Dean Robert Hoskinson, 93, died Monday, February 1, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.

A Service of Remembrance was held Saturday, Feb. 6 at First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction.  Words of comfort were given by Pastor Steve Ransom.  Soloist, Brenda Roberts, sang “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” and “The Lord’s Prayer” accompanied by pianist Danille Curtis, and the congregation sang “Hymn of Promise.”  Honorary bearers were Julie Shedlock, Angela Chesler and Dean’s 23 great-grandchildren. Casket bearers were Scott Hoskinson, Matt Hoskinson, Mark Hoskinson, Rodney Hoskinson, Sean Chesler, David Ostrander, Philip Hoskinson, Doug Jacobs and Darin Jacobs.  Interment was in Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction.  Military Honors were by the Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Dean Robert Hoskinson, son of Archie and Vera (Blanshan) Hoskinson, was born June 23, 1922 at the farmstead northwest of Grand Junction, Iowa.  He attended school in Grand Junction, graduating with the class of 1940.  After graduation, Dean drove school buses for the Grand Junction School and worked at Teagarden Chevrolet and John Deere businesses as a mechanic.  On December 24, 1945, Dean married Doris Davis at the First Baptist Church in Grand Junction in a double ceremony with his brother, Leon Hoskinson and Marilynn Parker.  Dean and Doris were married for 63 years.  They were the proud parents of Dennis, Diane, Darwin and Denise.  Dean was inducted into the United States Army on April 1, 1946.  After basic training, he boarded a ship going to the Philippines, it took 21 days to arrive.  While there, his first child, a son, was born.  Dean was honorably discharged on October 3, 1947 and was excited to come home to his wife and meet his baby boy, Dennis.

Dean started his farming career as a hired hand for Douglas Wessling.  He later farmed with his dad, Archie, and brother, Leon.  In 1956, the family moved to a farm southeast of Dana and in 1962 they moved to a farm east of Grand Junction.  Dean and Doris always worked side by side, each having their own John Deere tractor.  Dean loved his life on the farm, working hard, but always having time for ballgames, croquet, and horseshoes with the kids.  Dean worked many years for the Slininger Funeral Home and was also a board member for the Grand Junction Housing.  He could always be found at a garage sale and would always ask if they would take a lower price.  His garage was proof he went to a lot of garage sales!  The last three years of his life were spent at Greene County Medical Center, Long Term Care.  There, he died February 1, 2016 at the age of 93 years.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris, who died November 18, 2009; brothers, Emery and Leon; and sister, Zola Wilson.

Dean is survived by his children: Dennis Hoskinson and wife Chris of Big Lake, Alaska; Diane Ostrander and husband Dennis of Jefferson; Darwin Hoskinson and wife Kathy of Perry; Denise Jacobs and husband Dennis “Jake” of Grand Junction; 10 grandchildren: Angela Chesler and husband Sean of State Center; David Ostrander and wife Kris of Jefferson; Matt Hoskinson and wife Nicole of Cherokee; Mark Hoskinson and wife Kris of Cedar Falls; Doug Jacobs and Darin Jacobs and wife Lindsay, all of Grand Junction; Rodney Hoskinson, Scott Hoskinson and wife Stacey, Julie Shedlock and husband Brent, all of Alaska, Philip Hoskinson  and wife Heather of Dallas, TX; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Wayne Hoskinson of Tucson, AZ and Keith (Paula) Hoskinson of Grand Junction, IA; and a sister, Virginia Rohden and husband Archie of Des Moines, IA; other relatives and friends.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171.

Madonna Theressa Harris, 88, passed away Monday, February 8, 2016 in Jefferson, Iowa.

A Mass of the Resurrection was held Friday, Feb. 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson with Mass celebrated by Father Jeff Schleisman.  Serving as casket bearers were Patrick O’Brien, Mike Coyne, Adam Coyne, Mark Thomas, John Tiffany and Mike Holden.  Vocalist, Robert Schwarzkopf and organist, Rhena Lane provided the music.  Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Jefferson.  A Vigil for the Deceased, Fr. Bill Brunner, was held Thursday, Feb. 11, at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.

Madonna Coyne Harris was born November 30,1927 in Carroll, Iowa to Andrew and Winifred Moran Coyne.  She spent her early years, along with her older brother Francis, on the family farm near Lohrville, IA.  Just prior to Madonna’s seventh grade year, her family moved to Jefferson.  During her junior and senior high school years, a neighborhood boy, David Harris, often carried her books home from school.  Upon high school graduation, Madonna attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City where she also played violin with the Sioux City Orchestra.  While at Briar Cliff she earned her teaching certification. During the year following graduation, she taught first grade.  On September 4, 1948 K. David Harris and Madonna Coyne were united in marriage at St. Joseph’s Church in Jefferson.  The couple had three children: Jane, Julie, and Frederick (Rick).  They were blessed with six grandchildren.  Nick and Jane Martino are the parents of Jennifer and Laura.  Rick and Jill (Bohnett) are the parents of Michael, Catherine, Maria, and Joseph.  In 2013, Madonna became a great-grandmother with the arrival of John Tiffany and Laura Martino’s daughter, Mary Grace.

Family, education and faith have been the hallmark of Madonna’s life.  She dedicated her life to raising her family.  She took pride in her home, was an excellent cook and a gracious hostess.  Madonna was committed to seeing her children receive a good education.  She tirelessly practiced math facts and spelling lists.  She oversaw all homework and music lessons.  Madonna joined the ranks of volunteers who led Blue Bird and Campfire groups.  She also became a CCD instructor at St. Joseph’s.  After Madonna and David’s children were raised, Madonna’s activities took a new focus.  She was a substitute teacher for the Greene County schools.  She volunteered in the grade school classrooms.  Madonna volunteered to help local adults learn to read and successfully pass their GED exam.  Many Greene County residents were coached by Madonna.  In 1991, Madonna received the Governor’s Volunteer Award.  For sixty years, Madonna was a loyal member of a local bridge(less) club group.  These ladies gathered weekly to share their lives, faith and gain strength from their loving fellowship.  She was also an active member of P.E.O., Friday Club, Book Club, and a number of other community organizations.

