AJ Boysen on November 1, 1925. His parents rented various farms in Louisa County before purchasing land near Virginia Grove. He attended the Washington #4 one-room schoolhouse, that remains in Virginia Grove today. He remembers bringing coal or firewood into the schoolhouse each morning so the pot-bellied stove would burn red hot during the winter.
AJ graduated from Wapello High School in 1943. He served in the Air Force during WWII and at the end of the war had to decide between an administrative position at the Pentagon or returning to farm in Louisa County. He chose the latter, but first attended Iowa State University where he received a Farm Management A.A. He met Dorothy Wright at Iowa State and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage.
Shortly after he returned to Louisa County, he was asked to create a 4-H club in Marshall township. In the 1970s he was asked to lead an effort to develop Camp Langwood. He was active in 4-H for many years and in 2003 he received the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame award for his lifetime contributions.
AJ worked to improve himself and the world around him. He commuted to Iowa Wesleyan College for several years advancing through their Executive Development program. He became an accredited farm manager and rural appraiser. This allowed him to manage farms for individuals living in other parts of the country and to appraise farms and businesses in Louisa County.
AJ provided leadership to many organizations including: Wapello United Methodist Church, Louisa County Beef Producers, Soybean Association, Southeastern Community College, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Kiwanis, Farm Bureau, Louisa County Historical Society, Morning Sun American Legion, American Association of Farm Managers and Appraisers, Louisa County Corn Growers, and the American Angus Association.
AJ enjoyed walking through the woods with Dorothy and developing the timber on his property. In 2017 he was named Woodland Owner of the Year in Louisa County.
AJ grew up with horses and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to ride. He also enjoyed taking each of his children and grandchildren to Europe to introduce them to their relatives. AJ could speak both English and German and was recruited to help lead People to People tours to Europe so others could better appreciate what we share in common with others in this world.
AJ had two children; Karen Boysen Rowe (Tim) of Los Alamitos, CA and Rob Boysen of West Des Moines, IA. He has five Grandchildren: Jess Boysen (Chris) of Minneapolis, MN, Adam Boysen (Crystal) of Denver, CO, Erika Boysen of Greensboro, NC, Kristina Kulczycki (Eric) of La Canada, CA, Katie Rowe (Colin Wessells) of Menlo Park, CA. He was loved by his extended family including his late sister, Marie and her children Maurice Mecklenburg and Mary Goodwin, his brother, Elmer, his cousins Lisa Zosulis, Martin Hoeg, Edlef Boysen, and Albert Boysen.
Funeral Services for AJ will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Wapello United Methodist Church with Pastor Pam Kranzler officiating. A graveside service with Military Honors will follow at the Wapello Cemetery. Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held in the Wapello United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Wapello Methodist Church Building Fund. Online condolences may be left for the Boysen family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello is caring for the arrangements.
Helen Christene (Smock) Carle, 91, of Webster, Illinois, passed away at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022 at her home.
Christene was born April 12, 1930 to Lee and Margaret (Icenogle) Smock in Hancock County, Illinois. She married Harvey Carle on August 18, 1946. Together they raised seven children.
Mourning her loss are the surviving five children: Elizabeth Joan (JD) Shipman of Webster, Janet Elaine (the late Robert) Root of Colchester, Illinois, Lou Ann (Joe) Pence of Carthage, Illinois, Jerry Alan (Cathy) Carle of Gresham, Oregon and Donald Kirk (Candy) Carle of Nauvoo, Illinois; one son-in-law: Minton Dings and one daughter-in-law: Patty Carle. Also mourning her loss are sixteen grandchildren; twenty three great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Maxine Johnson of Carthage and Shirley Carle of Macomb and many nieces, nephews, friends and care giver: Gary Smith.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Harvey; one daughter: Karen Dings; one son: Edward; one granddaughter: Tina Barclay and one granddaughter-in-law: Catarina Carle and special friends: Paul Powell and Charles Blue.
Christene was known for her delicious pies and was nicknamed “The Pie Lady.” She was a wonderful cook and in the 1990s served many smorgasbord meals in her home. She proudly published three cook books. She also held several bake and craft sales at her home and at The Annex in LaHarpe, baking 150 pies for each sale. Christine always had candy and cookies on hand for her visitors. She enjoyed making homemade bread and noodles and canning pickles. Besides cooking at home she also worked for a time at Tink’s Café in Blandinsville and Robert Morris College in Carthage.
She was a woman of strong faith and a member of the Webster Community Church.
Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2022 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe where the family will receive friends 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.
The funeral service for Mrs. Carle will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12th at Banks & Beals with Pastor Connie Corder officiating. Burial will follow in McConnell-Geddes Cemetery, near Fountain Green, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Fountain Green Fire Department, McConnell-Geddes Cemetery or the family. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit Mrs. Carle’s obituary at banksandbeals.com.
Sally L. Day, age 73, of Burlington, Iowa, passed away at 2:15 P.M. Sunday, March 6, 2022 at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington. She was born April 24, 1948, in Aurora, Illinois, the daughter of John and Hannah Taylor McNeil. On December 22, 1965, she married William McGowen in Wheaton, Illinois. They later divorced. On August 30, 1980, she married Phillip Michael “Mike” Day at Argyle State Park near Colchester, Illinois. He preceded her in death on April 10, 2009.
Sally lived in the Blandinsville area from 1971 until 1989. She then moved to the Stronghurst-Carman area where she lived until 2019, when she moved to West Burlington. She had various jobs throughout her life, most recently working as a bookkeeper for Shane Reed Electric in Stronghurst, and the Stronghurst Mill.
