Person Page - 5988

     Tamara L. "Tammy" Northrup Tamara “Tammy” L. Riker, 41, of Mason City, IA, died Monday, December 28, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Per her wishes her body was cremated. Tamara was born October 1, 1974, in Mason City, the daughter of Mark Northrup and Sheila (Cheney) Hacker. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1994. On August 28, 2004, Tammy married Samuel Riker in Mason City. Over the years she worked as a CNA for various nursing homes. Tammy enjoyed spending time with her family and taking care of her pets. She also enjoyed fishing, being outdoors, listening to music – especially Western, cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and decorating her home for Christmas. Tammy also competed in the Special Olympics and had won several gold and silver medals. Tammy is survived by her husband: Samuel Riker of Mason City; 2 sons: James Deemer of Titonka, IA and Shawn Deemer of Titonka; her mother: Sheila Hacker and husband Tommy of Alden, IA; her father: Mark Northrup and wife Maggie of St. Ansgar, IA; 2 sisters: Janelle McClintock and husband Shane of DeWitt, IA and Kelly Berg and husband Kevin of Forest City, IA; 2 step-brothers: Nick Herman and wife Tayla of Hanlontown, IA and Tavis Hacker of Minneapolis, MN; 2 step-sisters: Danielle Grimm and husband Kenny of Algona, IA and Whitley Hacker of Minneapolis; and her mother-in-law: Jan Riker of Mason City. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and loving in-laws. She was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents; 2 uncles and 1 aunt.¹ She was born on October 1, 1974 at Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa.¹ As of August 28, 2004,her married name was Riker.¹ She married Samuel James Riker Sr., son of James "Jim" Riker and Janice Kay Wigant, on August 28, 2004 at Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa.¹ Tamara L. "Tammy" Northrup died on December 28, 2015 at Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, at age 41.¹

     Hailey Kay-Loretta Riker was born on April 17, 1992.⁴ She died on February 5, 2000 at Scarville, Winnebago Co., Iowa, at age 7.^3,4 She SCARVILLE - Officials will continue their investigation today to determine the cause of a fire that claimed the lives of three children and their grandfather at a rural Winnebago County residence early Saturday morning. The fire was discovered when the children's mother, Michelle Janka, and a friend, Jason Jensen, returned home around 5 a.m. to find the house at 14519 490th St., Scarville, filled with smoke, according to a report from Winnebago County Sheriff Thomas Lillquist. Janka's father, Michael Awe, 52, and her three children - Hailey Riker, 7, Samuel Riker, Jr., 6, and Jade Michael Janka, 4, all died of smoke inhalation, according to Dr. David Sloan, a pathologist at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, who performed the autopsies. According to the sheriff's report, Janka and Jensen made several attempts to get into the house but were unable to find the children or Janka's father due to the heat and heavy smoke. Jensen remained at the scene, trying to rouse someone in the house, while Janka went to the nearest farmhouse, rousing 72-year-old Darlyne Engebretson. "Poor Michelle was pounding on my door, screaming that her house was on fire and she couldn't get in to find her kids," said Engebretson, who called the fire department then hurried to the Janka house to help. "It was terrible," Engebretson said. "You couldn't get close to the house. It was an inferno." The body of Jade Janka was found in the living room and the two older children and Awe were found in his second- floor bedroom, Scarville Fire Chief Dave Kramer said. "When we arrived, about 10 minutes after we got the call, there were flames shooting out of almost every window in the house," Kramer said. "It was so full of smoke and flames, we couldn't get inside to find anyone. We just did the best we could to put the fire out. We even had a boom truck from Heartland Coop and were spraying water through the roof." Investigation into the cause of the fire has been turned over to State Fire Marshal Michael Keefe, who said he expects to spend most of today "digging through the rubble. At this point, I will not speculate as to the cause," Keefe said Sunday night. And while authorities continue to look into the cause of the fatal fire, friends and relatives are grieving, Engebretson said. "They were such special children. Little Jade would sometimes call me Grandma and I took them to Sunday school," Engebretson said, her voice choked with emotion. "And I was so proud of Michelle when she went back to school and passed the class so she could work as a nurse's aid. Things had been rough, but she was working hard to straighten out her life." Authorities have not released any information as to whether the house was equipped with smoke detectors. But Awe, who was deaf, would not have heard the alarms sounding, according to Engebretson. "He could not hear and he didn't talk. But those kids liked their grandpa and sure could communicate with him. And Michelle was very good to him," Engebretson said. Co-workers at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa started a fund drive for Janka whose household possessions were also lost in the fire. on February 7, 2000.³