Madonna was called to heaven on February 8, 2016 and was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and husband.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171.

Doug Hamann, 37, of Jefferson passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at St. Anthony’s Regional Medical Center in Carroll.

Visitation began Tuesday, Feb. 16 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  A Vigil Service followed at 7:00 p.m.  A Service of Remembrance was held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson with Father Jeff Schleisman providing the words of comfort.  Readers were Michael Carey and Kelly Hamann.  Gift bearers were Doug’s nephews and nieces: Tate Carey, Tiffanie Carey, Trevor Carey, Kirk Hamann and Hannah Hamann.  Music was performed by vocalist, Laura Rollefson.  Honorary bearers were his children: Blake, Broc, Britleigh, Bellah, Brystol and Brynley and his nieces and nephews: Tate Carey, Tiffanie Carey, Trevor Carey, Kirk Hamann, Hannah Hamann, Sophia Dwinell and Jayden Aldrich.  Casket bearers were Brett Cranston, Jeffrey Wahl, Chuck Silbaugh, Charles Aldrich, Dustin Ackerman and Courtney Lauffer.  Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Jefferson with a time of fellowship and refreshments at St. Joseph’s Parish Center following the committal service.

Douglas John Hamann was born August 2, 1978 in Jefferson, Iowa.  He was welcomed into the world by his parents, Kenny and Maureen (Gymer) Hamann, older brother, David and sister, Dawn.  Doug attended Jefferson-Scranton Schools and graduated in 1997.  He went on to attend Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge where he received a certificate from the carpentry program.  Following college, Doug worked for Dan Keasey Construction in Jefferson, with many other jobs.

In December of 1999, Doug was diagnosed with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy.  Doug endured life on a heart pump for some time prior to receiving his miracle heart transplant on October 10, 2001.  In August of 2004, Doug began dating Lisa Aldrich.  Lisa and her son, Blake, later moved in with Doug and his mom, Maureen.  Doug, Lisa and Blake would be joined over time by Broc, Britleigh, Bellah, Brystol and Brynley.

Growing up in Jefferson as a child, Doug enjoyed his time playing baseball in the Jefferson Little League and playing flag football.  Also, he loved playing a round of golf with his family on Sunday mornings.  Some of Doug’s fondest childhood memories were made while spending time with Grandpa George and Grandma Lydia. Doug also loved the bond he had with his Grandpa Orval Hamann, who lived in Newell, Iowa.  Grandpa Hamann always brought something for the grandkids when he arrived in his shiny pickups and sporting his striped bibbed overalls!

Doug has been a great father to all six of his children.  As his two boys, Blake and Broc, competed in basketball, football and wrestling, Doug was their number one coach and fan on the field or mat.  When he was not cheering on the boys, Doug loved family time with his four girls and Lisa. He also had many hobbies. He enjoyed watching his Iowa Hawkeyes.  Doug loved grilling and cooking for his family and friends.  In the summertime, he would invite almost the whole town of Jefferson over to grill out and have bonfires with them.  Doug loved racing.  He was a big NASCAR fan.  Doug loved to also keep track of what was happening on IMCA racing and monitoring “whowonracing.com”.  He had a big dream of driving and owning his own race car.

At the time of his passing, Doug was employed at West Central Co-op in Ralston in the soy processing facility.  Doug enjoyed his work and those who worked with him.  He was devoted to balancing his work schedule so he could enjoy his family and attend the kids’ activities.  Doug is loved and will be missed by a lot of people.  He is a big, shining, bright star in the sky, where we will all look up and see him shining down on us.  “We love you to the moon and back, Doug.”

Doug is survived by fiancée and mother to his children, Lisa; children: Blake, Broc, Britleigh, Bellah, Brystol and Brynley; brother David (Kelly) Hamann; sister Dawn (Michael) Carey; nephews and nieces: Kirk and Hannah Hamann and Tate, Tiffanie and Trevor Carey.  Doug was preceded in death by his father, Kenny, who died in 1994; mother, Maureen, who died in 2010; his grandparents George and Lydia Gymer, and Orval and Macyl Hamann; and his two cousins, Scott and Rodney Dimig.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in Doug’s name has been set up at Home State Bank, 115 W. State St., Jefferson, IA 50129.  Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171.

Cindy Herron, 65, of Jefferson, died Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

A Service of Remembrance was held Saturday, Feb. 22 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson, with words of comfort given by Rev. Julie Poulsen of First United Methodist Church,  Jefferson.  Casket bearers were Levi Cloninger, Skylar Johnson, Kurt Bednarik, Ethan Wiggins, Austin Davidson, Mike Ross, Tracy Saffell and Travis Dawson.  Serving as honorary bearers were Erick Johnson, Mickayla Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Tim Wright, Larry Wright, Jr. and Larry Wright, Sr.  The recorded music played was “Amazing Grace,” “In The Garden” and “How Great Thou Art.”  Larry Wright, Jr. was the vocalist.  Interment was at Junction Township Cemetery in Grand Junction.

Cynthia Ann Herron was born March 8, 1950 in Munsey, Pennsylvania.  She was the daughter of Jay and Dorothy (Harman) Wright.  Cindy graduated from Scranton High School in 1968.  On October 8, 1972, Cindy was united in marriage to Harold Herron at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA.  Cindy and Harold were the parents of a daughter, Jill.  The family lived in Jefferson, then moved to Grand Junction in 1978.  They moved back to Jefferson in 2000.  Cindy owned The Treasure Chest, located on the east side of the courthouse square.  She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and was a worker for the Greene County Medical Center Auxiliary.  Cindy loved attending flea markets and camping.  She enjoyed playing bingo and working word search puzzles.  She collected Coca Cola and M & M’s memorabilia.   Cindy loved going to all the grandkid’s events.  

Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband, Harold, who died in 2011.  She is survived by her daughter, Jill (Erick) Johnson of Jefferson; grandchildren, Skylar Johnson, Mickayla Johnson, and Shelby Johnson; brothers, Larry (Diane) Wright Sr. of Pine River, Minn. and Terry Wright of St. Petersburg, Fla.; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

 Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171.

Vivian R. Dallavis, 100, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at her residence.

Vivian was born February 8, 1916 in Greene County, IA, the daughter of Sidney and Grace Conklin Ruth.  She married Albert Dallavis on August 20, 1943 in Camp Hale, Colo.  He preceded her in death.  Vivian was a graduate of Churdan High School. She proudly served her country in the United States Army during WWII.  Later in life, Vivian attended Lincoln Land Community College for two years.  She was a devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother.  She enjoyed baking, art, traveling, and flower gardening.

Vivian was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Phyllis Fredrickson; and two brothers, Gordon and Ronald Ruth.  She is survived by two sons, Allen (wife, Jan) Dallavis and James Dallavis, both of Springfield; one daughter, Diane Rausch of Utica; ten grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. A Funeral Ceremony will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Celebrant Judy Woerner officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Department of Defense.

Memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Little Flower, 800 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL  62703.

Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.

Marjorie Strunk, the daughter of Joseph Arthur and Mildred (Hammar) White, was born July 6, 1925 in Linden, Iowa and departed this life February 19, 2016 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. She lived a full life to the age of 90 years, 7 months and 18 days.

Mass of the Christian burial was held on Tuesday, February 23 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson with Rev. Father Jeff Schleisman officiating.  Interment was made in the Franklin Township Cemetery near Cooper, Iowa.  A Does Memorial Service was held Monday evening and a Vigil for the Deceased was held at Brown Funeral Home in Jefferson.  Serving as casket bearers were Paul “Skeeter” Hostetler, Joe Brant, Tracy Bills, Chase Rose, Tanner Rose and Ken Morlan.  Friends and family were invited to a time of lunch and fellowship at the Parrish Center following the services.

Marge attended school in Jefferson and later graduated from high school in Pullman, Washington.  On December 21, 1942, Marjorie White was united in marriage to Harry Russell Rose in Santa Ana, California.  Two sons and a daughter were born to this union.  After their marriage, Harry and Marge spent time in California where Harry was a flight instructor with the Army Air Corps.  Later, Harry and Marge moved back to Iowa and resided in the Ames and Nevada area before moving to Jefferson. Marge was a homemaker until 1965 when she took a job at the United Foods Store.  Harry and Marge were divorced in 1970.

On July 28, 1973 Marge was united in marriage to William “Bill” Strunk at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa and later ceremonies were held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson.

Following her marriage, Marge was the bookkeeper at Strunk Auto Service until she retired in 1987.  Marge and Bill enjoyed travelling together in their motor home and they made many fishing trips to Minnesota.  Marge and Bill were members of the Greene County Square Dance Club.  Marge was an avid reader with her favorite books were the Condensed Readers Digests.  She enjoyed watching college and professional sports on TV.  Marge was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jefferson and a Charter Member of Jefferson Does Drove No. 196.  Bill passed away in 2006 and Marjorie continued to make her home in rural Jefferson until 2014 when she became a resident of The Gardens in Jefferson, Iowa.

Marjorie is survived by her children, Jim (Jill) Rose of Jefferson and Joan Rose of Riverton, Wyo.; step-children, Steve Strunk of Jefferson, Bonnie Campbell of Mesa, Ariz., Cherry Vinzant of Tempe, Ariz.; sister, Ethel Kinney of Panora; sister-in-law, Virginia White of Perry; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Those who preceded her in death were her parents; husbands; son, Harold “Harry” Rose; brother, Charles White and sister, Lorraine Beazor.

Assisting the family was Brown Funeral Home, Jefferson.

Mona Jeanette Littrell King, the daughter of Will and Frances (Davis) Mitchell, was born May 21, 1914 in Carson, Iowa and departed this life February 17, 2016 at the Crestview Nursing Home in Bethany, Missouri. She lived her life to the age of 101 years, 8 months and 27 days.

A celebration of Mona’s life was held Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Churdan with Rev. David Arulnathan officiating.  Burial was made in the Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan.  Musical selections “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” and “Beyond The Sunset” were sung by Terry and Barbara Nelson and accompanied by organist Janice Tilley.  Serving as casket bearers were David Littrell, Danny Littrell, Mike Littrell, Brad Smith, Taylor King, Christopher King and Mitchell King.

Mona attended and graduated from Jefferson High School.  On November 15, 1936, she was united in marriage to Harold Littrell at the bride’s family home in Jefferson.  Two sons were born to this union, Gary and Lowell.  Mona and Harold spent 50 years together in the Churdan area.  Harold spent most of those years working at Seaman Hardware and Mona worked as a school lunch supervisor for 34 years for the Churdan and Paton-Churdan school systems.  Harold passed away on May 5, 1987 and Mona continued to make her home in Churdan.  On June 11, 1992, Mona was united in marriage to Lee King and they spent 18 years living north of Churdan.  Lee King passed away March 6, 2011 and Mona later moved to Bethany, Missouri.  

Mona enjoyed cooking, sewing and carried on her mother Frances’ family tradition of knitting Christmas stockings, knitting 248 stockings.  Mona was an active member of the Christian United Methodist Church, U.M.W., Nightingale Circle, Brevity Club and Adaza Club. Most of all, Mona loved the time she spent with her family and friends.

