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Looking Back

30 Years Ago February 10, 1989 A family friend, James Walter Bettis, 18, has been charged with the stabbing death of Cynthia Borton, 39, of Shenandoah, on September 6, 1988. Cynthia Borton is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dahms of Gladbrook. February 5-12, 1989, has been designated as National Boy Scout Week. Scouts across the nation will be focusing on their promise to “do my best, to do my duty to God and my country and to help other people.” Burnell Grimmius and Marie Grimmius both of Gladbrook, announce the approaching marriage of their daughter Andrea (Annie) to Greg Stocker, also of Gladbrook. Greg is the son of Roger and Nancy Stocker, rural Gladbrook. Jay and Debbie Anne Moeller of Lakewood, Colorado, became the parents of a daughter, Emmalee Anne, born January 25. Grandparents are Lyle & Emma Moeller, Gladbrook, and Dennis & Jane Bradley of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Carl Gienger will celebrate his 80th birthday. 40 Years Ago February 16, 1979 The Gladbrook girls basketball team won the sectional consolation game enabling them to advance to district tournament play in Marshalltown. The Garwin Roughriderettes advance to the first round of districts with a 77-58 win over Iowa Valley of Marengo Tuesday evening in the consolation contest of the sectionals. The Gladbrook wrestlers had one sectional champ and will take three wrestlers into the district competition. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Menninga, Pella, announce the engagement of their daughter, Verla, to Kirby Goos, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clair Goos of Grinnell. Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Fish, former Gladbrook residents, now residing in Cresco, Iowa, are the parents of a daughter born February 12. The baby has been named Kelly and joins a brother, Denny, 3 1/2. After more than 37 years of creditable service with the U.S. Postal Service, Charles Herink of Gladbrook retired as rural carrier on November 6, 1978. Jane Earhart of Marshalltown and Newell Drury of Gladbrook were married February 3.


50 Years Ago January 31, 1969 Mr. and Mrs. LaVern B. Staker of Garwin announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Dinny, to Robert Nielson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Nielson of Garwin. Miss Carol Ann Martens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Martens, of Reinbeck, became the bride of Walter John Mytch, of Detroit, Michigan, on January 25, 1969. Six sows and five litters were killed in a fire of the Ralph Swangel farm about three miles north of Gladbrook, Saturday afternoon. 60 Years Ago February 5, 1959 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Goettsch announce the sale of the Goettsch Funeral Home this week to Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKasson of Winfield, Iowa. The McKassons’ took possession of the funeral home February 1. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Koester of Gladbrook will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. 70 Years Ago February 4, 1949 Mrs. Carl Ellison, 42, passed away at her home in Lincoln, on February 1, after an extended illness of heart trouble. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Schmitz, who live southeast of Gladbrook, January 28. A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Feltz, of Sand Lake, Michigan, January 31. The little Miss has been named Rachel Elizabeth. It is their second daughter. Mrs. Feltz is the former Gladys Gethmann of Gladbrook. Mr. and Mrs. Grover Volkens, of Gladbrook, announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, La Vina Alene, to Charles S. Rohach, of Garwin. 80 Years Ago February 3, 1939 Johannes Schuett, of Gladbrook, and Miss Alice Wies, of Garwin, were married January 31. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Cochran have named their new son born last Thursday, Larry King. He is the ninth child in the family. 90 Years Ago February 7, 1929 Lester Engel the oldest son of Fred Engel of this city, and Miss Loretta Gunder, were united in marriage. A nice little girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Nye, the first of the week. This girls is number three.

