Chuck DeBok Obituary September 16, 1929-May 24, 2024

 

A Celebration of Life for Charles “Chuck” DeBok, 94, will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa, followed by a luncheon at the Faith United Methodist Church in Russell. Burial will take place at Bethel Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Faith United Methodist Church or Bethel Cemetery in care of the Cedar Township Trustees.

1st 50 years following high school as written by Chuck

1948-1998

I joined the Air Force shortly after we graduated from RHS and was in the service a little over a year. I came home and farmed with my Dad northeast of Russell. We farmed together until Dad retired in 1965.

Jo Kells and I were married in September 1952, and we first lived in her parents’ trailer in my parents’ backyard until the farm we had rented one-half mile north was available. We bought our first farm, 400 acres – known as the Dr. Buzzard farm – in 1954, then bought 355 acres joining it on the east in 1969, and also bought my Dad’s farm (280 acres) that year.

We have two children, Dee Ann, who married Carl McKnight, and has three children. They live north of Ames. Our son, David, married Shari Coulson, and they also have three children. They live on my Dad’s farm, which we sold to David in 1976. David’s children are the fifth generation of the DeBok family to live on that farm.

David and I farmed together from the time he graduated in 1973 until I retired in 1988. Jo had retired from the Lucas County Hospital in 1985 after 24 years in administration and after my retirement in 1988, we moved to our home in Russell.

We have traveled quite a lot over the years – several trips to Europe, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. In 1989, we purchased a home in Casa Grande, Arizona, and have spent the 6 winter months each year since then in Arizona. Our home is in a “55+” resort park, which everyone calls “God’s Waiting Room”, because we’re all “getting right up there”!

It doesn’t seem possible that 50 years have passed since our days at RHS – what good times we had there!

I know we have all made lots of mistakes along the way in our lives, but you will have to admit that we were a pretty “durn” good CLASS OF 1948.

Born 5th of 6 siblings on September 16, 1929, to Bernice (Roebuck) and Herman DeBok of rural Russell, Iowa, was Charles Herman DeBok. Charlie. Or Chuck later on.

A Depression era multi-generational family farm was the early life of tow-headed Charlie. It was there he learned hard work, nature, and love of faith, family, and country. And it was there he first learned of the existence of that cute little freckle-faced Jo Kells. Charlie and his family would shear sheep at the Kells’ farm. Jo and her sister, Wanda, would parade their baby doll strollers up and down the gravel road in front of the farm, trying to make an impression on the DeBok boys. It worked.

Charlie and Jo grew up to be high school sweethearts. Their first date was at (Buy-‘Em-By-the-Bag-at) Bangs in Chariton. They graduated from Russell High School in 1948 and 1949 respectively. Charlie had been a star basketball player, having scored 55 out of 97 points one night in a game against Lucas. He’s still in the record book with that game. Jo was a cheerleader.

After graduation and still in the throes of post WW2 patriotism, Chuck joined the Air Force and went to Arizona for basic training as part of the post’s fire fighter squad. While there, his hands were badly burned during a fire when the guy who was supposed to be hosing down Chuck got hot and left his post.

During this time, Jo graduated high school, went to AIB and landed an amazing job as a staff member for an Iowa Congressman in Washington, DC. She also became engaged to a dashing Annapolis midshipman. Oops.

Things were looking bleak for Chuck’s chances for Jo until he learned one day of the broken engagement of Jo and her cadet. Without a second thought, Chuck loaded up his car and drove straight to DC and proposed to her. It worked.

Chuck and Jo were married at the Russell Baptist Church September 28, 1952, in the social event of the season. In 1954, Dee Ann was born and later in 1955 came David. “My Happiness” by Connie Francis was their song.

Chuck and Jo went on to build one of the most successful crop and cattle operations in Lucas County. Along the way, they served their Lord and their community with numerous volunteer positions at church and school. They were highly respected members of the community and dedicated loving pilots for their family.

Chuck lost his beloved Jo to Alzheimer’s in 2019. He spent his final years living in Boone with daughter, Dee, and later at Homestead Assisted Living in Chariton. Early on the morning of May 25, 2024, at the age of 94, Chuck’s heart gave out on him. He slipped into the arms of Jesus and once again, it became Chuck and Jo. Forever.

Chuck and Jo are survived by their daughter, Dee (DeBok) McKnight, her husband Carl, and children: Lane, Brooke, and Emily; son, David DeBok, his wife Shari (Coulson) DeBok, and children: Gayla, Ryan, and Charles; great grandchildren: (Dee) Amira, Elijah, Nevaya, Bella, Mia, Aiden, (David) Zach, Claire, Addie, Lincoln, Kate, Madeline, Jordyn, Madden, and Dylan. Chuck is survived by his sisters, Ellen and Gerry, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roger and Jake; and sister, Lucille.

 

Dr. Alan Patterson Obituary September 7, 1933 - April 17, 2024

Dr. Alan D. Patterson of Ames, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 17, 2024. Alan was 90 1/2 years young.

Alan was raised in Southern Iowa. He was the oldest of seven children. Alan excelled in academics, music and theater.  He graduated from Russell High School in 1951. He proudly joined the Iowa National Guard when he was 16 years old.  He graduated from Russell High School in 1951. He attended Creighton College and in the ROTC. He then went onto University of Nebraska Medical School. It was early in his medical career when he met and married Ardith Jensen. Together they had four children, Alayne, Alan, Alicia and Anne.

