Albert Ascherl 1933-2025
DEATH NOTICE
Albert “Al” Ascherl, 91, of Clarinda, Iowa, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2025 at Homestead Assisted Living, Shenandoah, Iowa. Funeral services were held June 28, 2025 at Nodaway Valley Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa, with Reverend Mike Harvey officiating. Visitation was also held June 28, 2025 at Nodaway Valley Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa, prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Clarinda Foundation Veterans Fund. Memories can be shared with the family at www.nodawayvalleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Nodaway Valley Funeral Home of Clarinda.
Albert Ascherl, Jr., was born on November 22, 1933, in Jacksonville, FL, to Albert Ascherl, Sr. and Athalinda Yates Ascherl. His family lived in Winston-Salem, NC, when he was a young boy. Later in his childhood they moved to Penney Farms, FL, to be near his grandparents.
Albert loved to tell stories of his childhood and school years. He had a goat named Billy, that pulled him and his sister in a cart, a pony named Shep, and a dog named Trixie. Al continued his love for animals when he moved to Iowa. He and Margaret had several cats and a cherished dog, Bungee.
Albert went to Military School in his elementary years. He started public school in the 8th grade. He went to high school at Kettlinas High School in St. Augustine, FL, and graduated from there in 1952. He participated in football, basketball, and baseball while in high school.
After graduation, he went into the Marine Corps. He was just 17, so his mom had to sign papers to allow him to join. He was stationed in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He was a very proud veteran and always supported various military causes throughout his life.
In July of 1955, he came back to the States. He then went to work at Lockheed Martin in CA in August of 1955. His employment with them led him to many places around CA, the US, and several foreign countries. He worked on the Ageena, which was the first satellite that was launched. He worked in England on launching spy satellites. He worked a lot in Washington, DC, and said, “You’d be surprised at what’s all around there.” He worked on the Hughes Glomar Explorer from 1972-1974. During this time, the mission he was on was to work to raise a sunken Russian Submarine containing nuclear warheads. Al had many work stories, many of where he worked. None of these stories had a great amount of detail because most of his work with Lockheed was classified as “top secret.” If ever anyone would ask him a specific question about his work, he’d say, “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to shoot you,” followed by a chuckle. He retired from Lockheed in 1996.
He was sent to work on a program for Shell Oil in Louisiana. That is when he met and later married Margaret, his “doll” and the love of his life. They were married on May 27, 1978. They lived in CA for 17 years before retiring and spending the last 30 years in Clarinda. They enjoyed many trips together. Many of those trips included Al’s lifelong friend, Dan Paulsen, and his wife Judy.
Al and Margaret retired to Clarinda, IA, where they bought an acreage. Al enjoyed working in his shop and taking care of the yard. He worked for a couple of seasons mowing for the city park. He worked with Don Turner, helping him to survey land. He was a guy who always liked to stay busy.
He and Margaret lived on the acreage until his health declined from Parkinson’s. They then moved to Eiler Place Senior Living in Clarinda. In April of 2025, he moved to the memory care unit at Homestead Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shenandoah, IA.
Al was an active member of First Christian Church in Clarinda, where his job was to count the number attending each Sunday! He was also a member of the American Legion.
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Piper Magee, Benjamin King, and Landyn Kimbro wait at the counter to deliver meals to guests during the Valentine's dinner fundraiser, raising funds for the upcoming educational trip to Italy and Greece.
From Essex to Europe: Students prepare for educational adventure abroad
By LIZ SKILLERN The Page County Post
A group of Essex High School students are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime—a two-week educational trip to Italy and Greece in June 2026.
The trip, led by Essex Schools paraprofessional and advisor Jena Bowers, was inspired by a similar journey taken by students at Hamburg Schools last year. “Dr. (Mike) Wells wanted to give the Essex kids the same amazing opportunity,” Bowers said.
The itinerary reads like a dream: students will begin their journey in Rome, touring the Vatican City and the Roman Catacombs. From there, they’ll visit the island of Capri before taking a ferry to Delphi and eventually arriving in Athens. The trip will also include a
traditional Greek dinner with dancing, as well as time to explore the island of Crete and its local markets.
