Frances Agnes Oetken, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 100 on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the home of her daughter in Burlington, Iowa.
Frances was born to Joseph and Agnes Popp of Burlington, on October 15, 1920 and was on of two children. After graduating Burlington High School she married Milton L. Oetken and together they raised their five children, Michael, John, Jim, Susan (Skalinski) and Maryann (Beckman) on the family farm north of Burlington. At the time of her death, she had 17 grandchildren, (one passed away at the age of 16 in 1983), 19 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She loved being a farm wife and homemaker and was also a devout Catholic and member of the Third Order Franciscans. Fran and Milt loved traveling around the country and took many trips west where they could enjoy the mountains. In the late 80’s Mom began painting and traveled with a class to Colorado to paint her beloved mountains.
Survivors include two daughters, Sue Skalinski of Burlington, Maryann Beckman of Williams Bay, WI; two sons, John Oetken of Las Vegas, NV, and Jim Oetken of Yarmouth; 17 grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Lorraine Oetken.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Michael, one grandson, Jeffery, and one brother, Joseph Popp.
Visitation will be from noon until 3:00 PM with the family to receive friends following a 1:00 PM Rosary Service until 3:00 PM Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mrs. Oetken will be 10:00 AM Monday, March 22, 2021, at Divine Mercy Parish-St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Marty Goetz as the Celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, rural Kingston.
A memorial has been established for St. Mary’s Lady of the Grotto in West Burlington.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Frances’s obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.
Barbara R. Massner, 91 of Mediapolis, died at 8:20 a.m. Friday, March 19, 2021 at Wapello Specialty Care, where she was currently residing.
Born April 22, 1929 at home in Oakville, IA, she was the daughter of John H. and Bertha (Gerst) Wagenbach Sr. She married Virgil C. Massner September 7, 1958 in Burlington. He died September 3, 2018.
Barbara was a member of the Mediapolis Apostolic Christian Church. She was baptized April 30, 1950 at the age of 21.
She graduated in 1946 from Huron High School. Barbara worked in Dr. McKitterick’s office in Burlington from 1946-1959.
She enjoyed gardening, baking, and entertaining. She enjoyed being with family; especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include daughter Kathryn (Rob) Schmidgall of Hancock, MN; sons, Todd (Kim) Massner of Morris, MN, Troy (Joni) Massner of Wapello, IA, and Taylor Massner of Mediapolis, IA; eleven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Ada Massner, Bertha Massner, Dolores Anliker, all of Mediapolis, and Teresa Marti of Burlington, IA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Virgil; three brothers, Paul, John, and Gerald; and four sisters, Edith Wagenbach, Emma Jean Lanz, Verna Woodward, and Dorothy Schulz.
The funeral service for Mrs. Massner will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 24th at the Mediapolis Apostolic Christian Church. Ministers of the Church will officiate. Interment will be in the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, rural Oakville. Visitation will be 9:00-9:45 a.m. at the church Wednesday, and 3:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 23rd at Lunning Chapel.
Memorials have been established for Mediapolis Ambulance Service and Mediapolis Apostolic Christian Church.
Helen Marie Bjorklund, age 93 of New London, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home and surrounded by family on Thursday, March 18, 2021.
Private funeral services will be held at Elliott Chapel with Reverend David Mixon officiating. Interment will be at Burge Cemetery, New London.
The daughter of Andrew and Esther (Johnson) Aslagson, Helen was born July 5, 1927 in Holmes City, Minnesota. Helen and her husband, Lloyd Andrew Bjorklund, lived in Minnesota and Montana before moving to New London in 1962.
Helen lived a private life and found great joy in being a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother to five generations. She loved to play cards, do jigsaw puzzles, and was an exceptionally good speller. Most of all, she enjoyed visiting with family, near and far, either in person or on the telephone. She will be dearly missed.
Helen is survived by seven of her children: Ronald of New London, Bonita (Gene) Kerr of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri; Gloria Detrick of Mount Pleasant; David (Debby) of Ankeny, Iowa; Deborah (Rusty) Antel of Columbia, Missouri; Sharon of New London, Tamara (Michael Harris) of New London; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law LaVerne Aslagson; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings; husband; sons Thomas and Phelan; and sons-in-law John Williams and Jim Detrick.
The family extends deep gratitude for the loving care Helen received the last several months from EveryStep Hospice. A memorial in Helen’s name has been established with EveryStep Hospice, 118 N Main St, Mt Pleasant, IA 52641. Online condolences may be expressed at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.