Mona will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, step-children and their spouses: Gary and Ruth Littrell of Clarksville, Ark., Lowell and Marlene Littrell of Bethany, Mo, Jim and Darlene Woltz of Canyon, TX, Gary King of Des Moines, Calvin and Cynthia Bierman of Des Moines, Karla King of Churdan; six grandchildren: David and Geri Littrell, Carol and Steve Meinert, Colleen Colquette, Danny Littrell, Michelle and Brad Smith, Mike Littrell, and Sara Lasher; five step-grandchildren: Kate and Matt Bukich, Christopher King, Mitchell King, Lauren and Schyler Bardole, and Taylor King; eleven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one brother, Harvey Mitchell; one sister, Phyllis Evans; step-son, Wayne King; and step daughter-in-law, Denise King.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Churdan.

Brown Funeral Homes, Churdan, Jefferson and Lohrville.

Howard Stine, 99, of Rockwell, Iowa, formerly of Dana, died Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

A Service of Remembrance was held Saturday, Feb. 20 at Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, Iowa, with words of comfort given by Rev. David Arulnathan.  The congregational hymns sung were “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Here I Am, Lord.”  Casket bearers were Jack Fredrickson, George Walker, Todd Minnihan, Roger Wilson, Dwight Marshall and Bob Johnson.  Interment was at Paton Township Cemetery in Paton.

Howard Winton Stine, son of George Winton Stine and Mabel Irene Wolf Stine, was born January 29, 1917 on a farm near Dana, Iowa.  He died February 16, 2016 at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home at the age of 99 years.  Howard grew up and spent his life on the farm near Dana and graduated from Dana High School.  On May 23, 1959, Howard was united in marriage to Lucille Charlotte Brown in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  They were the proud parents of two sons, John and David.  They made their home on the farm where Howard farmed until the age of 72. Howard was proud to remain on the farm until the age of 92, spending the past 7 years in Mason City.

Howard enjoyed the farm, a good road trip, and playing cards with friends, relatives and family. Howard also enjoyed a good auction and in later years spending time with his grade school friend, Elva Johnson.  He especially loved spending time with his family and relatives.  He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Lucille.  He is survived by his sons, John W. Stine of Randall, IA and David (Linda) Stine of Mason City, IA; grandchildren, Jason Stine and Kelsey Stine both of Mason City; nieces, Connie (Wayne) Turner of Manchester, IA and Marilyn (Walt) Flick of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; other relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of North Iowa, or Salem United Methodist Church.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Blanche Fritz, 78, of Hillsborough, New Jersey, formerly of Paton, Iowa died Monday, February 15, 2016.

A Celebration of Life was held Monday, Feb. 22 at Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, with words of comfort given by Rev. David Arulnathan.  A family reflection was given by Carl Fritz.  Danille Curtis was the accompanist and the congregational hymn was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  Recorded music “In This Very Room” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” were played.  Serving as casket bearers were Dave Cunningham, Rick Rittgers, Bob Peacock, Pat Cunningham, Doug Tourte and George Walker.  Interment was at Paton Township Cemetery in Paton.  A luncheon and fellowship followed the interment at the Shriver Community Center.

Blanche LaRue (Lightfoot) Fritz, daughter of Harry and Katherine (Enders) Lightfoot, was born September 27, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois.  She died at her home at Brookdale Assisted Living in Hillsborough, New Jersey on February 15, 2016 at the age of 78.  Blanche began her childhood on the family farm near Paton.  During WWII, her family moved to Orange, Texas where her father worked as a welder in the naval shipyards.  In 1943, Blanche’s family moved to Chicago where she began school.  Blanche spent her childhood years in Chicago and in Paton where she graduated from Paton High School in 1955.

Blanche was united in marriage to Wayne Eugene Fritz on November 24, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Paton.  They are the parents of two children, Anne LaRue and Carl Eugene.  They lived and farmed in the Paton/Gowrie area for 45 years.   Blanche was active in her church and enjoyed traveling, camping, skiing, genealogy, sewing and spending winters in Mesa, Arizona.   After retiring from farming, Blanche and Wayne moved to Flagstaff, Arizona in 2002 and in 2010 moved to Mesa, Arizona.  In 2015, they moved to Hillsborough, New Jersey to be close to family.

 Blanche is survived by her husband, Wayne; son, Carl and daughter-in-law, Patricia of Hillsborough, New Jersey; grandchildren, Kevin and Kathleen Fritz; many friends and relatives whom she cherished.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Anne; parents, Harry and Katherine Lightfoot and her brother John Lightfoot.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home,  www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Joy Iola Bartley, daughter of Horace Hedges and Juliette Manor Hedges, was born in a farm house March 5, 1938 in Willow Township, Greene County, Iowa.  Joy died February 18, 2016 at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames at the age of 77 of complications of pneumonia.

A Funeral service was held on Monday, Feb. 22 at 11:00 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Words of comfort were officiated by Reverend Julia E.F. Poulsen. Honorary bearers were Ronika Mann, Jennifer Ledesma, Nicole Bartley, Kelsey Bartley, Nicholas Bartley, Macy Bartley, Jacob Bartley, Brenden Bartley, Bryant Gareedean and Riley Anderson. Music was provided by organist, Danille Curtis and soloist, Sheilah Pound. Music selected by the family was “When The Saints Go Marching In” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Recorded special song was “When I Get To Where I’m Going.” Burial was held at Jefferson Cemetery, in Jefferson.

Joy graduated Bayard High School in 1956.  She attended Iowa Teachers College (now UNI) for a year, and later AIB.  Joy married Paul F. Bartley on September 14, 1959 at the United Methodist Church in Scranton.  They were blessed with three children, Lea, Nick and Lance. The couple lived in Rapid City, S.D. where Paul was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Joy worked at a bank.  The family moved to Maryville and then to Jefferson, June 28, 1959.  Joy worked at the high school as a tutor and as a clerk at the Assessor’s Office. On March 5, 1983, Paul and Joy moved to Boone.  She worked at DMACC. Joy loved helping others and again worked tutoring, this time with English as a second language.