     Samuel James Riker Jr. was born on June 1, 1993.² He died on February 5, 2000 at Scarville, Winnebago Co., Iowa, at age 6.² He SCARVILLE - Officials will continue their investigation today to determine the cause of a fire that claimed the lives of three children and their grandfather at a rural Winnebago County residence early Saturday morning. The fire was discovered when the children's mother, Michelle Janka, and a friend, Jason Jensen, returned home around 5 a.m. to find the house at 14519 490th St., Scarville, filled with smoke, according to a report from Winnebago County Sheriff Thomas Lillquist. Janka's father, Michael Awe, 52, and her three children - Hailey Riker, 7, Samuel Riker, Jr., 6, and Jade Michael Janka, 4, all died of smoke inhalation, according to Dr. David Sloan, a pathologist at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, who performed the autopsies. According to the sheriff's report, Janka and Jensen made several attempts to get into the house but were unable to find the children or Janka's father due to the heat and heavy smoke. Jensen remained at the scene, trying to rouse someone in the house, while Janka went to the nearest farmhouse, rousing 72-year-old Darlyne Engebretson. "Poor Michelle was pounding on my door, screaming that her house was on fire and she couldn't get in to find her kids," said Engebretson, who called the fire department then hurried to the Janka house to help. "It was terrible," Engebretson said. "You couldn't get close to the house. It was an inferno." The body of Jade Janka was found in the living room and the two older children and Awe were found in his second- floor bedroom, Scarville Fire Chief Dave Kramer said. "When we arrived, about 10 minutes after we got the call, there were flames shooting out of almost every window in the house," Kramer said. "It was so full of smoke and flames, we couldn't get inside to find anyone. We just did the best we could to put the fire out. We even had a boom truck from Heartland Coop and were spraying water through the roof." Investigation into the cause of the fire has been turned over to State Fire Marshal Michael Keefe, who said he expects to spend most of today "digging through the rubble. At this point, I will not speculate as to the cause," Keefe said Sunday night. And while authorities continue to look into the cause of the fatal fire, friends and relatives are grieving, Engebretson said. "They were such special children. Little Jade would sometimes call me Grandma and I took them to Sunday school," Engebretson said, her voice choked with emotion. "And I was so proud of Michelle when she went back to school and passed the class so she could work as a nurse's aid. Things had been rough, but she was working hard to straighten out her life." Authorities have not released any information as to whether the house was equipped with smoke detectors. But Awe, who was deaf, would not have heard the alarms sounding, according to Engebretson. "He could not hear and he didn't talk. But those kids liked their grandpa and sure could communicate with him. And Michelle was very good to him," Engebretson said. Co-workers at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa started a fund drive for Janka whose household possessions were also lost in the fire. on February 7, 2000.⁴

     Michelle Awe married Samuel James Riker Sr., son of James "Jim" Riker and Janice Kay Wigant.² Michelle Awe was buried at Immanuel Cemetery, Scarville, Winnebago Co., Iowa.^3,1 Her married name was Riker.² She was born on March 29, 1975.^3,1 She died on September 1, 2001 at Lake Mills, Winnebago Co., Iowa, at age 26.^3,1 She LAKE MILLS - Michelle Jensen, 26, of Lake Mills, passed away Saturday (Sept. 1, 2001) at her home in Lake Mills. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Bethel Lutheran Church, Vinje, with the Rev. Dani Jo Ninke-Greaver officiating. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Scarville. Michelle Jensen, daughter of Michael and Mavis (White) Awe, was born March 29, 1975, in Iowa City, Iowa. Michelle worked as a nurse's aide at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, in Mason City. She also worked part time at Cenex at the Top of Iowa rest stop. Michelle enjoyed reading and writing. On Nov. 18, 2000, Michelle married Jason Jensen. She is survived by her husband, Jason Jensen, of Lake Mills; her mother and stepfather, Mavis Hauge and Paul Henderson, of Thompson; her mother-in-law, Sue Brighton, of Lake Mills; two uncles, John Awe, of Leland, and Joe Awe, of Corwith; two aunts, Marcia Hermanson, of Scarville, and Neta Rae White, of Charles City; three stepbrothers, David, Bruce and Mike Henderson; one stepsister, Cindy Fitzgerald, all of Freemont, Neb; and many friends. Michelle was preceded in death by her grandparents; her father, Michael Awe; her three children, Hailey Kay Loretta Riker, Samuel "Sammy" James Riker Jr., and Jade Michael Janka; her sister, Mardelle "Gabby" Awe. on September 5, 2001.¹