Looking Back

30 Years Ago February 17, 1989 The building which is occupied with Stoner’s Grand Tour Lounge will soon be tore down by S. L. Baumeier to make room for a proposed parking lot. This will be convenient parking area for the new Memorial Building as well as a much needed Main Street improvement. This development project will become a reality with the contribution by Thelma Osborne. Connie and Ivan Strabel, St. Charles, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Kelsi Lynne, born February 5. Kelsi is welcomed home by a sister Lindsey, 7, and a brother Travis, 5. Grandparents are Ervin and Pat Oettchen, Gladbrook, and Paul and Mary Strable, St. Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Nevarez of San Diego, California, announce the birth of their first child, a boy, Ryan Lee, born February 4. Mrs. Nevarez is the former Dot Lage of Gladbrook. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Lage of Gladbrook are the grandparents as well as Mr. andMrs. Antonio Nevarez of San Diego. Penny and Randy Brage, Marshalltown, are the proud parents of a son, Michael Henry, born February 9. The baby is their first. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Mike Collins of Garwin and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wheeler of Gladbrook. 40 Years Ago February 23, 1979 Kevin Garvey, junior at 155 lb.., will represent Gladbrook in the State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kadner, Conrad, are the parents of a daughter born February 17. She has been named Lisa Renee. She joins sister, Shannon, 3. Mrs. Duane (Alice) Clow, 68, passed away Tuesday afternoon at her home in Gladbrook. 50 Years Ago February 7, 1969 Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Petsel of Des Moines, are announcing the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Carol Lynn, to Keith H. Wegner, Des Moines, the son of Walter and the late Clara Wegner of Gladbrook. Ana April wedding is planned. Dr. H. D. Kehoe, 72, Gladbrook dentist, passed away Monday morning at University Hospitals in Iowa City, where he had been a patient since the previous Monday. He had been in failing health for the past year. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Edel of Gladbrook are the parents of a son born Sunday at the Evangelical Hospital in Marshalltown. Linda Peterson, 15, a freshman at the Garwin School, one of the three surviving members of the Howard Peterson family which was victimized by poisonous gas from a plugged up chimney, of the gas furnace, from a birds nest in their rural Garwin home last Thursday and Friday, was listed in satisfactory condition at the Evangelical Hospital in Marshalltown. Mrs. Peterson and her daughter, Laura, 8, were listed as still in critical condition. Howard Norris Peterson, 35, and his three sons, Howard Steven, 12, a sixth grader; Roger Allen, 5, and Jeffrey Lee, 3, passed away due to the poisonous gases. 60 Years Ago February 13, 1959 Army Pvt. Leon Forrest Hoeg, 19, of the Reinbeck area, was killed by a hit and run driver nine miles northeast of Independence, Missouri, Friday night of last week. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Wiese celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Lynch celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kline will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. 70 Years Ago February 11, 1949 Official notice has been received that the Chicago Great Western Railway Company will discontinue Train No. 11 due at Gladbrook at 4:19 a.m. between Oelwein and Kansas City and Train No. 16 due at Gladbrook at 9:16 a.m. between Kansas City and Oelwein, effective February 13, 1949. Verna Ardell Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orla Cooper, of Traer, and Leon Robert Stamp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stamp, who live southwest of Gladbrook, near Garwin, were united in marriage. Otto Oettchen of Gladbrook and his brother, Jacob Oettchen of Clear Lake , left Sunday from Mason City for Bucholz, Bei Burg, Holstein, Germany, to visit their aged father, Jacob Oettchen, who is 83 and ill at the home of his daughter. 80 Years Ago February 10, 1939 Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Stubbs, Jr., of Green Mountain, are the parents of twins, a boy and a girl born Thursday at the St. Thomas Mercy Hospital in Marshalltown. The babies have been named Phillip Briton and Jerrianne. The children are the couples first. The Annual Corn Carnival dates have been set for August 17, 18, and 19. Miss Alverta Storjohann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Storjohann was united in marriage to Kenneth A. Dodson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Dodson, Calhoun, Kentucky. 90 Years Ago February 14, 1929 Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Claussen, who moved to Eagle Grove two years ago to operate a bakery with their son-in-law, George Phillips, have disposed of their business and returned to Gladbrook to live. Ed Herman, former Reinbeck man and a brother of Walter Herman of Gladbrook, parked his car in a garage at Luverne, Minnesota, Monday of last week and disappeared to show up again Wednesday of this week in Galveston, Texas, without money or memory of how he made the trip. Amnesia, caused by a bump on his head against the top of the car is credited with his disappearance for ten days, and details of his exploits will probably never be known, since he has no recollection of them.