Alberta Fay Ballard Poland Obituary

   Alberta Faye Poland passed away Tuesday, July 27, 2014 at 86 years of age. Alberta was born January 27, 1928 in Boulder, Colorado to Walter and Bertha (Hill) MoneySmith. 

   Alberta attended country schools in her early years and went to high school through the 10th grade. 

   On January 28, 1945, she married Howard McKinley. To this union, four children were born: Pat, Donna, Marlene, and Becky.    They lived near Russell at that time and raised purebred dogs for many years. Howard passed away, December 8, 1976. 

   Alberta moved to Chariton in 1979. On December 23, 1983, she married Doug Ballard. Doug passed away, March 6, 2001. 

   Gene Poland married Alberta on September 15, 2001. 

   Alberta worked as a Home Health Aide for the Lucas County Public Health many years in the Chariton area. She deeply loved her job and the opportunity to help others. One year, she received the Governor’s Award for home health care provider of the year. She also won ribbon awards for her homemade pies. She thoroughly enjoyed mowing the lawn and caring for her flower garden.    Alberta had a love for people, traveling, clouds,sunsets, and music. She cherished time spent with her large family, especially singing and dancing to “Rockin’ Robin. She was genuinely happy and liked to joke around even to the very end. She would always comment about the beautiful clouds, the sunsets, and the fall leaves. She would say, “I just painted those this morning”. Mom without exception had a love for hands. She would draw around everyone in the family’s hands. She would then make new ones as the children grew older.  About a month ago, her daughter, Donna and Lee put in a raised garden for Mom with her flowers and then painted the hand prints of her family on the planter. 

   Alberta is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Bertha (Hill) MoneySmith; her husbands, Howard McKinley and Doug Ballard; her brothers, Ancil (Marilyn) MoneySmith and Ivan (Verna) MoneySmith; and her sister, Carolyn (MoneySmith) Hansen. 

   She is survived by her husband, Gene Poland; her children, Pat Whitlatch and Mike of Knoxville, IA, Donna Miller and Lee of Conroe, TX, Marlene (Jerry) Edwards of Chariton, IA and Becky (Dave) McCollum of Chariton, IA; eleven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and one on the way; many nieces, nephews, Uncle Ray Hill, cousins, Linda (Floyd) Ware; and many friends and loved ones.

Jerald Fenton Obituary

Born: Sat., Mar. 27, 1926

Died: Wed., Jul. 23, 2014

Visitation5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Fri., Jul. 25, 2014
Location: Fielding Funeral Home

Funeral Service2:00 PM Sat., Jul. 26, 2014
Location: Fielding Funeral Home

   Frederick Jerald Fenton, 88 years old was born to Earl and Exie Hammond Fenton in rural Lucas County near Russell, Iowa. Jerald was born in a heavy snowstorm, in those days the doctors came to the home.    Jerald attended Greenville Country School in Washington Township in southeast Lucas County and lived in a one mile radius area all his life. When the country schools reorganized, the Greenville school was moved into Russell for the Kindergarten classroom, his daughter Carol attended the first class to be held in Russell.     Jerald started farming at an early age, farming first with horses when helping his dad with the farming. He started raising Angus cattle at a young age and always enjoyed early spring when the first baby calves arrived. Jerald always looked forward to this time of year and even got his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy the new baby calves. 

   Later in life, Jerald bought the farm where he was born. Farming was a way of life for Jerald, once a farmer always a farmer. Jerald was a member of the Chariton River Baptist Church (Brushy) of Plano, Iowa. He accepted Christ and was baptized in 1940. 

    Jerald met the love of his life, Wanda Marie Sweeden and was married at the church by Rev. Leroy Sparks on October 13, 1945. To this union three loving children were born: Jerald Stephen, Connie Sue and Carol Ann. For a few years, Jerald and Wanda took their camper to Arizona for a few months in the winter and spent time visiting with family and friends. When summer came, they camped at the Iowa State Fair for over 35 years, having many overnight guests. Jerald’s first and foremost love was for his family, children and grandchildren. He was very proud of all his children, grandchildren and his great grandchildren. Jerald always loved seeing his great -grandchildren, they made him smile.  

   He was a man of few words, but you always knew what he meant or felt. He was always there to help, answer your questions or give you advice when needed. 

   Jerald was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dwight and sister-in-law Ethel Fenton, five brother-in-laws, Ernest, Ross, Lynn, Richard and Tony Sweeden and three nephews Bob and Larry Mullinix and Jerry Jones and nieces Sherry Peters and Billie Jo Zoch. 