Bowers said the experience will offer far more than sightseeing. “I think it’s very important for these kids to experience something they may not have ever experienced if we didn’t give them an opportunity,” she said. “Seeing a different country and the way they live brings a new way to learning. They actually get to see what we are teaching them, versus just the photos in books.”
The group has already been hard at work fundraising. So far, they’ve sold butter braids, beef jerky, and cookie dough, hosted a Valentine’s dinner, wrapped up an end-of-year penny war, and even “flocked” local lawns with pink
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Classified specifications: The Page County Post will run your classified word ad. Just email your wording to phil@pagecountypost.com. If your ad is 10 words or less, it will run for FREE. For ads that are 11-20 words, the price will be $5. For ads that are 21-30 words, the price will be $10, 31-40 is $15, and so on. What can you advertise? Pretty much anything — cars, motorcycles, boats, lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, all types of power tools, rental property, land for sale, even homes for sale, horses, bulls, mules, sheep, chickens — anything you want to turn into cash, you can advertise it in the classifieds.
Bentley Bowers and Landyn Kimbro prepare food for the Valentine's dinner fundraiser, one of several events helping support the 2026 Europe trip.
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flamingos. “The community support has been amazing so far,” Bowers said. “We’re a small community, and we have a lot of money to raise, but I think we’re doing great.”
As the group’s advisor and chaperone, Bowers has taken the lead in organizing fundraisers and coordinating school board approval. She’s been impressed with the students’ enthusiasm and leadership throughout the process. “They have been wonderful in helping with anything I ask,” she said. “They’ve even come up with some great ideas for future fundraisers.”
Still, Bowers acknowledges the biggest challenge ahead is raising the full amount needed for the international trip. “It’s a big amount of money for a small community,” she said, “but we’re determined to make it happen.”
The excitement among students is already building. The excitement among students is already building. “I’m so excited to take the ferry—I’ve never done that before,” said Bentley Bowers, one of the participating students. “I also can’t wait to see what it’s like over there, how their houses look, and what they normally eat.”
Classmate Jesse JohnsonWytik said he’s eager to broaden his perspective. “I’m excited to see other countries,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how other parts of the world live.”
The group plans to continue fundraising throughout the upcoming school year, with more events and activities in the works. “We’ll be doing more fun things soon, so I hope people will come out and join in on the fun,” Bowers encouraged. “Folks should keep checking the school’s Facebook page for updates.”
Hart represents Shenandoah at Iowa Girls State
EDITOR’S NOTE: It is a goal of The Page County Post to include the accomplishments of residents throughout Page County who have represented their communities in a positive way. If you have information about such topics, please reach out to: Liz Skillern lizskillern2@gmail.com
By LIZ SKILLERN
The Page County Post
Ayla Hart, an incoming senior at Shenandoah High School, was selected by
the Shenandoah American Legion Auxiliary Unit #88 to attend the annual session of the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, held June 15–20, on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines.
Hart was among approximately 200 young women from across the state who had completed their junior year of high school and were chosen for their leadership, character, and academic achievement. During the weeklong event, delegates studied and participated in the functioning of city, county,
and state government.
They formed their own mock governments and administered them according to Iowa law, taking part in legislative sessions, campaigning, political party rallies, debates, and elections.
Delegates also gained hands-on experience with parliamentary procedure and civic responsibility.
The program included motivational speakers and presentations from local and state government officials. Midweek, participants traveled to the Iowa State Capitol for a tour and the
opportunity to meet elected leaders.
The session concluded Friday evening with the inauguration of the newly elected state officials on the Drake University campus.
For Hart, the most memorable part of the experience was connecting with her fellow delegates.
“I think the most memorable part of my week was meeting all the people,” she said. “My roommates and I were in the same city, town, and county, so we got to do everything together. I
See AYLA, Page 7
Ayla Hart
GRAND REOPENING
ABOVE: Amy Nielsen cuts the ribbon to officially celebrate the reopening of Serenity Studio and Floral, joined by family members, former owner Patti Gee, Shenandoah City Council member Rita Gibson, and SCIA’s Gregg Connell.
RIGHT: Gregg Connell, executive vice president of the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association, addresses the crowd during the Serenity Studio and Floral ribbon cutting as new owner Amy Nielsen stands with her husband Drew and their sons.