She was very artistic and very creative, working with different mediums. Joy enjoyed being able to share her creative endeavors, as well as being able to sell some of her works. Better Homes and Gardens published some of her work. Her attributes were many, but her first love was her family.  Joy had a great passion for feeding the hungry, working with literacy and food services. Her life on the farm instilled a love of the outdoors and her flowers were very important to her. Her friends, as well as her family, found her very warm, supportive, caring and compassionate. Wednesday gatherings with her lady friends were special to Joy. She was a member of the Greenbrier Methodist Church for many years, before moving her membership to the First United Methodist Church in Boone after their move.

Joy was preceded in death by her mother, Juliette Hedges; grandson, Bryce Bartley; in-laws, Delores Dennhardt, Evelyn Leedom, Duane Bartley, Gail Bartley, Jean Wetzel and Rosie Beaman.

Joy’s survivors will always carry her love in their hearts: husband, Paul; father, Horace Hedges (Ruth); daughter, Lea Bartley of Ames; and sons, Nick Bartley of Sioux Rapids and Lance Bartley (Shannon) of Harlan: eight grandchildren: Ronika Mann (Josh), Jennifer Ledesma, Nicole Bartley, Kelsey Bartley, Nicholas Bartley, Macy Bartley, Jacob Bartley and Brenden Bartley; and two great-grandchildren, Bryant Gareedean and Riley Anderson. Joy is also survived by her sisters Karen Jackson (Joe) of Fort Dodge and Jo Anne Smith (John) of Owings, Md.; sisters-in-law, Marvel Newell, Frankey Anderson (Jim) and Arlis Bartley; brother-in-law, Dick Leedom, all of Jefferson; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.           

Hastings Funeral Home, Jefferson, (515) 386-8181, www.hastingsfh.com.

John “Jack” Rain Finneseth born October 15, 1935, of Jefferson, Iowa passed away February 18, 2016 in Iowa City surrounded by loved ones at the age of 80 years.

A Service of Remembrance was held Monday, Feb. 22 at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson with Rev. Gordon Moen providing words of comfort.  The music played was “The Servant Song” and “The Lord’s Prayer” with Amanda and Laura Finneseth as the vocalists, Larry Dowd the soloist and organist, Keri Brooker. The congregation sang “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”  Honorary bearers were the grandchildren: David Finneseth, John Finneseth, Amanda Finneseth, Laura Finneseth, Allison Finneseth and Megan Finneseth and the great-grandchildren: Eric Finneseth and Olivia Finneseth.  Casket bearers were Tom Ball, Bill Kibby, Jerald Deal, Jim Schleisman, Joel Friday and Dr. John Canady. Interment was at Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson.  Military honors were by the Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Jack was born October 15, 1935 to Lloyd and Alpha (Rain) Finneseth in Rochester, Minnesota.  He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1953.  Jack attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for 2 years.  He then enlisted in the army and served for 2 years.  Jack moved to Jefferson to manage, Anthony’s, a local clothing store.  He met, and then married Kay (Slininger) October 14, 1961 in Jefferson.  During his life, Jack established the Finneseth’s Hallmark Card and Toggery in Jefferson and Carroll.  In the early 1970’s, Jack started his promotional sales career with the Vernon Company and he was a member of the 4 million dollar club.  He was then with the Newton Manufacturing Company and at the time of his death he was with the Halo Corporation.

 Jack is best known for the volunteering he has done over his lifetime and his ability to strike up a conversation with anybody.  Jack was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, a member of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and Jefferson Planning and Zoning board for over 50 years.  He volunteered at the Jefferson Public Library, helped to organize 2 All-School Reunions, volunteered at many Appaloosa horse shows, helped at Deal’s Orchard, timed at Perry and Jefferson track meets and swim meets, counted bikes for the BRR ride, helped organize Jefferson wrestling meets, was the aquatics commissioner for Iowa Games and the Special Olympics, and did various activities during Bell Tower Festival.  He was Iowan of the Day at the Iowa State Fair in 2013.  Jack was also an avid Iowa State Cyclones fan, holding season tickets to numerous sporting events with his wife since the 1960’s.

His greatest joy was his two sons and grandchildren.  He loved the time he was able to spend with family.
 

Jack is survived by his wife, Kay Finneseth of Jefferson; children: Scott (Kay) Finneseth, Perry and Steve (Melissa) Finneseth, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; six grandchildren: David Finneseth, John (Samantha) Finneseth, Amanda Finneseth, Laura Finneseth, Allison Finneseth and Megan Finneseth; two great-grandchildren, Eric and Olivia Finneseth; a brother, Robert (Roberta) Finneseth, Austin, Minn.; nieces and a nephew; other family members and many friends.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Alpha Finneseth.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171,  www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Lenita Bird (Lee) Jordan Carstens died on February 24, 2016 at age 92.  She was the beloved wife of Dr. Robert L. (Sam) Carstens.  
Services were held Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at First United Methodist Church, Ames with Pastor Dave Shogren officiating.  Mary Nelson was the organist.  Burial was at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Lenita Bird was born in Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa on January 27, 1924 to Zona and Henry Heath.  Her younger brother, Warren, preceded her in death in 1971.  They enjoyed a wonderful, rich childhood on the farm and then in Jefferson where they lived on the farm and in the house her grandfather had homesteaded and built.  After high school graduation, she moved to Des Moines to attend American Institute of Business. There, amidst classes and typing competitions, she met Marshall Wesley (Wes) Jordan.  They married in March 1945 while he was serving in the Navy.  They moved to Ames in 1956, raised their family and were an active part of the community the rest of their lives.  Wes died in 1981.  Lenita married Dr. Robert L. (Sam) Carstens in 1995. They have enjoyed a delightful, fulfilling, active life together for 21 years.  They shared a love of traveling, time spent at their retreat at Rock Creek Lake, faith, ISU sports, and they appreciated every day together.