   Left to cherish Jerald’s memory is his wife Wanda of almost 69 years, son Stephen (Michele) of Chariton, daughters: Connie (Rick) McKinley of Russell and Carol (Eric) Ziel of Boone. Grandchildren: Eric (Tawn) Fenton of Denver, Jason (Dia) Fenton of Urbandale, Heather (Mike) Kautz of Chariton, Susan (Alex) Oliver of Oakland, Erica (Brent) Conklin of Huntington Beach, California, Jennifer (Patrick) Graham of Ames. Great-Grandchildren: Morgan, Reece and Piper Conklin of Huntington Beach, California, Kellen Oliver of Oakland, and Cameron, Kaylee and Kendyl Kautz of Chariton. Sister-in-law’s Sue (Phil) Jones of Paw Paw, Michigan, Rosalie (Jim) Mullinix of Albia, Dorothy Sweeden of Arthur, and Ingna Sweeden of Odebolt, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

    Memorials may be made to Brushy Community Church or Brushy Cemetery, Plano, IA

Lowell D. Sims Obituary

Born: Wed., Oct. 16, 1929
Died: Mon., Jul. 21, 2014

Visitation
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, Fri., Jul. 25, 2014
Location: First Baptist Church

Funeral Service
2:30 PM Fri., Jul. 25, 2014
Location: First Baptist Church

Lowell went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 21, 2014. He was born to Pearl Boozell Sims and Harley Nelson Sims on October 16, 1929 in Russell, Iowa and graduated from Russell High School in 1948. He received a degree in Economics from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He was a proud veteran of the Korean War, serving overseas. Lowell married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Ellis, on July 8th, 1951 and they were blessed with 63 incredible years together. They had two children, Gary and Diana. Lowell was the Assistant Superintendent of the Burlington Northern Railroad (Ottumwa Division) and was transferred to several cities in the Midwest spending most of his working career in Ottumwa, Iowa. In 1983, after 30 years, they retired to Florida; however, he always considered Russell his home. He was an active member of the 1st Baptist Church in Florida and in Russell and enjoyed his church related activities. He loved the Lord, reading his bible and helping with bible study. Lowell had a personality that would spark up the room. He was a practical joker with a great sense of humor. He had a generous heart and a passion for living life to its fullest. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. His fondest memories were his family trips to South Dakota, traveling on the Amtrak train with Arlene, exploring Florida and spending time on the farm. He looked forward to hunting morel mushrooms with his kids and grandkids, fishing, hunting, playing cards and driving his old tractors. Every project around the house was a scientific experiment requiring duct tape, used parts from old mowers, copper wire and W-D 40 to make it work. Many of the experimental projects are still in process. Lowell had his own sense of style. He was the master of finding things he didn’t need at garage sales and could never pass up bargains on the other things he didn’t need today, but might need tomorrow. Grandpa Lowell was adored by his grandkids. They looked forward to visiting him at the farm and in Florida. Every day was an adventure. He was a wonderful husband, a great father, an extra special grandpa and good friend to all. His love of family and friend will long be remembered. We will miss him greatly. Lowell was preceded in death by his son, Gary Sims, his grandson, Ryan Sims, his brothers, Hobart and Harold Sims, his sister Juanita Wells, and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Arlene; his daughter, Diana (Jim) Willits of Windsor Heights, Iowa; his daughter-in-law, Becky Sims of West Des Moines, Iowa; and his four grandchildren: Courtney Willits, Ashley Willits, Nick Sims and Zach Sims.

Floyd DeWitt Obituary

Born: Tue., Dec. 30, 1924
Died: Fri., Jul. 4, 2014

Visitation
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Sun., Jul. 06, 2014
Location: Fielding Funeral Home

Funeral Service
11:00 AM Mon., Jul. 07, 2014
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church

   Floyd Russell Dewitt, son of Lulu Inez Jewell Dewitt and William Arthur Dewitt, was born on December 30, 1924 in Albia, Iowa. He passed away on July 4, 2014 at the Chariton Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 89 years old. He was the last living of his siblings who were LaVonne, Esther, Genevieve, Carl and Dale (Bobby). 

   He attended and graduated from Russell Community School. His favorite activity was basketball and his love of sports continued as an avid fan of the “Iowa Hawkeyes”. Floyd grew up on a farm and spent his entire working life on a farm north of Russell. He treasured all of his years on the farm where he harbored a deep love of the land and the animals in his care. He went from using a team of horses to his Allis Chalmers tractors. 

   Floyd remained a bachelor until the age of sixty when he was swept off his feet by Gloria Moore. They married on June 29, 1985. They just celebrated their 29th anniversary. The challenge of marrying a wife with six kids proved to be a source of great joy to him. He stepped into the role of father, grandfather, and even great-grandfather. His grandkids all share memories of learning to drive the tractor and being pulled around in the little red wagon. Then one day he made us get out and pull him in the little red wagon. They will remember building a haunted house in the basement and very many more childhood memories. 

   A very special part of his life was Trinity Lutheran Church where he and Gloria helped start the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in Chariton, Iowa. His love of God was deep. Floyd lived a full happy life and we will miss him. 

   He leaves behind his wife, Gloria and the six kids, Diane (Chris) Nelson of Des Moines, IA, Donna (Earl Bell) Grgurich of Iconium, IA, Wayne Moore of Purdin, Missouri, Carl (Julie) Moore of Russell, IA, Dale Moore of Knoxville, IA, and Dee Moore of Des Moines, IA; his grandkids, Jason Nelson, Candi and John Davidson, Lindsay and Derek Gomez, Holly Grgurich, Grant Grgurich, Jeremy and Brooke Bellon, Amy and Conrad Elmore, Cody and Jeni Moore, Christin Person and Scottie; thirteen great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.