June Birdsell

    June A. Birdsell, 88, of Clear Lake, and most recently a resident of Apple Valley Assisted Living, passed away Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.
    A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church with the Rev. Diana Hoover officiating.

Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5 - 7 p.m. at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake.
    Should friends desire, memorials may be left in June’s name in care of her family.
    June Arlene Klinge was born on April 27, 1923 in Manly, Iowa, the daughter of Harry P. and Sylvia M. (Daubenmeir) Klinge.  She attended Manly High School and graduated amongst the class of 1941. On April 5, 1941 June was united in marriage to Donald E. Birdsell in Hampton, Iowa. This union would be blessed with three daughters.
    Following June and Donald’s marriage they moved to California where Donald worked in the ship yards.  After the war ended they returned to Mason City and in 1946 they moved to Manly where they owned and operated the “Stop and Go” Grocery Store. 
    In later years June worked as a travel agent in Mason City as well as in Florida.  Traveling was one of June’s passions and she traveled extensively through Europe, Latin America, and throughout the United States.  June was also an accomplished pianist and loved gardening, bird watching, both watching and playing golf, and writing poetry.  She was also a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.
    Those grateful in sharing in June’s life are her three daughters, Sharon (Larry) Dixon, Linda Johnston, and Nancy Whipple, all of Mason City; seven grandchildren, Laura Bramsen and Darin Reynolds, Tracy (Michael) Waite, Jessica Johnston-Lipp, William T. (Nichole) Whipple, David (Lisa) Whipple, June (Michael) Bahnsen, and Benjamin Whipple; eight great-grandchildren, Jeramy (Peggy) Schiefelbein, Jacob (Treena) Waite, Benjamin Bramsen and Katie Mozack, Jillian Waite, William G. Whipple, Brenna Johnston, Amaya Bahnsen, Chloe Bahnsen, and Julia Whipple; six great-great-grandchildren, Alexis Schiefelbein, MaKayla Waite, MaKenna Waite, Hailey Hansen, Hayden Hansen, and Zane Schiefelbein; a brother, David (Patricia) Klinge; a brother-in-law, Donald Kofron; as well as many extended family members and friends.
    June is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three brothers, Daniel Klinge, James Klinge, and Robert Klinge.
    Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is handling arrangements.