FROM PETALS TO PILATES: Serenity Studio begins a new chapter
By LIZ SKILLERN
The Page County Post
Serenity Studio and Floral in Shenandoah opened a new chapter on July 1 with a ribbon cutting and grand re-opening under new owner Amy Nielsen. The event, hosted by the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association (SCIA), drew a crowd of more than 60 people to 110 S. Elm Street to celebrate the transition of ownership from longtime proprietor Patti Gee, who retired earlier this year.
SCIA Executive Vice President Gregg Connell welcomed the crowd and recognized the legacy of small business owners in Shenandoah. “There’s been a lot of changes over the years in our community, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the incredible entrepreneurial spirit that lives here,” Connell said. “We’ve always been sustained by the individual and mom-andpop entrepreneurs who have existed on our main streets— people like Patti Gee and now Amy Nielsen.” Nielsen, who had previously been a stay-athome mom, acknowledged the big leap and the strong support behind her. “This was not on my bingo card,” she said with a smile, referring to taking over a business. “When Patti approached me, we had multiple conversations, and I was so flattered that she believed I could do this. I
AYLA
FROM PAGE 5
made lots of new friends— it’s crazy, I didn’t even know them a week ago and now they’re like some of my best friends.” Hart said the handson approach of Girls State gave her a much clearer understanding of government.
“You can learn about it in government class, but you don’t really get a grasp on
never realized how much help I’d need—this truly took a village.”
While Nielsen runs the business largely on her own, she credits her parents, inlaws, friends, and husband Drew for pitching in. “My husband has become the ultimate dad,” she said.
“He’s taken on a lot so I could pour myself into this, and I’m so grateful to all of them for helping make this dream possible.”
Patti Gee, whose floral designs have been a Shenandoah staple for years, expressed her gratitude and confidence in Amy’s future.
“I feel very blessed and grateful that this young lady is stepping in,” Gee said.
“She’s caring, welcoming, and a hard worker. It all starts with your roots, and I see that in her and her family. I’m so glad we got to keep this beautiful space open and continue serving Shenandoah.”
Councilwoman Rita Gibson also offered congratulations on behalf of the Shenandoah City Council and Mayor Roger McQueen.
“Mayor McQueen sends his best wishes, and we’re excited to welcome Amy and keep Serenity Studio and Floral to the Shenandoah business community,” she said.
In an interview, Nielsen shared that taking over Serenity felt like a natural fit.
“Owning and operating a business has always been attractive to me,” she said.
“I love working with my
how it works until you’re actually doing it,” she explained. “It was cool to see the governor and vote and be a part of it—especially since I can’t vote yet.”
Girls State also gave her a boost in confidence. “It’s kind of scary to talk in front of people you don’t know,” Hart said. “But once you’ve done it once, it gets easier. It was fun to be a part of it.”
She added that the experience was something she would recommend to others. “It was a really fun
hands, creating, and working with the public. Continuing a legacy business in town is such an honor.”
Nielsen emphasized her commitment to carrying on the creativity and quality that Patti established. “Honoring Patti and what she has built is my top priority,” she said.
“She’s still training me, and I’m learning from her every step of the way. Her floral work is so well known, and I’m excited to continue that.”
While honoring the past, Nielsen is also bringing in fresh ideas.“We recently added Pilates and Barre classes, which have been going really well,” she said. “I’m also working on bringing in new products and well-known brands based on what our customers are looking for.”
Reflecting on the open house and ribbon cutting, Nielsen said she was moved by the turnout.
“It was overwhelming in the best way,” she said. “I was expecting just family and a few close friends—and instead, I looked around and saw a crowd. I was emotional just seeing how many people came to support this little business. It really was ‘so cool.’”
To stay connected or place orders, customers can stop by the shop, call 712-2463550, or follow Serenity Studio and Floral on social media. Nielsen also noted that a revamped website is in the works to better serve customers online.
experience, and I would definitely encourage others to try out for it.”
Hart is the daughter of Adrienne Hart. At Shenandoah High School, she is active in band, choir, Hope Squad, and National Honor Society. She served as Junior Class President and will take on the role of Student Body Vice President for her senior year. Hart is also the stage director for the middle and high school musicals and participates in her church youth group.
PAGE COUNTY POST PHOTOS/LIZ SKILLERN
