Final Graduation
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George Allen Christiansen, 68, of 115 South Hawkeye, Nora Springs, died Tuesday,
August 18, 2009 at the Nora Springs Care Center.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 P.M., Friday, August 21, 2009 at the
Nora Springs Care Center, 907 West Congress Street, Nora Springs, with a time of
sharing following the service. Pastor Ed Bard will officiate the service. A
private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa in memory
of George.
George was born on April 15, 1941, in Osage, Iowa, the son of Carl and Myrtle
(Hanson) Christiansen. He was baptized and confirmed at Rock Creek Lutheran
Church, rural Osage. He attended Rudd Grad School and graduated from Osage High
School in 1959. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in
chemical engineering and worked for DuPont Chemical Company in Clinton, Iowa for
several years. He was married to and later divorced Carol Sours of Nora Springs.
He went on several mission trips for the Church Universal and Triumphant, and
then returned to help his parents on the farm, also working for some of the
neighbors. He was always a caring neighbor and friend.
Taking after his father and uncles, George was an excellent bowler and horseshoe
player. He took over management of horseshoe tournaments at the Mitchell County
Fair and Nora Springs Buffalo Days after his father passed away. He loved band
music and played the trombone in high school. He enjoyed attending the Mason
City Municipal Band concerts on Sunday evenings in East Park. Some of his
favorite TV programs were historical documentaries on Iowa Public TV.
George is survived by his sisters Nancy (Dale) Folkerts, Rudd, IA, Dorothy
(Francis) Schmidt, Osage, IA, Helen Randolph, Dallas, TX, sister-in-law Barbara
(Paul) Christiansen, Cedar Rapids, IA, uncles and aunts, Arnold Hanson, Cedar
Rapids, IA, Olaf and Dot Hanson, San Jose, CA, Frances (Larry) Christiansen, St.
Ansgar, IA and AnnaBelle (Glen) Christiansen, Nora Springs, IA, and many
cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul, and several aunts and
uncles.
(George was a classmate our Freshman year at Waldorf, George died due to Melanoma.) __________________________________________________

Gail E. (Wright) Koester, age 66, of rural Dennison, died on September 18, 2008, at Rochester Methodist Hospital. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at Vang Lutheran Church, with internment at Oaklawn Cemetery.
After graduating from college Gail moved to Northfield where she worked in the office of the treasurer of St. Olaf College for a number of years. She married David Koester on April 23, 1966. Together, David and Gail farmed in the Dennison area, and Gail worked at Ryt-Way Packaging and the Northfield Retirement Center.
Gail is survived by her
husband, David; children Lori Koester of Dennison, Mark Koester of Dennison and
Lynette Belch of Kenyon; three grandchildren; and sister Lois Yocum of Fort
Smith, Arizona.
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Lois
(Vermedahl) Halvorson - Funeral services for Lois M. Halvorson, age 66 of
Albert Lea were held on Wednesday April 30, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. from Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church. President John Moldstad, Jr. and Vicar Boyd Longshore will
officiate. Burial at the Somber Cemetery, Northwood, IA.
Lois died
on Saturday, April 26th at the Rochester Methodist Hospital with her loving
husband and children by her side. Lois Mae Halvorson was born on May 23, 1941 in
Lake Mills, IA, the daughter of Clarence and Ida (Bergland) Vermedahl. She
graduated from Lake Mills High School and continued her education at Waldorf
College, Forest City, IA, and Mankato State. On June 9, 1962 Lois was united in
marriage to Wayne Halvorson in Scarville, IA. Lois taught for a time in Lake
Mills, IA, and Hawley, MN. The couple moved to Albert Lea in January 1989 where
Lois was a child-care provider. She was also a faithful minister’s wife in the
numerous parishes that her husband has served. Lois’ greatest joy came from
serving her Lord Jesus Christ and taking care of her family. Lois is survived by
her husband, Rev. Wayne Halvorson, Albert Lea; children: Kristen and husband
Mark Rogen, Garretson, SD, Loren and wife Susan Halvorson, Mankato, Luther and
wife Brenda Halvorson, Golden Valley, Eric and wife Barbara Halvorson, N.
