Traditional Memorial Day services return to area

Following a year in which most public observances were called off due to pandemic COVID-19, traditional Memorial Day observances for 2021 will resume in Hancock County communities on Monday, May 31.

Memorial Day services at Garner, Klemme, Britt, Kanawha, Corwith and Goodell are as follows:

Garner

Services at Garner will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Central Park with the arrival of the Garner Ceremonial Unit. Hancock County Veterans Affairs Director Gerald Edgar, VFW Commander Herman Robinson, and American Legion Commander John Tammen will welcome the audience.

Father Andrew Marr, pastor of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, will lead the opening and closing prayers.

GHV delegates to Boys State Brandon Englin and Eric Heitland, and delegates to Girls State Avwry Lackore and Abby Christianson will lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adam Kofoed, Garner City Administrator, will give the Memorial Day address. Kofoed is an Army veteran, having served with a Patriot Missile Unit at Osan Air Base in South Korea.

Music will be provided by the GHV 7-8^thgrade band. The program includes a musical tribute by Cindy Joynt and Wyatt Hubrich. 

Recently departed Garner area veterans are: Elmer F. Young (Army), Marvin L. Rayhons (National Guard), 

Robert W. Hestad (National Guard), Dan McCormick (Navy), Robert V. Schisel (Army), Calvin W. Voigt (Army), Robert Young (Marines), Clarence Hrubes (Army), Paul K. Larson (Navy), James Malloy (National Guard), John O. Haugen (Navy), Richard Haes (Army), and Donald E. Greiman (Air Force).

The program concludes with the ceremonial 21-gun salute and Taps.

Klemme

Memorial Day services at Klemme begin 9:30 a.m. at the Immanuel United Church of Christ, with Pastor David Boogerd giving the invocation. The American Legion Color Guard will advance and retire the Colors. Verlyn Kaduce will be the Master of Ceremonies.

The address will be given by Trent Dirks and his dog, Tracer. Dirks is resource development director for Retrieving Freedom, Inc. a non-profit organization that trains service dogs to meet the specific needs of the recipient and improve their lives.

The program will include the reading of deceased veterans. Klemme area veterans who died this past year include John Haugen and David Welch.

Music will be provided by Diane Stadtlander.

Memorial Day observances continue at the Ell Township Cemetery, for the traditional placing of wreaths at the Veterans Memorial Monument and a prayer followed by a rifle salute and “Taps.”

Britt

Memotial Day services at Britt are hosted by the VFW Post 347 and American Legion Post 315. The program begins 10:30 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery. Mayor Ryan Arndorfer will be the Memorial Day speaker at Britt. Tiffany Sherwood and Stacy Heston will lead the singing of the National Anthem.

Patriotic readings will be given West Hancock students Matt Francis, Chance Eden and David Smith.

American Legion Chaplain Gene Gunther will read the names of departed veterans. Veterans who have passed away include the following: 

•2019 - Robert L Buns,  Eppo Gremmer, Larry Vandusseldorf

•2020 - Connie Burgardt, Bernard Pannkuk, Lawrence Smidt, John Tegtmeyer

•2021- Charles L. Trunkhill, William J. Spencer, Ralf G. Martin.

The audience is encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Kanawha

Memorial Day program at Kanawha will be held at the Amsterdam Township Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 31. American Legion Commander Dean VanDeWiele will be the Master of Ceremonies. Pastor Jason Semans from Wright Christian Reformed Church will give the invocation and benediction.

Decoration of the grave of the unknown soldier will be done by the Kanawha Boy Scouts. Patriotic songs will be sung by the audience. 

There will be a reading of the names of the honored dead. Since Memorial Day 2019, two veterans were added to the list of honored dead: Robert Kraft and W. David Smith.

The program concludes with the ceremonial 21-gun salute and “Taps” by Kanawha Severson Post #77.

In case of inclement weather the program will be held at the West Hancock Junior High School in Kanawha.

Goodell

The 2021 Goodell American Legion Memorial Day Service will be held 10:30 a.m. at the Goodell Community Hall. Ed Rohner, a candidate for the American Legion Department Commander for Iowa, will be the speaker.

Corwith

Memorial Day observance at Corwith will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 31 at the Corwith Cemetery.

The annual alumni dinner will be served at 12 noon at the Corwith Community Center. For reservations, call Leona Welter at 515-583-2106.