Sally was the former editor of the Blandinsville Star Gazette and Oquawka Current Newspapers. She was also a reporter for the Hancock-Henderson Quill Newspaper. When in Blandinsville, she was the first female volunteer firefighter in McDonough county, serving the Blandinsville Fire Department. She was active in many organizations and had served on the Henderson County Board, directed the local high school plays, and assisted with the Henderson County Fair. She was a member of the Raritan Baptist Church. Sally loved her family and friends, and had strong passion for life.
Survivors include two daughters: Mindi (Bruce) Beckman of Burlington, IA, Amy McGowen of Stronghurst, one son: Mackenzie (Brooke) Day of Carman, IL, a special daughter in New Zealand: Sarah White, two step sons: Mike (Pam) Day and Roy (Carla) Day, one step daughter: Tammy Day, five grandchildren: Shelby (Jesse) Palmer, Trey Bartlett, Devin Markham, Claire Day and Jon Day, two great grandchildren, Jensen and Jade Palmer, several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, and a special friend, Tom Sawyer of Avon, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband: Mike, one step son: Mark Day, and one step grandson.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the Raritan Baptist Church in Raritan, IL, with Dan Ashton officiating. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 pm. Memorials have been established for Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, Blandinsville Fire Department, or to help the family with funeral expenses. Please visit banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book and leave a condolence.
Richard (Dick) Wick, 89, of New London, died Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, West Burlington. He was born May 5, 1932, in Mt. Pleasant to Dale McClure and Marie Ida Vandersnick Wick. He was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and was of the Catholic faith. On January 10, 1953 he married Marilyn Joyce Nelson in Mt. Pleasant; recently celebrating 69 years of marriage.
He worked at IAAP, sold Moorman feed, and was a die-hard Sunbeam Bread salesman; but the love of his working life was helping Larry Reid farm and later, Joe Lounsbury. He served in the National Guard and the Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Dick and Marilyn very much enjoyed their extensive travels over the years. He was a quiet, stubborn, loveable man who recently tolerated two and a half years of pain and isolation. He will be profoundly missed but finished with his suffering.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Michelle (David) McIntyre of Danville and Cheryl (Danny) Parks of New London; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; sister Nancy McDowell; daughter-in-law Pam Wick; sister-in-law Diana Wick Hardy; and brother-in-law Larry Meagher. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons Tony and Michael; daughter Melanie Boyd; sister Eileen Meagher; and brother Robert Wick.
According to his wishes, his body has been cremated and a private inurnment at Burge Cemetery will be held at a later date. A Celebration of Life will begin at 3:00 PM Friday, March 11, 2022 at New London VFW Post #7641. Memorials in his honor have been established for New London Fire and Rescue or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Shirley Ann Runyon, 85, of West Burlington died Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center.
Born February 13, 1937, she was the daughter of Albert Allen and Hazel Marion (Thomson) Maddox. Shirley married Paul Allen Bruhl Jr., they later divorced. She then married Howard L. “Porky” Runyon on June 29, 1973. He died March 29, 2009.
Shirley worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and worked for 33 years at Burlington Medical Center as a Nurses Aid and an ACC Clerk.
Shirley was of Catholic faith.
She was a 50-year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #150. Shirley enjoyed crafting, crocheting, knitting and she was the Bedazzled Queen and would rhinestone everything! She displayed her love of butterflies throughout her house. She loved going to Catfish Bend Casino on Wednesdays for penny slots with her sidekicks, Carol and Jackie. Every Friday she would go to the Eagles for supper and Sundays were spent having family gatherings. Her favorite shows were Mike and Molly, Golden Girls, and Gilligan’s Island. Shirley was also known as the Prank Queen being especially known for her apron prank. Shirley especially enjoyed celebrating Halloween.
Survivors include her children, Paul Allen Bruhl, Paula Gustafson, Darrin Bruhl, Don (Dee)
Runyon, Barry (Chris) Runyon, and Jeff (Judy) Runyon; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Carol Reed; and one brother Mike Maddox.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, and her brother Albert “Sonny” Maddox.
The memorial service for Shirley will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Lunning Chapel. Rev. David Mixon will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service until 5:00 p.m. A graveside service and inurnment will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2022 at Aspen Grove Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Eagles following the graveside service.
A memorial has been established for Aerie #150 Eagles Cancer Fund.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.lunningfuneralchapel.com
Ever the warrior, John Clifford Ossian did not go softly into that good night. From Vietnam in the 1960s to standing guard at Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison for over 30 years to debating all sides of every political event, he strove to contain the destructive forces. He endured twenty-five years of marriage to a red-headed English teacher and twenty years of friendship with her after the marriage.
Born on November 27, 1946, to Johan Anton Elmer Ossian and Verus Leota Hiatt Ossian, he spent his life in Burlington, Iowa. After he broke his leg at home, he was in Oak View residential facility for therapy when he died on the morning of February 20, 2022. He always hated mornings.
Survivors include son John Ossian, Thornton, Colorado, daughter Jennifer Ossian (Nicholas Williams), Oquawka, Illinois, and grandson Ian Williams. Also mourning his loss are children of his sister, Jo Ann Ossian Monroe: Scott Monroe, Bill Monroe, Lisa Classen, and Melinda Monroe. John Stitely from Minnesota is a life-long friend, as is Mary Ross Ossian Rieke of Durango, Colorado. Lance Parsons and Wolf Thye called him “Dad.”
John Ossian was active in the Des Moines County Democratic Party, Shutterbug Camera Club and Des Moines County Historical Society. He was dedicated to his family and chatted with his kids daily. He loved being bossed around by his four cats and enjoyed cooking. He followed the Old Ways and observed Summer Solstice with friends every year.
His parents and sister preceded him in death. Inurnment will be at the Ossian family plot in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. Family and friends will gather at a later time, and we will toast him with recipes from his gourmet collection and lift a glass of his home brew in his memory. Hail the Traveler who is coming home!
