Obituaries for July 23, 2003

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Elvin W. E. Alwes, 82

Elvin William Edward Alwes, 82, of rural Blooming Prairie, died Monday, July 21, 2003, at his home.

He was born July 25, 1920, to Ed and Elta (Sommerfield) Alwes in Richards, Iowa.

Email newsletter signup

On Feb. 4, 1943, he married Celia Hogan in Webster City, Iowa. In 1948, they moved to Blooming Prairie where they were active members of First Lutheran Church. Celia died in November 2002.

Elvin was a farmer who loved to fish, camp, watch baseball, football and spend time with family.

Survivors include daughters, Donna Ward, Linda (Larry) Gravenish, Debra (Ronald) Paulson, Tamara (Mike) Srock, all of Blooming Prairie; Teri (Dale) Schnebly, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Cheryl (Donald) Hatten, Brownsdale; sons, Elvin (Jeri) Alwes and Kevin Alwes, all of Blooming Prairie; Richard (Liz) Alwes, Millville; 40 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, a brother, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2003, at the funeral home and Friday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 11 a. m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with the Rev. Richard Hegal officiating.

Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Blooming Prairie Worlein Funeral Home.

Brett M. Earl, 16

Brett Michael Earl, age 16, formerly of Austin, died Saturday, July 19, 2003, at the Plano Medical Center in Plano, Texas.

Brett was born Jan. 6, 1987, in St. Croix Falls, Wis., to Joseph M. and Karen A. (DeLaney) Earl. Brett was a junior at Plano East Senior High School.

He enjoyed flying and building model airplanes, remote controlled cars, trucks, tanks and rockets. He was a member at North Dallas Radio Control Club.

Brett lived his short life to the fullest possible potential above and beyond. Many lives have been touched and changed by meeting this exceptional angel.

Survivors include his parents: Joseph and Karen Earl, Plano, Texas; sister: Beth Earl, Plano, Texas; grandparents: Harriett "Dusty" DeLaney, Austin; Mike and Sherry Earl, Clarks Grove; special friends: Steve and Lou Bradshaw, Plano, Texas; aunts and uncles: Todd and Heather Earl, Clarks Grove; Matt Callahan and Tammy Claussen, Albert Lea; Nike Claussen, Woodville, Wis.; Kathy and Leonard Mueller, Austin; cousin: MeShet Mueller; numerous other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his brother: Joshua Earl; grandfather: William B. DeLaney; great-grandfather: Calvin Bryngelson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2003, at the Church of Christ (103 2nd St. NW) with Rev. Steve DeFor officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Mayer Funeral Home and one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Irene M. G. Gemmel, 81

Irene May Gladys Clausen Gemmel, age 81, passed away July 1, 2003, in LaVerkin, Utah.

She was born Nov. 9, 1921, to Marie and Rudolph Clausen in Osage, Iowa. She was educated in Iowa and Minnesota and spent most of her life caring for ill people in their homes. Her sister moved her to Utah in 1997 to oversee her care.

Irene and Albert E. Gemmel were united in marriage Nov. 8, 1959, and lived in Austin.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband in 1988; a sister, Jeri; and a brother, Jerome Clausen.

Survivors include her stepdaughter, Janeth (Harold) A. Nelson; step-grandchildren, Arnold and Martha, Allan, Ardell and Alton and Shelli Nelson and family; sister, Lee Jensen, St. George, Utah; brother, Rev. Ken Clausen, Billings, Mont.; nephews, Mark and Thomas Coleman and Mark Mostrom; nieces, Shelle Rullman and Georgia Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated by Utah Heritage, 25 South Main St., Suite 210, Centerville, UT 84014, in Irene's name. She had been under their care for the last 10 months.

Graveside services will be held at Cedar City Cemetery on Saturday, July 26, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. with Father Fogel officiating. Tributes will be given by her grandsons.