Family (staying involved with the kids’ lives & activities as they grew), family practice medicine and emergency medicine filled a great deal of Alans time. He was a respected physician in Knoxville, Des Moines and Osceola. Outside the practice of medicine, Alan enjoyed gardening, reading, exercising, and the constant pursuit of knowledge on a variety of subjects.

In recent years, Alan enjoyed spending time supporting his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching hockey games, soccer matches, music concerts, and Scouting events. Hearing about his grandchildren’s daily life and personal passions filled his life with joy. Any visit or phone call from one of these 3 grandkids made his day that much brighter, especially as two of are in college to pursue the study of their own interests for jobs in the future.  

Rest in peace father as you are healed in heaven by Jesus and your love will continue to be shared through our families lives as you taught us to do.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents Loren and Elizabeth Patterson, siblings Coleen Oxford, Jane Funk, Sam Patterson, Karen Palmer, Kay Patterson, and Eleanor Quinn, and daughter Alayne Patterson. Alan is survived by his children Alan (Mindy) Patterson, Alicia Patterson (Mark Bushard) and Anne Patterson-Weber (Dale Weber), in addition to his grandchildren Meredith, Timothy and Matthew.

  

In lieu of flowers/plants, please consider a contribution made to Creighton University Pre-medicine program or Clarke Community Elementary Backpack Buddies Program.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 PM Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Kale Funeral Home. Family and friends will visit following the service until 4:00 pm when family will proceed to the Walnut Township Cemetery in Waukee, Iowa for interment of his cremains. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com  

 

Charlene Ruth Gartin Obituary June 25, 1947 — April 30, 2024

Charlene Ruth Standley Gartin, age 76, went to see her Savior on April 30, 2024. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 6, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Family will receive friends Sunday, May 5th from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Russell Cemetery following the service and a luncheon and time of fellowship will be held at the Russell Baptist Church after the burial.

Charlene was born on June 25, 1947, in Cedar Falls, Iowa to Floyd and Alma Standley. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at age five. Following graduation from Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1965, she completed a course at the Academy of Automation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Charlene married Charles Dennis Gartin on October 15, 1965. They were blessed with two children, David Standley Gartin and Michelle Beth Gartin O’Neil.

She enjoyed life and enjoyed traveling, photography, helping with canning produce from the garden (although she did this on her terms only), she was also a skillful marksman. When target practicing, she was left handed with a right eye, but she was equally skillful with her right hand.

Charlene demonstrated and sold Magic Mill and Bosch Kitchen machines for a number of years. She enjoyed demonstrating and selling these machines at home shows and the cattle congress, and she loved to make bread using the flour made with these machines.

Charlene faithfully served the Lord, volunteering in Bible School and Awana at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa and picked up college students at UNI for 7 years to bring them to church, often times fitting more than 20 people in a 15 passenger van. A servant to the Lord, she served with a joyful heart and always made life fun for those around her.

Charles and Charlene loved to volunteer and served with Continental Baptist Missions for fifteen years as church builders. They also volunteered at Ethnos 360 (New Tribes Missions) in Sanford, Florida during the winters for nine years. The last five years, they spent the winters at Maranatha Village in Sebring, Florida.

Full of Grace and an unwaivering faith in God, she battled cancer three different times. Charlene passed away, April 30, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Alma Standley; sister, Joice Fuller; niece, Teresa (Fuller) Butsma; and nephew, Wayne Gartin.

Charlene is survived by her husband, Charles Dennis Gartin; children, David (Gina) Gartin and Michelle (Doug) O’Neil; grandchildren: Diana O’Neil, Kelsey (David) Gartin Jamison, Allisa Gartin, CJ (Becka) O’Neil, Hannah Gartin, Chase Gartin, Breanne Gartin, Josiah O’Neil, and Cade Gartin; along with several nieces and nephews.

Evelyn L. Riggs Obituary December 22, 1921 ~ April 30, 2024 (age 102)

Evelyn Lucille (Newman) Riggs, 102, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at the Westview Care Center, Indianola, Iowa. Evelyn was born on December 22, 1921, near Knoxville, Iowa, to Delmar and Gertrude (Coffman) Newman. She graduated High School in 1939.

On June 8, 1940, Evelyn was united in marriage to Alvin Lloyd Riggs. To this union, two sons were born, Gary A. (Barbara) Riggs of Akeley, Minnesota and Wayne A. (Barbara) Riggs of Indianola, Iowa.

Alvin and Evelyn lived in Knoxville, Iowa until 1952, When they moved to their farm north of Chariton, where they raised their two sons.

Evelyn was an avid housewife. In early 1960’s, she managed Riggs Custodial Home in Chariton, Iowa until she retired. They spent their summers in Minnesota and their winters in Texas. She was an avid reader and enjoyed mastering a good jigsaw puzzle. She dearly loved all of her family and later became “Grandma sweetie pie” to many of her great-grandchildren.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Delmar and Gertrude, one granddaughter, Lynn, her husband, Alvin and sister, Margery.

She is survived by her sons, Gary and Wayne, five grandchildren, Dan (Tina) Riggs of Akeley, Minnesota, Laura (Dennis) Mooney of Marretta, South Carolina, Steve (Dawn) Riggs of Foley, Minnesota, Sandi (Richard) Brand of Indianola, Iowa, Bob (Chris) Riggs of Indianola, Iowa, 15 great-grandchildren,15 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Activity Department at Westview Care Center, where she received the best loving care for 7 years.

Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Newbern Cemetery by Lacona, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa. Pallbears are  Dan Riggs, Laura Mooney, Steven Riggs, Justin Brand, Jeremy Brand and Jordan Brand,