Lenita enjoyed a wide variety of activities and interests throughout her life.  She worked 19 years at the Registrar’s Office at Iowa State University.  She had a lifetime of activity supporting the lives and causes she valued.  But of two causes she was fiercely proud.  The first was her heritage. Her family played a significant role in the development of Jefferson and Greene County.  She continued to support scholarships at Jefferson schools, supported the historical museum with family artifacts and cash donations, edited and compiled an annual newsletter for members of her high school class, and maintained friendships.  She excelled at finding historical connections between people in central Iowa that tied them back to acquaintances or family of past generations.  The second cause Lenita focused on was veterans. She and Sam flew a flag daily in honor of the many veterans in both their families. She was exceptionally proud of Sam and they enjoyed their annual trip to Branson for Veterans Homecoming activities. They also enjoyed years of attending of Sam’s 163rd Engineer Battalion annual reunion in Tennessee.  She provided special flowers to the church chancel annually for Veterans Day.

Lenita will also be remembered for her Vitamin L, as she called it - L for Laughter. She often had a riddle or joke of the day that would universally make people smile (or groan and then smile!).  She is already missed by staff at North Grand Shopping Center where she shared Vitamin L during everyday exercise walks.

Her son, Craig Henry Jordan (Kim), preceded her in death in 1994.  She is survived by her husband; daughter, Janis Lee Coss (Dick) of Davis, Calif.; son, Ronald Bruce Jordan (Kyla) of Phoenix, Ariz. and Wapati, Wyo.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and her niece and nephew.

Adams Funeral Home, Ames, Iowa.

Georgia Louise Hays, 97, daughter of Roger and Hazel Dunlop, was born on October 4, 1918 in Jefferson, Iowa. She died on February 18, 2016 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota.

A funeral Service was held February 24, 2016 at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson. Words of comfort were officiated by her grandson, Pastor Jim Rademaker, of Hope Lutheran Brethren Church, in Appleton, Wis.  Casketbearers were David Kingery, Yolanda Kingery, Jim Rademaker, Sara Rademaker, Paul Kingery and Molly Kingery. Musicians were Georgene and Stephen Raver. Music selected by family was “He Touched Me”, “Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross” and “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.” The congregational song sung was “Because He Lives”. Interment was held at Jefferson Cemetery, in Jefferson.

Georgia grew up and lived most of her life in Jefferson. She moved to Bloomington, Minn. five years ago, at the age of 92, to live closer to Judy and Larry. Georgia graduated from Jefferson High School and went on to Simpson College and AIB College of Business in Des Moines. She worked as an administrative secretary for Firestone before she was married. Georgia was united in marriage to Darrell Dean (“Timer”) Hays on November 4, 1939 in Jefferson. They were blessed with a daughter, Judith. Georgia was a homemaker who in her free time enjoyed braiding rugs, crocheting, refinishing antique furniture and sewing. She and Timer loved to dance. Interior decorating always remained her passion. Georgia was an active member of Central Christian Church, where she and Timer were youth leaders. She was a fun Camp Fire Leader and enjoyed her membership in TTT.

Georgia is preceded in death by her parents; husband, “Timer”; brother, Charles (“Tuffy”) Dunlop and sister, Barbara (“Bobby”) Dunlop. Georgia is survived by her daughter, Judith (Larry) Kingery of Bloomington, Minn.; granddaughter, Sara (Jim) Rademaker, of Appleton, Wis.; grandsons, David (Yolanda) Kingery, of Urbandale, IA and Paul (Molly) Kingery of Prior Lake Minn.; great-grandchildren: Jack, Ben, Jeff, Taylor, Emma, Shayla and Devin of Appleton,Wis.; John Sheppard of Chicago, Ill.; Drew and Ana Kingery of Urbandale, IA and Tyler and Justin Kingery of Prior Lake, Minn.

Hastings Funeral Home, www.hastingsfh.com, (515) 386-8181.

Craig Eugene Carey was born to Rosemary Sullivan Carey and James Carey on August 20, 1953. He lost his courageous battle with cancer on February 29, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center, at the age of 62.

Craig was a lifelong resident of Greene County, working for the City of Jefferson for 20 years, never missing a day of work. He enjoyed jazz music and baseball, cheering on his favorite teams, the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rosemary; his maternal grandparents, Eugene and Pauline Sullivan of Jefferson; and his paternal grandparents, James and Bessie Carey of Wisconsin.

He is survived by his father, James (Karen) Carey of Adel, brothers, Kyle (Tiffany) Carey of Stuart and Trevis (Diane) Carey of Kansas City, Mo. and sister, Tahnee (George) Durin of Cedar Rapids.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home assisted the family. www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Norma Dunivan, 90, of Jefferson died Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Regency Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson.

Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 7 at the Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson. Words of comfort were given by Rev. Sheldon Henderson, Central Christian Church, Jefferson. Interment was in Jefferson Cemetery.

Norma J. Ratcliff Dunivan, daughter of L.S. Ratcliff and Lucy Johnston Ratcliff, was born July 18, 1925 in Yale, Iowa. Norma grew up in Guthrie County and attended Country School in Guthrie County and then later graduated from Panora High School.  She then received her teaching degree from the State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. On May 28, 1948, Norma was united in marriage to Wendell Dunivan at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  They were the proud parents of two children, Kenneth Wayne and Richard Kirk.

Norma began teaching and taught in Boone and then Greene County. She also worked for a time at the Greene County Treasurers office, ASCS office, Culligan Softwater and Harrison Ford Inc.

