Lester Showers, passed unexpectedly at his home in Avoca, Iowa, on September 23, 2025, at the age of 79 years, 8 months and 4 days.

Marilyn Jane Kolbe, 86, of Story City, Iowa, passed away September 25, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family.Marilyn was born October 6, 1938, in Hubbard, Iowa, to Arend and Viola (Radley) Tjarks. She graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1956 and earned her teaching degree from Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls.

Rita Caroline Kloewer was born the fourth of eleven children on September 1, 1932, to Peter and Frances (Gross) Mumm in Earling, Iowa. She was baptized, confirmed, and received her education at St. Joseph Catholic Church and School in Earling, graduating with the Class of 1950.On May 1, 1956, she was united in marriage to James Michael Kloewer at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Bonnie Mae Messerschmidt Eggerss was born on March 6, 1934, to Walter F. and Mabel A. (Krohn) Messerschmidt in Shelby County, Iowa. She grew up in Shelby, attended Shelby Consolidated School, and graduated with the Class of 1952, where she was honored with the Iowa Citizenship Award.On January 7, 1953, Bonnie was united in marriage to Ronald Eggerss at the First Presbyterian Church in Shelby.

JoAnn Kluesner, age 81, of Waverly, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 22, 2025, at UnityPoint Health – Allen Memorial in Waterloo, surrounded by her loving family.JoAnn was born on August 8, 1944, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond and Helen (Crimmins) Hanrahan. She graduated from Fort Dodge St.

April Dawn Bruck was born on September 27, 1979, in Harlan, Iowa, to Jody Bruck and Melody A. Sabin. She grew up in Earling, Iowa, where she attended Harlan Community Schools and thrived in Special Olympics where she received many awards and medals. April was baptized at St.

John W. Hess IV was born November 6, 1945, in Brigham City, Utah, son of John W. Hess III and Thelma Maxine Dunning, fifteen years into their marriage. His mother became so violently ill that she thought she had a tumor. The doctor told her she had a tumor alright–a two-legged one. They lived on a ranch in northern Utah, in a house with 3 rooms and a path until John was 9 years old, when they moved into Tremonton.

 Judith Rose Peterson was born to Henry and Clarice Peterson on March 31, 1938 in Harlan, Ia. She grew up on their farm near Harlan and attended country school in Fairview Township. She attended Harlan High School, graduating in 1956. In 1958 she married Leonard Kay and immediately after they were married they moved to Germany where Leonard served in the U.S. Army. While in Germany, their son Todd Randall (Randy) was born.

Karole Ann Anastasi entered the world as an unexpected surprise on October 16, 1940, arriving just six minutes after her twin brother on the family farm in Dunlap, Iowa. She was one of ten children of Zeno and Lois Lapke, and from the beginning her life was rooted in faith, family, and love.After graduating from St.

Della, age 96, of Johnston, Iowa, passed away September 3, 2025.  Funeral mass will be at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, IA, on Saturday, September 6, at 11:00.  Interment follows at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Defiance.Della was born to Magdalena (Schneider) and Quirin Goeser on a farm near Westphalia, in Shelby county in 1929, the eighth of ten children.

Eldon Howard Erickson was born on July 24, 1939, the son of Floyd Albert and Sadie (Larsen) Erickson in Harlan, Iowa. He received his early education at a country school southwest of Harlan, completing eighth grade before graduating from Harlan High School with the Class of 1957. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served honorably as an air policeman with assignments in Texas, Korea, and Louisiana.

George “Bert” Hillers was born on May 12, 1940, to Christe and Lenore (King) Hillers in Bedford, IA. He grew up in Blockton, IA, where he attended grade school through high school.

Benita Augusta (Bissen) Schiltz, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Erlbacher) Bissen was born on January 11, 1921 in Defiance, Iowa.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, and graduated with the class of 1939 from St. Paul’s Catholic High School in Defiance.

Sherri Ruth Hess was born July 6th, 1965, in Waterloo, IA. The third of seven children to Pastor David and Sharon (Halvorsen) Hess, she accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She sang in both church and school choirs, swam like a fish, roller-skated at the rink, worked a paper route, and worked summers at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp.In 1983 she graduated from Christian Heritage in Cedar Falls.

Deloris Lillian Adams, daughter of Perrin and Agnes (Sanders) Van Fleet, was born January 30, 1931, in Crawford County, Iowa. She grew up in Denison, where she attended school.On August 29, 1946, Deloris was united in marriage to Russell Adams in Hiawatha, Kansas. Together they were blessed with four children: Patricia, Jayne, Teresa, and David.Throughout her life, Deloris worked in food service and community care.