Mike Durham
1934 – 2018

Michael Durlam, age 84, of Ames, Iowa passed away at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames on Saturday, November 24, 2018. A gathering of family and friends will be held 4-6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2018, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. A celebration of life memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave, Ames, Iowa.

Mike was born in Jefferson, Iowa, on October 1, 1934, the son of Michael and Faye Durlam. He was raised in Jefferson, graduating from Jefferson High School. He attended American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines. He married Jo Ann Bullard on June 24, 1956, in Jefferson, Iowa. He served in the Iowa Air National Guard for 8 years, and also worked at Durlam & Durlam Clothing in Jefferson with his brother Loran. In 1964, Mike opened Durlam & Durlam Clothing in Ames and continued there until his retirement in 2000. Mike was very involved in the Ames Community. He was a prominent member of the Downtown Betterment Committee. He was an avid Cyclone fan and a Cyclone Ambassador, where he and Jo would host football players in a “home away from home” program. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church. Mike was also involved in Golden K Kiwanis. Above all else, he loved his wife and family as they were always number one in his eyes.

Mike is survived by his wife Jo; his daughters Ann (Richard) Sandve; and Sara (Bruce) Westemeyer; grandchildren Erica (Andrew) Tinius and their son Xavier; Nate Sandve, Ryan Westemeyer, and Ross Westemeyer; a brother Wendell Durlam; two sisters Lois Veach and Mary Lynch; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings.

Memorials may be directed to: First United Methodist Church 516 Kellogg Ave. Ames, Iowa, 50010. Online condolences may be directed to: wwwgrandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.

Fred M. Bunce
1924 – 2018

Fred M. Bunce age 94, died on Dec 26, 2018 at Bethany Manor, in Story City, Iowa. A gathering of friends and family will be 4-6:00 p.m. Wed. Jan. 9, 2019 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, with a 11:00 a.m. Thur. Jan. 10, funeral service at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave Ames. Burial will be at Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Fred Melvin Bunce, Jr. was born on March 3, 1924 in Valley Junction, Iowa (currently West Des Moines) to Helen Irene (Webster) Bunce and Fred Melvin Bunce, Sr. Fred’s parents divorced when he was 8 years old and he and his sister Phyllis Jean lived with their maternal grandparents, Nellie and Dennis Webster while their mother worked. Fred graduated from Valley High School in 1941 and was involved in chorus, band (tenor sax) and basketball. After graduation, Fred worked as an errand boy for Riggs Optical in Des Moines, Iowa and was promoted to on-the-job training to make eyeglasses and become an optician. On January 23, 1943, Fred received his notice for induction into the Army and proudly served his country for 3 years, 18 months of which he served as Supply Sergeant in a “MASH” Hospital Unit in the Philippines. Returning home in January 1946, he met the love of his life, Virginia Ripley, at a church potluck by setting his plate down next to hers and asked to walk her home. Fred and Virginia were married on July 24, 1946, in West Des Moines, Iowa where they lived and started their family. Fred was hired by the House of Vision in March of 1950 and in 1954 was promoted to be manager of the newly opened House of Vision in Ames, located in the Sheldon Munn Hotel. In 1967, Fred received a call from Des Moines Savings and Loan asking him if he would consider changing careers. On July 1, 1967, Fred became the manager and loan officer for the Ames Branch of Des Moines Savings and Loan (Midland Financial and now currently Bank of the West). Fred retired in February of 1986. Fred’s retirement only lasted one year and in 1987 he became the Iowa/Nebraska District Secretary for Kiwanis. Fred and Virginia were successful managers and organizers for this organization with record numbers attending regional conventions, international trips and just overall good times. They had the good fortune to visit many countries through their association with Kiwanis International. Fred and Virginia retired from their Kiwanis duties in 2000. Kiwanis was a very important aspect of Fred’s life. Fred was always the first flipper at Kiwanis Pancake days! He was honored at a Kiwanis meeting for his 60 years of perfect attendance in 2016. Fred also sang in the Golden K Singers.

Kiwanis was not the only thing close to Fred’s heart – he was an ISU Cyclone through and through. Upon moving to Ames, he held season football and men’s basketball tickets. He supported the Cyclones through thick and thin. He was one of the founders of the Ames Chamber of Commerce Cyclone Club. The Cyclone Club found an old fire truck which they painted Cardinal and Gold for the VEISHEA Parades. 

Fred not only supported the Iowa State Cyclones, he also supported Ames High athletics. He and Virginia were known for hauling a carload of high school girls to out of town games. Fred also served for 20 years as the “voice of the Little Cyclones” as the PA announcer for all of the Ames High School football and basketball games from 1967-1987. For this service, Fred received an Honorary Alumnus Award from Ames High School in 1993.

Fred was very involved in the Ames Community, serving as the President of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, faithful member of the First United Methodist Church, Noon Kiwanis and Golden K Kiwanis Clubs, Kiwanis District Governor, Cyclone Club.

