Congregaton Page 5

Congregation Page 5

Laura Newby graduated from Union Whitten High School and Iowa State University with a degree in Education. She taught school for a few years, then opened the Tender Sprout Day Care Center in Union. She served in the Peace Corps in Africa for two years. Laura now works for MICA in Marshalltown. Laura was a long term Story Hour Lady at the Union Public Library. She has two children and four grandchildren. Her daughter Kara Backoff and her family are also members of the Community Church.

Carl and Audrey Norman
Carl and Audrey Norman

Carl and Audrey Norman begin attending the Union Community Church in 19

74 when they moved to Union from their farm in the Liberty area. Audrey is an avid quilter and an active member of the Willing Workers. Audrey has a wonderful sense of humor. She makes us laugh. She makes us happy. Carl is everyone's agreeable, happy friend. He and Audrey have four children, eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. They delight in their close, devoted family. Two of their children, Stan and David and their families also attend the Union Community Church.
Carl Norman died August 16, 2006. Please go to the In Memory Page.

Congregation Index

Stan and Pam Norman

Stan and Pam both grew up in the Union Whitten area and graduated from Union Whitten High School. They live on a farm south west of Union. Pam is a medical lab technician working in Conrad. They are both active in the church. Pam is on the Church Board and the Exploratory Committee II. Stan and Pam have four daughters. Stan's brother and his parents also are members of the Community Church.

David and Linda Norman, Jed and Jacob

David and Linda live on a farm southwest of Union. Jed and Jacob are in college. Both are active in the church and the community. David's brother Stan and his mother Audrey both attend the Community Church.

Congregation Index

Lois Paxton
Lois Paxton

Lois Paxton is always in church. She is an enthusiastic, optimistic person who is always willing to do whatever she can to help. One of Lois’s unique abilities is to see the best in all of us. Lois grew up in Marshalltown and graduated from high school there. Her husband, Richard died at a young age, leaving her with four sons to rear. She worked forty five years as a beautician in Whitten and Union and finally retired in 2004. Lois joined the Community Church in 1993. She always helps with the Bazaar, and has served on the Mission Board and the All Church committee. She has been a strong supporter of the Remodeling Project and the Church Foundation. Lois has ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, and two living sons. One grandson, Richie Teckenburg and his family are also members of the Community Church. Her grandchildren visit her often and Lois delights in her close knit, loving family.

David and Diane Petty

David Petty grew up in the Union Whitten area and graduated from the Union Whitten High School. Diane moved to Union to accept the position of High School principal. She is now the elementary school principal with the BCLUW district. They operate the Iowa River Ranch located along the Iowa River between Eldora and Union. Dave Petty has been active in promoting conservation and a mix of cattle feeding and crop farming. He was recently named a Master Farmer of Iowa. Their daughter Dresden teaches in the BCLUW school.

Congregation Index

Michelle Purcell

helle, Sarah,

and Caitlyn Purcell:

Michelle, Sarah and Caitlyn live in Whitten. Michelle and Sarah have been members of the Union Community Church since May of 2006. Sarah was also confirmed at the Union Community Church in May of 2006. Michelle graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in December of 2006 and works in the Accounting department at CMC Iowa in Iowa Falls. Sarah is active in cheerleading, track, and softball. Caitlyn is in the 6^th grade at BCLUW. Caitlyn is active in softball and basketball.

Lu Quaife

Lu Quaife is always in church, always happy and encouraging. She is an independent person and does not let anything gets her down. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of our church remodeling project. For many years Lu assumed the responsibility of coming to church early to make coffee for the Adult Sunday School Class and also for the "Coffee and Cookies" that the congregation enjoys after church services. Now she is a substitute Sunday School teacher. Lu enjoys Sunday School and Church Services. She says "Without the church, there would be a big blank space in my life."   Lu says that this poem expresses the way she feels.
                         "God blessed my life so many ways
                                With tender love and care.
                            I always found His guiding grace
                                                                     In answer to each prayer.

                                                                    He gave me strength and faith anew
                                                                            When I felt great despair.
                                                                     He led me through my trying times
                                                                              And helped my burdens bear.

                                                                    And yet despite my sins and faults
                                                                              That are of me a part,
                                                                             I know He lives eternally
                                                                                Within my mind and heart"

About 1993, Lu joined the Union Community Church, transferring her membership from the Hubbard Zion Church where she had been a member since her baptism. Lu Quaife is a cherished member of the Union Community Church family.   Lu is now living in Eldora Nursing and Rehab.   Lu Quaife died March 22, 2009. Please go to the In Memory page.

Congregation Index

James and Betty Parrent

James and Betty Parrent moved to Union after their retirement from Illinois. James was a computer programer and Betty worked for the Federal Land Bank.

Joseph W. and Patricia (Fistler) Rash

We are long time members of the Union Community Church. My family background is mainly Congregational and Joe's background families are mainly Friends (Quakers). Mother put me on the "Cradle Roll" the 22 of Nov. of 1927. I was baptized and joined the church the 25th of May 1941. (My two sisters also.) We were married here in the church 11 August. 1946, while Joe was in the army. He was drafted towards the end of World war 11. At this time I was in Omaha, Nebr. working for the Federal Reserve Bank there. We lived on a farm north of Marshalltown for three years and attended the Friends Church down there. In March of 1951, we moved to my family farm east of Union, where we raised our children and now farm with Jerry and Carol and now our grandson John is with us also. I taught Sunday School for 36 years, starting when Peggy was 3 years old and ready to start to nursery class. I also taught Bible School some of those years and serve on All Church Committee, past years on Church Board, and various other committees. Joe has served on Church Board, Finance Board, Men's Fellowship and many other activities of the church. We hope to be around for several more years of fellowship and worship here at the Union Community Church.

Congregation Index

Paul and Virginia Rowen

Paul and Virginia Rowen live on a farm northeast of Union. Paul was reared in the Union area. Paul is not only a farmer, he also enjoys working with wood. He makes beautiful clocks and furniture. Paul helped take down the large tree that stood right in the middle of what is now our Fellowship Room. But the tree is with us still. From the lumber in that tree, he made the coat racks that are in the entryway of our church building. Virginia moved to Union when her father became the pastor of the Community Church. She graduated from Union High School and enrolled in the Nursing program at St. Thomas Hospital in Marshalltown. She worked as a nurse at the Grinnell Hospital and at the Eldora Hospital. Later she worked in a doctor’s office in Eldora. Paul and Virginia were married in 1950 in the Community Church. They have two children, Linda and David, and six grandchildren. Their family is the center of their life and they enjoy attending their grandchildren’s programs and sport events.

Rick and Susan Schill

Rev. Rick Schill has been the minister of The Community Church of Union since 1993. He received the Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and the Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa. His wife, Susan, is a Registered Nurse and works in Emergency Services at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center.

Rick and Sue have three children, Zack (and his wife Natasha), Gwyn (and her husband Bob), and Lindsey. They enjoy water and snow skiing, golf, travel, and their lake retreat. The Schills wish you the very best of Jesus Christ, our Lord.