Obituaries

Mabel M. Pettlon-Elvers, 83, died Sunday, August 25, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was born June 27, 1935, at home, in Hazleton, Iowa, to Leslie E. and Eleanor M. (Satterlee) Davis. Mabel was baptized on April 12, 1936.
Mabel was a 1952 graduate of Stanley Consolidated High School at the age of 16. She was united in marriage to John Strawn in June 1956. John Jr. and Janell were born to this union. She married LeRoy Pettlon in November 1980. Growing up she worked hard on family farms and eventually moved to Cedar Rapids. She worked as an accountant for many years at Maurice T. Breen Co, CPA, in Cedar Rapids, Bezdek’s Floral–Garden Center in Marion, Parker Hannifin Corporation in Hiawatha. She found joy in working with numbers.

Clair Francis Tschirgi, 76, of rural Elkader, passed away Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at Mercy One Elkader Medical Center. Clair attended school at St. Joseph’s through 8th grade, then transferred to and graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1962.
He was a farmer and mechanic – farming the family farm south of Elkader. He had the title of the “Neighborhood Mechanic.” If he did not have time to fix a vehicle for you, he would tell you how to do it. He loved tractors and attending the annual Plagman Barn event. Clair loved all Fords and Ford Tractors; he especially enjoyed his Ford pickup.

Clair was an avid animal lover who enjoyed feeding the birds and turkeys. He dearly loved his farm cats. His greatest joy was the time spent with family and friends chatting at the kitchen table over cookies and a Pepsi.
Clair was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a Board Member of the George Maier Rural Heritage Center and Museum.

Mary J. Bries, 72, of Elkader, died peacefully on Sunday, August 4, 2019. As was her wish, she passed away in her own home surrounded by her children.

 
A funeral mass was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 10, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Garnavillo. Mary’s children received visitors from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, August 9, at the St. Joseph’s Church Hall in Garnavillo.

Mary Jean Berns was born in Guttenberg December 14, 1946, to Peter and Marie Langel Berns. She was joined in marriage to Charles Bries on February 17, 1968 (25 years and one day after her parents were wed) at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Garnavillo. Over the course of their 51 years of marriage, Mary and Charlie raised four children who blessed them with 12 grandchildren.

November 9, 1958-June 27, 2019

Lee Roy Coanner, 60, of Omaha, NE, formerly of Elkader, passed away of a sudden illness on June 27, 2019.

Lee Roy was born in Clarksdale, MS, November 9, 1958, to Willie and Rosie (Swopshire) Coanner.

Survivors include his daughters: Cadeisha Jones and her children, Ny-Dier, Royality and Willie; Suenora Conner and her daughter, Khloe, both of Milwaukee, WI; and Raelynn Jean Coanner and her mother, Cathy Knudtson, Elkader, IA; a brother, Macon Coanner, Las Vegas; sisters Orlena Jackson, Las Vegas, and Rosie Lee Coanner, Omaha, NE; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Lee Roy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Frank Lee Coanner and Lourenzie Coanner; and grandson, Malachi Lee.