Norma was a crafty person and enjoyed doing many different hobbies. She also really enjoyed reading. She was a member of the Central Christian Church and through the years served on several committees.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her two sons, three brothers, and one sister.  She is survived by her sister, Hildra Dresback of Oklahoma and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Jefferson Public Library and may be left at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com, (515) 386-2171.

Kenneth W. Doll, 82, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Saturday, February 27, 2016 at North Lake Manor in Storm Lake.

Memorial services were held Saturday, March 5 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Storm Lake. Burial will be at a later date at the Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Kenneth Wayne Doll was born April 21, 1933 in San Diego, California, the son of Edward and Evelyn (Cowell) Doll. Kenneth graduated from high school in Chula Vista, California in 1952. He married his high school sweetheart, Nita Marie Haney on January 10, 1953. He was honorably discharged from military service in 1955. Together they were blessed with four children: Kenneth Jr., Shannon, Michael and Christopher. The family lived in Lakeside, California until they moved to Estherville, Iowa in 1970. Kenneth was a devoted husband for over 40 years and a loving father.

In April of 1995, Kenneth married Florabelle Morris after the death of Nita, in 1993. He and Florabelle lived in Jefferson, Iowa. They enjoyed over 19 years together. Florabelle passed away in November of 2014.

Throughout his life, Kenneth and his family enjoyed traveling to many locations in the United States and Canada. He loved camping with family and friends, working on old cars and keeping himself busy in retirement with pretty much anything he could get hands on.  He traveled throughout the Midwest volunteering to help congregations to build their Kingdom Halls for over 40 years. A favorite pastime of his was to smoke a loin or roast for his friends and family in his BBQ smoker that he built himself.  He was well known for his generous and kind spirit, always ready to help someone in need. Ken’s priority was to live as a man devoted to his God, Jehovah. He dedicated his life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1967.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Kenneth (Debby) Doll, Jr. of Spirit Lake; Shannon (James) Holmberg of Storm Lake; Michael (Joda) Doll of Milford, Iowa; Christopher (Myra) Doll of Adrian, Mo.; seven grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; brothers: Dick (Judi) Doll, Bill (Merlyn) Doll and sister, Pat Ziolkowski all of San Diego, Calif.; many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Nita in May of 1993; second wife, Florabelle; granddaughter, Heather Doll; and brother, Art Doll.

The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Rosemarie Funcke, 86, of Jefferson died Sunday, February 28, 2016.

A Service of Remembrance was held Friday, March 4 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson. Words of comfort were from Rev. Julie Poulsen, First United Methodist Church, Jefferson. Sunje Banister gave The Lord’s Prayer in German. Musical selections “In The Garden” and “How Great Thou Art” were performed by vocalists, Rod St. Clair and Joan St. Clair, accompanied by Danille Curtis. Honorary bearers were Wyatt Funcke, William Funcke, Afton Funcke, Austyn Funcke, Cassidy Carstens, Brandon Carstens, Madesyn Carstens and Liam Moore. Interment was in Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson.

Rosemarie Gertrude Reschke Funcke was born August 16, 1929 in Friedberg, Germany. She was the youngest daughter of Werner Georgi Reschke and Elise Blasing. She attended school and graduated at the age of 14. Her plans of going on to study Home Economics for college were unable to continue when Russians invaded Germany in 1944. Upon that invasion, her family was forced to leave their home and walk to their nearest relative’s home near Berlin which was approximately 99 miles. The family found an apartment near Berlin. Rosemarie had various jobs; one included working as a nanny for a General who had been widowed. Rosemarie met Kurt Funcke when she was 19 years old in 1948.  He worked for a farmer down the road from where she worked as a nanny.  They began dating and he called her “roschen” which meant rosebud.  This nickname stuck throughout their marriage. They were united in marriage on November 10, 1950.  From this union, Werner Willi Funcke was born.

In November of 1952, Kurt, Rosemarie, Werner and Rosemarie’s mother immigrate to the United States, arriving on a small ship named Grota Bear after two weeks of stormy seas. Kurt and Rosemarie were sponsored by a farmer in Farnhamville, Iowa, where they joined Rosemarie’s aunt, uncle, sister and brother-in-law who had also immigrated to the US from Germany. The family moved to a farm north of Jefferson in 1954. In 1974, Rosemarie and family moved to Jefferson. Rosemarie worked cleaning houses and caring for the loves of her life, her husband, Kurt, and son, Werner.  

She enjoyed time spent with her family and friends.  There were many trips to Germany to see family and friends, bringing home treasurer such as china and lace that she made into curtains that hung in the house for many years.  The grandchildren and great grandchildren always looked forward to their birthday parties that grandma and grandpa always had for them, which included balloons and cake.  She was always helping paint and clean houses for grandchildren and tending to her flower garden. A tradition of Rosemarie and Kurt’s was to have coffee every day after Kurt returned home from work. This tradition carried on through the years. Rosemarie was known for her famous streusel kuchen and strawberry tart.  She took pride in keeping up her home and loved to clean windows.  There were also many hours spent on her sewing machine.  Dancing to German Polka music was a joy.

Even as Kurt’s health was declining and he entered long term care, she was there every day to eat lunch and spend the afternoon with him.  After his death on December 7, 2014, Rosemarie wanted to stay in her home as long as she could, which she did with the help of Unity Point Hospice Team.  Following a fall in February that led to a broken hip, Rosemarie entered the Greene County Medical Center.  There, she passed away peacefully on February 28, 2016 at the age of 86 years.

