Eugene Comer

Eugene Allen Comer was born June 14th, 1928, south of Murray, Iowa, to Alan Edward and Alice Ella (Ludwig) Comer.  Gene had an older sister, Irene, and a younger sister, Beulah.  He grew up around Osceola, IA and attended school in Murray, IA. Eugene was united in marriage to Eva Lucielle Hammons on June 10, 1950.  To this union 7 children were born: Steven Edward, Eva Teresa, Stanley Eldon, Sydney Eugene, Sandra Irene, Scott Eric, and Sheldon Ernest.

Gene and Lucy farmed around the Osceola area and later moved to a farm near Beaconsfield, IA.  Here he took a job running a push cat to build the Sun Valley Lake in Ellston, IA.  In 1971 they purchased a farm south of Mt. Ayr (Caledonia) and lived the remainder of his life here.  He loved to farm and care for animals.  You could often find him working on tractors in the barn.  Gene loved tractor pulling with son, Sheldon, and grandson, Shane. He was a member of the Southwest Iowa Antique Tractor Puller’s Association.  His tractor choice was John Deere and he collected John Deere tractors and toys.

Gene passed away at Clearview Home in Mt. Ayr on July 12, 2019 surrounded by his family. 

Left to cherish his memory are his children Steven (Mila) Comer of Lorimor, IA, Teresa Comer of Ramsey, MN, Stanley Comer of Osceola, IA, Sydney (Kathy) Comer of Diagonal, IA, Sandy (Wylie) Beal of Bennett, CO, and Sheldon (Brenda) Comer of Tingley, IA; sister Beulah Brammer of Murray, IA; 18 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Irene Hammons; son Scott; wife Eva Lucielle (Lucy); great granddaughter Avery; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

OLIVER HERZBERG

Obituary for Oliver Herzberg

Oliver Herzberg, age 85, of Villisca, Iowa entered into peace Friday, February 8, 2019 at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa. Funeral Celebration of Life Services will be held 10:30 AM Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Villisca, Iowa with Pastor Jerry Wagoner officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, February 11, 2019 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Villisca, Iowa from 5 to 7 PM with the family greeting friends. Interment will be held at the VilliscaCemetery in Villisca, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Villisca, Iowa. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa, where we ‘Celebrate Life’.
Oliver Dick Elmer Herzberg was born near Clarinda, Iowa, on January 15, 1934 to Harry Henry Harmon and Nellie (Wehmiller) Herzberg. Oliver attended Jackson country school, and Immanuel Lutheran School. Oliver married Mary Jo Williams on December 25, 1956, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Clarinda, Iowa.
In August 1956, Oliver answered his call to the US Army, where he served in Korea for 14 months as a Forward Observer on the DMZ line. After serving in the military, Oliver worked for the Clarinda Coop, and then moved to the farm where he started his farming career until they moved to town in 2002. He continued to help with harvest and planting up until 2017. 
To this union, 3 children were born; Angela (Bryan) Dickey, Villisca; Ronnel (Tom) Wright, Red Oak; and Mark (Dawnette) Herzberg, Villisca.
Oliver was a long time, active member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Villisca, Iowa. Oliver and Mary Jo spent 22 winters in Harlingen, Texas, and nearly 50 years enjoying square dancing. Oliver belonged to the Tarkio Valley Antique Tractor Club and enjoyed going to tractor pulls with his son, Mark. Oliver served as a Trustee for Nodaway Township, Taylor County, for many years and was a Page County Rural Water Board member. 
Preceding him in death are: his parents; baby sister, Marian Herzberg; sister, Ruth Eitzen; brother, Vernon Herzberg; four brother in laws and four sister in laws. Also preceding him in death were grandchildren, Mary Anne Marsh and Skyler John Dickey.
Survivors include his wife, children, 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; siblings, Victor Herzberg, Darrel (Mavis) Herzberg, Willard (Kay) Herzberg, Ardith Sunderman and Gerald (Judy) Herzberg; sister-n-law and brother-n-law, Leland and Beverly Jones; many other family members and friends.

Everett McGrew

Everett McGrew, 91 of Emerson, IA, passed away on July 21, 2017 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 35984 Epperson Ave, Hastings, Iowa. Burial with military honors will be in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Visitation is from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the Indian Creek Historical Society Museum, 59256 380th St, Emerson, IA. Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern, IA in charge of arrangements.

At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorials are to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church or Indian Creek Historical Society Museum.