Fred lovingly nursed Virginia through her 13 year battle with breast cancer and she passed away in March 2002. Six months after her death, Fred was at a dinner in Alleman and “ran into a gal” (from Sheldahl), that he had dated prior to going into the Army in the 1940s. After dating, he and Dorothy Trumbull Perrier decided to “elope” on May 5, 2005 (a date easy for Fred to remember). 

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; second wife, Dorothy, his sister, Phyllis Rodine; his parents and grandparents.

Fred is survived by his three daughters, Sharon Boen, Susan Fraser and Sandy Popelka (David). He is also survived by grandchildren Timothy Hanway (Cheryl), Michelle Hanway Thurman (Walter), Nichol Fraser Lyftogt (Jason), Tyler Fraser (Jennifer), Kristofer Popelka (Dawn), and Kraig Popelka, 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be forwarded to the First United Methodist Church or Kiwanis International.

Tom Leimer

1927-2019

Lowell Richardson

1928-2018

His name was Lowell Richardson, but to us, he was Dad and Grandpa. Lowell Estle Richardson was born August 3, 1928, to James and Leta Richardson in Gravity, Iowa. He graduated from Bedford High School in Bedford, Iowa, in 1946. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1951 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. On April 29, 1950, he was united in marriage to Doris (Davault) Richardson in Creston, Iowa.
He was employed at the DOT for 43 years. He was instrumental in the development of the Iowa Interstate System. He was awarded the IPWA Man of the Year Award in 1975. He retired as Director of the Office of Local Systems in 1993, and he was given the Special Services Award by the Iowa County Engineers Association. He was inducted as a “Hero” in the Iowa Transportation Hero’s Center in 2014.
Lowell shared his love of antiques, gardening and traveling, with his wife, especially his variations of tomato plants. He loved playing and watching golf. He and his wife were charter members of The Ballard Golf and Country Club. He loved socializing with many friends from his coffee groups and was a member of the Kiwanis organization.
He was a man of many accomplishments, but it was family that was very important to Lowell – especially the weekly Sunday family gatherings at his and Doris’s home. He was an avid Cyclone fan. It was fitting that he passed peacefully surrounded by his family just minutes after a Cyclone football victory.
To the rest of the world, he was Lowell. To us, he was our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Lowell is survived by his sons, Dan (Janet) Richardson of McCallsburg, Darrell Richardson of Ames, Tim (Deanna) Richardson of Bettendorf; grandchildren, Jody (Tim) Kelley, Andy (Amy) Richardson, Kirstin Richardson, Brad Richardson, Leita Richardson, Alicia Dollieslager, and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death his dearly loved wife, Doris, on September 16, 2018. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Friday November 2, at Adams Funeral Home in Ames. Funeral service will be at 10:30 am Saturday, November 3, at Adams Funeral Home in Ames. Burial Service will follow at Story Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Ames. Memorials may be addressed to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be left at adamssoderstrum.com.

Duane Haglund

1944 – 2018

Duane Ray Haglund

Ames, Iowa – Duane Ray Haglund, of Ames, IA died peacefully at the Israel Family Hospice House surrounded by his family on September 10, 2018. He was 73 years old.

Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Augustana Lutheran Church in Boone with Rev. Daniel Solomon officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone.

Duane is survived by his spouse Linda (Beckman) Haglund their children, Jason (Jennifer) Haglund of Story City, IA, Lynae (Joshua) Kruse of Huxley, IA and his four grandchildren; Zane and Beckett Haglund and Natalie and Emmalyn Kruse. Also surviving are his sister Janet (Haglund) Rosenbrook of Alta, IA, a niece Teresa (Dave) Johnson of Ida Grove, IA and cousins, great nieces and nephews.

Duane was born on November 16, 1944 in Boone, IA to Raymond and Mabel (Runyan) Haglund. He was a graduate of Ogden High School and then in 1965 married Linda Beckman. Duane was a generational life-long farmer in Boone County. In addition to farming he attended Iowa State University and obtained an Ag business degree. His off farm career included insurance and real-estate. He then retired as a Trust Administrator from Wells Fargo Bank in Des Moines after 16 years.

In addition to his career, Duane served in the Iowa National Guard for 13 years. He served on many community boards and organization including Boone County Pork Producers, Boone County Farm Bureau, Boone County Planning and Zoning, Augustan Lutheran Church Board and Finance Committee. He was a member at Augustana Lutheran Church. In his leisure time Duane enjoyed golf, boating, an occasional trip to a casino, traveling with his wife and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Friends may call on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall in Boone from 3 PM until 7 PM, where the family will be present from 5 PM until 7 PM. On Thursday, friends may call at the Augustana Lutheran Church from 9:00 AM until service time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to YSS of Boone County or Augustana Lutheran Church in Boone.

Condolences may be left for the family at: schroedermemorialchapel.com

The Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall in Boone are in charge of arrangements.