Mankato, and Mark Halvorson, San Francisco, CA.; grandchildren: Ariana and
husband Justin Jones, Melysa and Zachary Rogen, Daniel, John and Madeline
Halvorson, Joseph and Chelsea Mae Halvorson, Samuel, Benjamin and Elizabeth
Halvorson; one great-granddaughter, Nora Jones; brother, Claire and wife Ruth
Vermedahl, Albert Lea; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.She was preceded in
death by her parents and stepfather, Olaf Ness.
Published in the Mankato Free Press from 4/28/2008 - 4/30/2008. Edited for
posting on waldorfclassof61.com web site.
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Mary (Bakke) Lyon , 65, of Zumbrota, died Friday ( March 16, 2007 ) at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester . Mary Evelyn Bakke was born on May 5, 19 41 , in Forest City , Iowa . She grew up in Lake Mills , Iowa , and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1959. She attended Waldorf College and graduated from Luther College in 1963. In the fall of 1963, she started teaching elementary school in Wanamingo. On Dec. 27, 19 64 , she married Lorin Lyon Jr. in Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills , Iowa . The couple made their home in Zumbrota, where she continued her teaching career. She retired from the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School system. She enjoyed sewing, playing piano and raising flowers, especially in her rose garden. She was a member of the church choir, did volunteer reading at several nursing homes and served on the library board.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Marc (Cindy) of Zumbrota; two daughters, Lora (Georg) Wagner of Neillsville,
WI, and Melissa (Brian) Haugen of Zumbrota; three children; and two sisters.
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Richard Bruce Holt, 65, of Windom, died Monday, November27, 2006, at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Born January 27, 1041, in Willmar, he was the son of Joseph and Nora Running Holt.
He received his education in the Wilmar Public Schools, graduating in the Class of 1959. He then attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, graduating in 1961. He drove truck for Larson Transfer of Bloomington until his retirement in 1998. He also worked part-time for Cenex until becoming ill. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Windom, where he acted as treasurer. He was also a member of the Window Senior Center, where he served on the board for three years and was the treasurer for one term. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels.
Surviving are his wife; tow sons, Bruce Holt, Wilmar, and Jeff Holt, Nampa, Idaho; one brother, Gary (Marcia) Holt, Mankato; one sister, Judy (Raymond) Smith; and three grandchildren.
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JAMES W. WEISJAHN, age 65 of Waseca died at his home on Tuesday, January 16, 2007.
Born September 5, 1941 in Owatonna, James was the son of William “Bill” and Lola (Briggs) Weisjahn. He attended school in Owatonna and graduated from Medford High School in 1959. He later graduated from Waldorf College in Waverly, IA and Mankato Technical College. On April 16, 1983, Jim was united in marriage to Linda Huber at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca. He worked at E.F. Johnson Company in Waseca his entire career. Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed fishing, computers, the internet, photography, electronics, model airplanes, listening to his scanner, being a ham radio operator, and was at one time, active with civil defense. He also played the trumpet, and enjoyed bible study with his friends in Medford. Jim was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca.
Jim is survived by one sister, Sharon Myrick and her husband Ron of Medford; his father and mother-in-law, Lester and Delores Huber of Waseca; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and LuAnne Huber of Waseca; Nieces and Nephews, Sarah (Steven) Schmidt and their son Aidan, Noël (Grady) Huggett and their children Mickenzie and Hunter, Toni Huber, Tyler Huber, Terry Huber, and Travis Huber and his fiancé Becky Phillops. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and an infant brother.
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From the "UMW Connection" November, 2005.
Douglas Sulland,
age 64, of Rochester, formerly of Stewartville, died Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Born June 3, 1941, in Rochester, he grew up on the family farm in Rock Dell Township, Olmsted County, and attended rural school. He graduated from the Southern School of Agriculture in Waseca, MN and attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He returned to the family farm to care for his parents, and later moved to Stewartville. In October 1991, he began working in circulation for Agri News in Rochester. He entered Rochester Health and Rehab West in 2000 and had lived there since. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.There are no immediate survivors. He is survived by several cousins. Two sisters preceded him in death.
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Arne Bergren, died on October 5,2000. Received from the Waldorf Alumni office. I can not find any information on Arnie, His picture is not in the "Warrior." ______________________________________________________________________________________