Rosemarie is survived by her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Funcke of Jefferson; grandchildren: James (Shannon Haley-Funcke) Funcke of Jamaica; Jared (Jayne Peters) Funcke of Jefferson; Anne (Matt) Carstens of Paton; and Jonathan Funcke of Jefferson; great-grandchildren: Wyatt, William, Afton and Austyn Funcke of Jamaica and Cassidy, Brandon, and Madesyn Carstens of Paton; other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Kurt; son, Werner; her father and mother; sister, Gertrude Bennewitz and brother-in-law, Willi Bennewitz.  

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.

Ivan Hillman, 92, of Jefferson died Thursday, March 10, 2016.

A Service of Remembrance was held Saturday, March 12 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson. Words of comfort were given by Bruce Webster, Minister of Church of Christ, Jefferson. The recorded music played was “Knowing You’ll Be There” and  “I’ll Meet You In The Morning” by Gaither Vocal Band and “Grandpa, Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days” by The Judds. Honorary bearers were Kylie McDonald, Ellie McDonald, Marlie McDonald, Drake McDonald, Lori Gordon and Lana McDonald. Serving as casket bearers were Neil Hillman, Nick Hillman, Alex Gordon, Matthew Gordon, Rich Gordon and Randy McDonald. Interment was at Paton Township Cemetery, Paton.

Ivan Gene Hillman was born May 4, 1923 to Glenn Hillman and Verna Bateman Hillman on a farm northwest of Dana, Iowa.  He graduated from Dana High School in May of 1941. After graduation, Ivan attended Iowa State University for two years. He studied agriculture and then returned to work on the family farm. Ivan was united in marriage to Betty Calvert on May 5, 1945. They were married for 66 years. Ivan and Betty were the parents of two children, Jolene Kay and Rick Ivan.

Ivan’s greatest accomplishment was attending to the family farm for over forty years and raising two wonderful children. After their children were raised, Ivan and Betty enjoyed spending the winter months in Harlingen, Texas. They met numerous wonderful people and enjoyed entertaining friends and family when they came to visit. Ivan enjoyed playing softball for the Dana Town Team, gardening, Iowa State athletics, and attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s athletic activities, being their biggest fan. Ivan was a 4-H leader, a member of the Dana City Council, Dana Methodist Church and later a member of the Grand Junction Methodist Church.

Ivan took great pride in the ability to live independently until October of 2015. At that time, he moved to Regency Park in Jefferson. He enjoyed the great care and compassion he received from the staff at Regency Park. Ivan died on March 10, 2016, at the age of 92 years.

Ivan devoted his life to his wife, Betty, two children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Jolene German and her husband, Freddie, of Jefferson; son, Rick Hillman and his wife, Judy, of Dana; four grandchildren: Lori Gordon (Rich) of Grand Junction; Lana McDonald (Randy) of Winterset, IA; Nick Hillman of Dana and Neil Hillman of Sunrise, Fla.; six great-grandchildren: Alex and Matthew Gordon, and Kylie, Ellie, Marlie,and Drake McDonald; step-granddaughter, Teresa Cross (Dan) of Jefferson; and three step-great-granddaughters: Stephanie, Emily, and Zoe Joy.  Ivan is also survived by his two brothers: Wayne Hillman of Alliance, Neb. and Max Hillman of Springfield, Mo.; and a sister, Martha Hillman of Marshalltown, IA.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty; and great-granddaughter, Katie Jo Gordon.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Gloria Ann Sutton, 92, died Thursday, March 10, 2016 in Jefferson, Iowa.

A Service of Remembrance was held Tuesday, March 15 at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson with words of comfort given by Rev. Julie Poulsen, grandson, Mark Warder, a youth Pastor from Richfield, Minn. and granddaughter, Sarah Nazar, a Missionary from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Congregational hymns sung were “Because He Lives” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” with Matt Schutt as the accompanist. Serving as casket bearers were John Warder, Zachary Sutton, Mark Warder, Evans McWilliam and John Beltz. Interment was at Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson.

Gloria Ann Sutton was born on an icy winter day February 17, 1924 to Jay Stewart and Ruth Seaman Stewart at their country home in Hardin Township, Greene County, Iowa. At age 18 months, Gloria had a double mastoidectomy at Iowa Methodist Hospital. She went to school at Hardin #4 and had the same teacher until completing 8th grade. During those years her biggest challenge was wondering if she would pass the test to be able to go to high school. She did pass, and also graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941. That was followed by one year at Iowa State University. However, romance ruled over education and Gloria married Keith Sutton on January 5, 1943 at the age of 19.
She set out on a course of being an Air Force wife. On their honeymoon, they drove to Eagle Pass, Texas where Keith was assigned as an instructor in the aircraft AT-6. While there, Gloria worked in the local bank as a teller. They soon moved again to Liberal, Kansas where Keith instructed on the B-24s and Gloria worked as a clerk in a mobile home park. Next, they went to San Antonio, Texas where Keith instructed on the B-29.

At last the war was over, and they returned to Greene County to start farming with only a small savings account on which they survived. The highlight of their marriage was the birth of their daughter, Sharon in 1946. Then a few years later was another blessing when Bill was born in 1952. According to Gloria, “Both of them were a joy throughout our lives.”

Gloria belonged to the United Methodist Church in Jefferson, and taught 5th grade Sunday School for several years. She was a member of church circle and the card recycling group. She was also a member of the Hardin Friendly Circle.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Jay and Ruth Stewart, and her husband, Keith. Survivors include children, Sharon Warder (John) of Burnsville, Minn. and William Sutton (Donna) of Jefferson; grandchildren, Lisa Speese (Gary) of Bloomington, Minn, Laurie Brown (Nathan) of Mendocino, Calif., Mark Warder (Kelli) of Richfield, Minn., Sarah Nazar (Edward) of San Pedro Sula, Honduras and Zachary Sutton of Des Moines, IA; great grandchildren, Caleb, Aaron and Victoria Sigfrid, Tauren and Tasahra Brown, Julia and Will Warder and Elizabeth Nazar.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, (515) 386-2171.