September 2019

Vivolyn “Viv” Katherine Keninger  passed away on February 28, 2015. Funeral services will be Thursday, March 5 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Interment will be held at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ackley at a later date. Vivolyn Katherine Keninger was born on January 19, 1923, in German Township, Grundy County, Iowa, the daughter of Ray and Ella Toomsen. She grew up on a farm near Wellsburg, attended a country school and was a member of St. Peter’s Reformed church.  She graduated from Ackley High School and enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls.

Henrietta S. Buck, 96, of Ackley, formerly of Grundy Center, passed away March 4, 2015, at Allen Hospital in Waterloo. A funeral service was held at March 9 at the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center. Burial followed at Maple Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook. Memorials may be directed to the family. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.

A pair of local girls’ basketball players have been honored as members of a pair of all-state teams.
Grundy Center junior Katie Lindeman was named Class 2A third-team all-state by both the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association (IGCA) and the Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) while Dike-New Hartford senior Olivia Verhulst was cited on the IGCA’s 2A all-state third team.
Lindeman led the NICL West and ranked eighth in Class 2A with 18.3 points per game. The junior hit 33 3-pointers and shot 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. She also recorded 171 rebounds and 68 steals.

Karl Harken, age 82, of Aplington passed away February 21, 2015. Funeral services were held February 24 at Aplington Evangelical Presbyterian Church with burial in Pleasant View Cemetery. Officiating the service was Pastor Michael McLane with Lenee Pollock playing the piano. Congregational hymns were “How Great Thou Art” and “God Bless America.” Special music was provided by Randy Aalderks singing “I Can Only Imagine” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Casketbearers were Matt Harken, Matt Morris, Jack Harken, Mark Harken Mike Kalkwarf, Colton Harken, Robert Melrose and Jim Harken.