We remember these former members of the North Iowa Woodcarvers Guild who have passed away


2001

Wallace Swanson

Kenneth Blakley

Hieko Boekelman

2002


2003
Arlin Ristau

2004

2005
Bob Deal

Masonic rites we e held for Robert Earl Deal, 84, of Algona, Tuesday, Dec.13, 2005. A funeral serv ce was held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Wed.

Robert Earl Deal was born April 5, 1921 at Algona to Bert and Celia (Moreland) Deal. Bob graduated from Algona High School then farmed at the Hanna Ranch. He moved to Sitka, Alaska to paint with his father.

Bob later joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Following his discharge, Bob was united in marriage to Elaine Engstrom on August 30, 1946 in Wesley. He continued his painting career for one year before moving south of Algona as a tenant farmer. Bob and Elaine later purchased the land and lived there for 57 years. Bob began farming with draft horses consequently experiencing many changes through the years.

He was an advocate of soil conservation and was the first in the area to use fertilizer and no till farming. Bob also cut/trimmed trees, always encouraging people to plant a tree for the one taken down. He donated trees to the City of Algona to be planted where the trees were destroyed by the tornado.

Bob was a lifelong member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ. He had been the City of Algona Forester, President of the Irvington Electrical Board, a Cresco Township Trustee, a member of the Algona Community School Board, and was instrumental in the construction of the present football field, the Kossuth County Conservation Board and the FMHA Board. He was a member of Prudence Lodge #205 A.F. & A.M. and the Abu Bekr Shrine Club. He was inducted into the Algona High School Honor Society as an honorary member in 1991. Bob was known as an ethical, hard working individual. He enjoyed his family and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also enjoyed watching sports and was a member of the North Iowa Wood Carving Club in Titonka. For many years he shared how to make maple syrup with friends and school children at the Cozy Grove Maple Sugar Shack. Bob enjoyed playing cribbage and he and Elaine were in the same card club for over 50 years.

Survivors include his wife Elaine of Algona; daughter, Marilyn Deal, of Algona; son, Bill Deal and wife, Liz, of Aurora, Colo.; daughter Ginny Deal and partner, Anita Bundy, of Sidney, Australia; and son Richard Deal and wife, Brenda, of Algona. Also surviving are seven grandchildren; Krista Leigh, Lisa Bormann, Jessica Deal, Elizabeth Stein, Eric Stein and Emily and Evan Deal and five great grandchildren, Robert, Gretta, and Daniel Leigh, and Megan and Donnie Bormann and two brothers, Don Deal and wife, Fran, of Algona and Kim Deal of Sun City, Ariz. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Gwen Coleman and Erma Lea Deim and one brother Hubert (Pete) Deal.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for memorials to be sent to the First Congregational United Church of Christ Algona, Kossuth County Nature Center or the Algona Community School Foundation.



2006
John Wubben

2007


2008

Duane Dallmann

Loren Baker