     Gordon Everett Wright was buried at Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, France.⁴ He and Carlene Margaret Reed were divorced.⁵ Gordon Everett Wright was born on February 4, 1917 at Orchard, Mitchell Co., Iowa.^4,2 He married Carlene Margaret Reed, daughter of Otis Grant Reed and Irene May/Mae "Rena" Nicol, on January 31, 1934 at Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa.^1,3 Gordon Everett Wright died on May 26, 1945 at Germany at age 28.^2,4 He Word was received by B.F. Wright of Charles City, Thursday, June 7, from the War Department, stating that his son, Staff Sgt. Gordon E. Wright was killed in Germany on May 26, 1945. Sergeant Wright had enlisted in the army on December 9, 1940 and was one of the first men to leave Mitchell county. He was inducted at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, and trained in several camps in this country. He lacked just two days of having completed his year's military service when Pearl Harbor was bombed; so he continued in the service. He was sent overseas on August 4, 1942 and was stationed for 16 months on Iceland; then for six months in England. He took part in the Normandy invasion and, as a result of injuries received, was awarded the Purple Heart. Since June 1944, he has been in France and Germany, with the exception of a 30-day rotation furlough. He landed in New York on January 29, 1945 and was married in Brooklyn, New York to Mary Burke on February 5. They came west to visit relatives for their honeymoon. That was the first furlough in three and a half years, the last being at the time of his mother's death. On March 1, he reported to Camp Shanks, New Jersey, and was again sent overseas. He was in the graves registration quartermaster corps of the 7th army and in his last letter written May 21, he said, for the past three weeks he had been busy looking up graves of the missing pilots and had gone through the Brenner Pass into Austria, back through Poland, and the western slave held countries. He also said that he had over 100 points and was the third on the list of those about to be sent home. Sgt. Gordon E. Wright was born February 4, 1917 at Orchard, Iowa, the youngest child of B.F. and Nellie Wright. He was educated and spent all his life in Mitchell county until he enlisted in the service. His mother preceded him in death on April 30, 1941. He is survived by his wife, Mary Burke Wright, Brooklyn, N.Y., his father, B.F. Wright of Charles City, two brothers, John of Charles City and Marion of St. Ansgar, and by two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Gibson, Herkimer, N.Y. and Mrs. Estelle Moss of Osage. on June 14, 1945.²

     Magdalene Elizabeth "Maggie" Basgall Magdalene “Maggie” Elizabeth Reed, age 91, of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at the IOOF Home in Mason City, Iowa. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, in Osage, Iowa, with Pastor Andy Reed officiating. Inurnment will be at the Osage Cemetery. Maggie was born June 4, 1925, in Manly, Iowa, the daughter of Emanuel and Barbara (Frank) Basgall. She graduated from Manly High School in 1943. On Aug. 31, 1943, she married Delmer Grant Reed, in Paris, Texas. Maggie operated a restaurant in Riceville, Iowa and had a used furniture and clothing business. She also worked at the Knitting Mill, in Osage. She later served as a caretaker at Opportunity Village, in Clear Lake. Maggie enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, crocheting, gardening, playing cards, slot machines, reading and golfing. Maggie is survived by her daughter, Marjorie (Larry) Munn, of Clear Lake, and their sons, Douglas (Michele) Munn and children, Haley, Tyler, Brianna and Kyden, Stephen (Camri), Shanda (Jennifer), Bliss and Emily and Troy Munn and son, Kevin; her daughter, Kathy (Joe) Whitinger, of Elma, and their children, Jamie (Ken) Gansen and children, Joey and Josie, Jason (Vanessa) Whitinger and children, Rylie and Dawson, Jarvis (Jill) Whitinger and children, Jasie K., Jared, Jakob and Jayla, and Joshua (Jessy) Whitinger and children, Evelyn, Lucas and Ada; her son, Thomas (Norma) Reed, of Altoona, Iowa, and their children, Melanie (Brian) Beath and children, Johnathan, Samuel, and Benjamin, Becky (Paul) Hansen and children, Jaden and Ethan, Andy (Chelsea) Reed and children, Henry, Sydney and Abby, and Katie (James) Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Delmer Reed; her grandson, James Michael Whitinger; brothers, Slyvester (Carol) Basgall, Joseph (Dorothy) Basgall, Clarence (Gertrude) Basgall and Jacob (Elaine) Basgall; and sisters, Mary (Ermine) Todd, Rose (Mark) Mandt, Katie (Jack) Hebel and Barbara (Charles) Lenhart.¹ She was buried at Osage Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa.¹ She was born on June 4, 1925 at Manly, Worth Co., Iowa.¹ As of August 31, 1943,her married name was Reed.¹ She married Delmer Grant Reed, son of Otis Grant Reed and Irene May/Mae "Rena" Nicol, on August 31, 1943 at Paris, Lamar Co., Texas.¹ Magdalene Elizabeth "Maggie" Basgall died on March 7, 2017 at Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, at age 91.¹