian Church and they later divorced. Dean farmed in the Dinsdale area for a time and then did woodworking for George Garlits Cabinetry and then at John Deere. Recently he entered the Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where his death came on Friday, May 14, 2010 at the age of 77 years. He was a member of Amity Presbyterian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Max Nelsen and a sister Betty Koshatka. He is survived by three sons; Jeffrey Nelsen and Gregg (Kim) Nelsen both of Reinbeck, and Gary (Danette) Nelsen of Cedar Rapids, a daughter Deborah (David) Hach of Reinbeck, one sister Donna (Robert) Davis of Traer and six grandchildren.
Obituary
Marvin Sternhagen, 62, of Holland, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, May 15th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Reinbeck with Father Dennis Quint officiating. Interment followed mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Grundy Center. Visitation was held on Friday, May 14th from 5 to 7 p.m. with a 5 p.m. vigil service at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit our website at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.
Marvin was born on December 6, 1947 in Peosta, Iowa to Merlin and Marian (Hillebrand) Sternhagen. He was the oldest of 13 children. Growing up, Marvin attended school in Earlville. After the 8th grade, the family moved to Edgewood, Iowa. In 1968, the family moved to Holland. Marvin was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and completed basic training in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was later stationed in Vietnam where he served his country with the 2nd Battalion 1st Air Calvary. In 1970, he was honorably discharged from the Army, leaving as an S5 and was awarded the Bronze Star. When Marvin returned home from Vietnam, he drove a mail truck for several years and later began work as a carpenter, working for Story Construction up until 2009. Marvin was presently enrolled in the Transportation Technical Center in Fort Dodge, working toward becoming a truck driver.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, carpentry and was a NASCAR fan. Although Marvin never married, he was especially fond of his nieces and nephews, never having children of his own.
Marvin is survived by his siblings Ruth Ann (Ray) Wilson of Grundy Center, Gerald (Kathi) Sternhagen of Reinbeck, Joan Sternhagen of West Des Moines, Elaine (Mike) Costello of Grundy Center, Joe (LaVonne) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Donna Fowler of Grundy Center, Velma (Gerry) Ulferts of Grundy Center, Linda (Bill) Harrington of Des Moines, Roger (Jean) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Barbara Eiklenborg of Urbana, Ralph (Ronda) Sternhagen of Holland and Debbie (Mike) Schmidt of Marshalltown; 27 nieces and nephews and 10 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Merlin and Marian; nephews Gerred & Brandon Sternhagen and nieces Abbey, Tiffany and Anna Sternhagen; sister-in-law Frances Sternhagen; brothers-in-law Robert Olsen and Carl Fowler.
Memorials may be directed to the family.