Everett Ralph McGrew, one of three children of Mary Helen (Wilson) and Dallas Newton McGrew, was born on February 10, 1926 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. His parents lived on a farm near Emerson, Iowa and Everett attended the local country school, Pickerill, through the 8th grade. He was a member of the West Nishna Junior Feeders 4-H Club and the Mills County Rural Young People's Organization. Everett graduated from the Henderson High School in 1943 and from Iowa State University in Ames with a degree in Agronomy.

Everett served in the United States Army from May 11, 1955 to April 11, 1957. He was an Engineer Equipment Repairman and served sixteen months in Korea. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to farm with his father and later in partnership with his brother, William E., until William's death in 1972. From then through 1978, Everett worked as a partner with his five nephews until they started their own farming operation.

On March 2, 1958, Everett married Irene Maddocks at the Silver City United Methodist Church. They began their married life on the Dean Steiner farm and in June of 1973, moved to the McGrew family farm. Their marriage was blessed with three sons, Roger Everett, Ronald Deane, and Ross Jack. They were members of the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church where Everett served as Lay Leader, held many offices, and was a member of the Nishna Valley Parish Council. He was a mentor and helped with the Henderson Hornets 4-H Club.

Everett was an excellent steward of the land and built many miles of terraces with his Caterpillar bulldozer. He was a member of the South Western Two-Cylinder Tractor Club, Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, and Mills County Farm Bureau. He and Irene were very active and supportive in the Indian Creek Historical Museum project and were instrumental in getting the Oaks School House moved to the museum grounds. 

Everett and Irene were married 46 years at the time of her death on August 21, 2004. He continued to live on the farm and remained active at the museum where he served as treasurer. Everett could be found at the Indian Creek Museum most days or out mowing yards. He always helped at the monthly breakfast at the museum; pouring coffee or juice or visiting with friends. Everett was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, uncle and a good friend to all who knew him.

Everett passed away on July 21, 2017 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, at the age of 91 years, 5 months, and 11 days. In addition to his beloved wife Irene, he was also preceded in death by his parents; brother William E. McGrew and wife Pluma; sister Joann Daus; and brothers-in-law, Earl Maddocks, Jr and wife Betty, and Deane Maddocks.

Everett is survived by his sons, Roger McGrew and wife Joya and their triplets, Davis, December, and Dayann of Henderson, IA, Ronald McGrew and wife Kristine and their daughter Everly, and Ross McGrew and Cheryl Cooper, all of Emerson; brother-in-law Donald G. Daus of Falls Church, VA; sister-in-law Marion Maddocks of Glenwood, IA; nieces and nephews; other relatives; and a host of friends.

DEAN L MEYER

August 20, 1961 - February 28, 2015

Dean L. Meyer, 53 of Creston, Iowa formerly of Red Oak,

Dean Laverne Meyer, the son of Kenneth and Nola (McFarland) Meyer was born on August 20, 1961 in Creston, Iowa. He passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 53 years, 6 months and 8 days.

Dean graduated from Red Oak High School in 1979. He furthered in education at Southwestern Community College with a course in mechanics. Dean spent six months in Amarillo, Texas driving a truck for Borger Sand & Gravel. He later drove for Essex Elevator and owned and operated his own truck. Dean moved to Creston and worked 18 years for Bunn-O-Matic. During his first round of cancer, Dean built a pulling tractor from scratch, which it took him 30 years to accumulate the parts. Dean named the tractor “Rat Rod Farmall”. Dean enjoyed attending tractor pulling events and he collected 60 full size antique plows.

JACOB "CHIP" LEHMER

February 19, 1950 - March 31, 2014

Jacob Lawrence “Chip” Lehmer was born on February 19, 1950 in Oregon, Missouri, the son of Jacob L. and Joan (Rasnic) Lehmer.

Chip graduated from Mound City High School in 1968. On June 14, 1969 he married Katheryn L. “Kathy” Eller, and they became parents of two sons. Kathy passed away on May 9, 2010.

Chip worked for the City of Mound City for several years, and for the past 30-plus years was a heavy equipment operator and maintenance worker for the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge.

Chip passed away on Monday, March 31, 2014 at his Mound City home at the age of 64.

In addition to his wife, Kathy, Chip was preceded in death by his father, Jake. Survivors include his mother, Joan, of Oregon; sons, Christopher Lehmer of Missouri, and Adam Lehmer and his girlfriend Debbie Guthrie of Chicago, Illinois; brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Pam Lehmer of Mound City, John and Michelle Lehmer of Manhattan, Kansas, and David and Debbie Lehmer of Oregon; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Tom Oldham of Doniphan, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Carmen Showalter of Mound City and Becky Baker of El Dorado Hills, California; and grandchildren, Mason and Jacob.

Chip enjoyed restoring tractors, and was a member of the Southwest Iowa Antique Tractor Pullers. He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons.