Memorials
This page is dedicated to honoring the memories of our classmates who have passed away.
If you know of a classmate who has passed who is not listed here, you can add a new memorial with a photo by clicking the Add Memorial button.
You can also write a tribute or leave your comments about those already listed on the page. (Approval may be required prior to publishing)
Kim Bruce Ackelson
1960-01-20 2008-12-19
Kim "KB" Bruce Ackelson, 48, passed away at Polk City Nursing and Rehab Center on Friday, December 19, 2008.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 23, at 2 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
KB was a lifelong resident in Des Moines, graduating from Lincoln High School and studying business at Drake University. He was employed as a cook and a business manager. KB enjoyed watching the Food Network, Orange County Choppers, the Dallas Cowboys, and NASCAR with his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. He also liked fishing at Moffi...
Sherry Walrod (Acuff)
1960-03-22 2006-10-20
Sherry Lynn (Acuff) Walrod, 46, departed on her eternal journey peacefully surrounded by loved ones at Kavanagh House Hospice In Des Moines Friday October 20, of cancer.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 25 at McCalley Funeral Home in Adel with burial At Oakland Cemetery in De Soto. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home where family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. with prayer service at 7 p.m.
Sherry started her journey March 22, 1960 to Edward and Toshiko Yoshida Acuff. She grew up In Des Moines, graduated from Lincoln High School in 1978 and lived In Phoenix, AZ for a short time before moving to De Soto. She was a hard and...
Kelly McCormack (Anderson)
1960-03-11 2018-08-30
Kelly (Anderson) McCormack, 58, of Hilton Head, South Carolina went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 30, 2018.
She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on March 11, 1960 to Frank and Margret Anderson. She graduated from Lincoln High School. She also graduated from Drake University where she was member of the Delta Gamma sorority. She was married to Bill McCormack in Hilton Head on September 5, 2015.
Kelly was a generous and caring person who always put others before herself. In Hilton Head Kelly volunteered to serve meals to those less fortunate and she was involved with the Hilton Head Humane Association. Kelly liked to experience new places. She took chances, m...
Alan Atwell
1959-08-13 1981-05-20
Services for Alan Frank Atwell Jr., 21, of Long Beach, Calif., and formerly of Des Moines, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hamilton’s Funeral Home. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Atwell died of cancer Wednesday at a Long Beach hospital.
He was born in Waterloo and lived in Des Moines for 10 years before moving to California. A 1978 graduate of Lincoln High School, he had been attending Long Beach City College. He was a member of the Indianola Heights Christian Church.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Alan and Margherita Atwell of Las Vegas, Nev.; his paternal grandmother, Jessie Roth of Iowa Falls; and his maternal grandmother, Martha Sage of De...
Michael Belken
1959-11-04 2020-08-01
Michael K. Belken, 60, passed away at his home on August 1, 2020.
Michael was born November 4, 1959 in Des Moines to Harold and LaVera “Nadine” (Wade) Belken. He was a lifelong Des Moines resident and worked for Polk County most of his adult life. Michael was a Mason. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Michael also enjoyed jeeping and off-roading. He loved his dogs. Michael was a quiet man who kept to himself and treasured his few close friendships.
Michael is survived by his siblings, George (Jan) Belken, Jeannine (Michael) McDaniel and Judy Belken; nieces, Kimberly, Kirstin and Katherine Belken and Marissa and Mallory Huff; great-nieces a...
Debby Nielsen (Bishop)
1960-05-11 2022-09-28
Debby Bishop-Nielsen left this earth to be with her husband Marty on September 28, 2022, in Des Moines, Iowa.
She was best known for her quick wit, a personality as big as she was, and her long braid. Debby worked in food service for over 40 years and was loved by the students at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Debby loved making people laugh, Nascar, dancing, and her family.
She is survived by her son Tyler (Trisha) Nielsen, her grandson Trevor Nielsen, her mother Rosemary Bishop, her sister Teri (Roger) Miller, her nieces Mandy (Dennis) George and Brittany Miller, all of Des Moines, her brother Tim Bishop of Denton, Texas, and her loving dog Grasshopper.
Thomas Briggs
1960-03-22 2014-10-23
Thomas Arthur Briggs, 54, of Rogers, Arkansas passed from this life on October 23, 2014. He was born March 22, 1960 in Des Moines, Iowa to Willard Volta Briggs and Vera Eloise Knecht Briggs.
Mr. Briggs enjoyed his work as a computer programmer and creating an internet business, KrittersInTheMailbox.com. He loved and cared for animals, especially his ferrets. He could research and discuss any scientific topic and he always enjoyed preparing and setting off fireworks displays. He was fascinated with weather and participated in many outside activities such as hiking and riding bikes.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his siste...
Margaret Ussery (Burns)
1960-06-24 2021-10-14
Margaret Ann “Margy” Ussery, 61, passed away unexpectedly from cancer on October 14, 2021 at MercyOne Medical Center.
Margy was born June 24, 1960 in Sierra Vista, Arizona to Kenneth and Margaret (Burks) Burns. As a child, she was baptized in the name of Jesus and was filled with the Holy Ghost. Throughout her life, she was a faithful servant of God who studied her Bible and loved worshipping Him.
Margy graduated from Lincoln High School and Salvador Beauty School. She worked for Marketlink, now Allied Global, for over 25 years as a call center manager. Margy homeschooled her daughter and was a passionate leader in the homeschool community. She was the director...
Louis Castellano
1959-09-29 2018-06-06
GySgt Louis Michael Castellano, 58, left his loving family on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
Louis was born September 29, 1959. He graduated from Lincoln High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving as a drill instructor for over 11 years and eventually retiring as a top military recruiter. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and family, listening to good music, playing volleyball and trips to Mexico with Julie.
Louis is survived by his children, Christopher Castellano and Karmalita Castellano; his partner, Julie Wikoff and her children, Brooke (Sonny Schlapia) Wikoff and Blake (Cassandra) Wikoff; grandchildren, Kaison, Kamari, Keaton...
Terri Clark
1959-12-05 2020-05-06
Terri Lynn Clark, 60, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at MercyOne West Lakes in West Des Moines, IA from complications of Covid-19. Per Terri's wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and private services were held.
Terri was born December 5, 1959, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Thomas and Mary (Gates) Clark.
Terri had many jobs, but her favorites were Reilly Construction and Turner Construction. She loved photography, fishing, road trips with her friends and spending time with her family.
Terri is survived by her sisters, Sandra (Jeff) Carmichael of Urbandale, IA, Penni (Jerry) Epping of Des Moines, IA and Kari Lenihan (Marc Ryan) of Urbandale, I...