Elizabeth Rouchka Gansen, 55

Elizabeth “Betty” Rouchka Gansen of Greene was born January 4, 1955 to Chester and Marian (Boeding) Rouchka of Lime Springs. She passed away June 15, 2010 at Floyd County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Greene.

Fred Dieken, 99, Lime Springs

Fred Dieken, 99, of Lime Springs, Iowa passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at the Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, Iowa.

Fred was born on November 28, 1910 to Theodore and Grace Dieken at Davis Corners, Iowa. Fred farmed and lived in the Lime Springs area since the age of 10.

When Fred married Edna Lammers on November 4, 1936, they were the first couple married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lime Springs. He and Edna farmed west of Lime Springs for more than 30 years before moving into town.

Fred is survived by two daughters, Marian (John) Thurston of Petersburg, Virg. and Shari (Joe) Sgavicchio of Richmond, Virg.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Opat paid ultimate sacrifice

Nearly a quarter mile of flags was displayed at the Travel Plaza in Lime Springs.

Locals wait for the word the procession is on its way from the Rochester Airport.

Throngs of people lined the roadway from the Rochester Airport to Conway Funeral Home in Cresco to honor the passing of U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Opat, who was killed in active duty at Baquah, Iraq on June 15, 2010.

He arrived on time at the airport, at 8:21 a.m. June 22, and left for home about 20 minutes later. He was escorted to Iowa by the Minnesota Patriot Guard.

The Patriot Guard was initially founded by motorcyclists who physically shielded the mourners from any protestors. Along the route—at Stewartville, at Racine, at Spring Valley, at Chester and in between—flags and signs were displayed and people stood at attention as the motorcade went by.

Council orders Flag lowered

Councilman Gary Klomps looks over some maps where Nick Rissman, County Engineer, plans to make repairs.

During its special Council meeting on June 16, the Lime Springs Council authorized the City’s flag to be at half-staff for one week in honor of  a former resident, U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Opat, who died in Iraq.

The meeting was called to go over the new employee handbook. Council members looked over the proposed handbook and made necessary changes before it will be the official handbook.

• In other business, the council said it would abandon Colfax Street in the east part of town so Sam Shroyer can build a house, if he pays the approximately $500 in paperwork and fees required to do so. He also requested a community spigot be placed on his property, which was denied.

• The Council stated water used for filling pools or watering plants will still have to be billed for water and sewer.

• Mayor Barb Robinson said plans were underway to order and install swings and rock at Brown Park to use up the grant money given by the Community Foundation last year.

Chester Tractor Pull results

Damon Gragert pulls at Chester Tractor Pull

The numbers were down slightly for the Old Settler Days Tractor Pull on June 12, but there were still 60 pulls despite the rainy start to the day. Because of the wet conditions, the pull was moved to the gravel drive at Ostrander Farmers Coop instead of the normal dirt track.

Bandstand part of LS history

For 30 years, the bandstand has been part of the Lidtke Mill Complex and is the meeting place for Ecumenical Church—unless it rains, which it did this past Sunday and scared these parishoners to the shelter at Lidtke Park.

For 30 years, the bandstand has been the center of attention at the Father’s Day Ecumenical Church Service. It was moved to the Mill Site for preservation in 1980.

Christopher Opat, 29, Lime Springs

Spc. Christopher Opat, 29, of Lime Springs, Iowa, died June 15, 2010 while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army in Baqubah, Iraq.

Christopher Wesley Opat was born in Jefferson City, Mo. on April 15, 1981, the son of Leslie and Mary (Goodlaxson) Opat. He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at Lourdes, Iowa. Chris moved with his family to the Lime Springs/Cresco area about a year after his birth. He attended Notre Dame grade school and graduated from Crestwood High School in 2000. He then earned an Associate degree from Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003, completed his basic and Advanced Individual Training, and was previously stationed at Babenhausen, Germany. He was presently assigned to Troop D, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He loved the Army and was serving his third tour for Iraqi Freedom at the time of his death.

Will ‘Gather at the River’ —Ecumenical Church is June 20

Lime Springs and area will “Gather at the River” for the 34th annual Ecumenical Father’s Day Worship Service, held at the bandstand at Lidtke Mill on June 20, starting at 10:00. Every denomination is welcome to join in this celebration of worship and of fathers.

Mail call was special —And still is to Honor Flight vets

Harold Munkel talks to the older elementary kids about his exploits in World War II.

“Do you fellas remember mail call?” That was what the veterans were asked during their Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Of course they did! Mail call was what got those soldiers through some difficult times. Well, some 65 or more years later, they got mail call again.

Wet and Wild Grills at Old Settler Days

Barb Holstrom stirs up her and hubby, Jim's, Cowboy Stew.

The rain on Saturday did not dampen the spirits of the seven teams taking part in the first Howard County Barbecue Competition at Chester’s Old Settlers Day.

Team leaders were Larry Norby from Laddy’s Bar and Grill and Dean “Deano” Thompson, both of Chester; Rick Kirkpatrick and Joe Stevenson, both of Lime Springs; and Bill Troxel, Willie Troxel and Jim Holstrom, all of Cresco.

All the competitors commented they would probably try barbecuing again for the contest.

The participants could enter any or all of the chicken, pork, beef and cowboy stew categories. Winners in each category took home $200 cash.