Obituaries
Ronald Lary
January 8, 2025
Ronald Allen Lary, born on July 26, 1958, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He spent his childhood in Dow City under the loving care of his grandparents. A proud graduate of Dow City Schools, Ron was part of the class of 1976. Later that year, in December, Ron married the love of his life, Patricia Midura. Together, they built a life...
Ronald Krapfl
January 5, 2025
Ronald Wayne Krapfl was born on December 15, 1949, the son of Karl James and Alice Mae (Oertel) Krapfl in Dubuque, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed his faith at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Greeley. Ronald received his education from West Delaware Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1968. He continued his studies at Waldorf College in...
Ray Rutherford
January 2, 2025
Raymond Eugene “Ray” Rutherford was born on July 16, 1934, in Manilla, Iowa, to Raymond and Rose (Kruger) Rutherford. He attended school in Manilla and graduated with the class of 1952.
After high school, Ray joined the United States Marine Corps in 1953. A proud Marine throughout his life, he embodied the Marines’ motto, “Semper Fi” (“Always Faithful”), and inspired his...
Lucille Johnson
December 31, 2024
Lucille Emma Lavern (Segebart) Johnson was born on July 29, 1925, the daughter of Frank Ernest and Anna M. (Neumann) Segebart on a farm near Buck Grove in Washington Township, Iowa. She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Buck Grove and later confirmed her faith at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City. Lucille’s early years were filled with...
Janice Faye DeMey
December 28, 2024
Janice Faye DeMey, 81, of Denison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She was born on February 11, 1943, at her family’s home in Ute, Monona County, Iowa, to Laverne and Martha (Hingst) Strait.
She was baptized on March 14, 1943, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa....
Howard LaRue Vaughn
December 27, 2024
Howard LaRue Vaughn, 84, passed away peacefully in Denison, Iowa. He was the seventh son born to Aaron and Dorathy Marie (Haines) Vaughn in Flint, Michigan, on December 29, 1939. Howard led a life rich with love, adventure, and unwavering dedication to his family, friends, and community.
In 1956, Howard began his service to his country with the National Guard, later...
Tristan "T" Kunze
December 22, 2024
Tristan Otto Kunze was born on May 14, 1998, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, to Roger and Patricia “Patty” (Kastner) Kunze. He grew up in Ute, Iowa, and was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St. John Lutheran Church.
Tristan graduated from Charter Oak-Ute High School in 2016. During his school years, he was actively involved in...
Murlin Johannsen
December 21, 2024
Murlin John Johannsen was born on May 30, 1936, to Peter E. and Helen (Jensen) Johannsen near Ricketts, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, where he remained a lifelong member. He grew up near Ricketts, attended country school and graduated from Schleswig High School with the class of 1955. After completing his...
Tom Jones
December 19, 2024
Thomas Martin Jones, 70, of Denison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Gracewell Nursing Home. Born on April 11, 1954, in Denison to Max and Mary Kay (Catherine) Jones, Tom lived a life marked by dedication to his family, career, and passions.
Tom was baptized and later confirmed at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison....
Nancy Hall
December 14, 2024
On a warm summer evening, Gary and Pam Hall went to the hospital to have a baby. A few minutes before midnight, Nancy Meggin Hall was born in Red Oak, Iowa, on June 28, 1976. She was welcomed home by her older siblings, Ann, Dawn and Alan who were excited to have a new, baby sister. When Nancy was 14...
Charles Robert Harm
December 14, 2024
Charles “Charlie” Robert Harm, born on November 8, 1947, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to Vernace Robert “Bob” and Norma Jean (Kastner) Harm, was the oldest of four children. He was baptized on December 14, 1947, and confirmed on March 26, 1961, both at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Charlie attended Schleswig High School until his father’s passing, at which point...
Jack Rath
December 12, 2024
John “Jack” Edward Rath was born on December 26, 1945, to Robert and Garnet (Langer) Rath in Denison, Iowa. He was baptized and later confirmed on Palm Sunday, March 26, 1961, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, where he remained a lifelong member.
Jack’s early education began at Washington #6 Country School, where he attended until the sixth grade. He graduated...
Mary Lois Slater
December 12, 2024
Mary Lois Slater, 86, of Denison, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 12, 2024, surrounded by her loving family having obtained the age of 86 years, six months, and five days.
Mary was born on June 7, 1938, in Denison, Iowa, to Harvey and Tressia (Johnson) Mason. She grew up in Deloit, Iowa, and graduated...
Janis Dixon
December 12, 2024
Janis Elaine Dixon was born on February 21, 1952, the daughter of Melvin and Mary Ellen (Wulf) Dixon in Carroll, Iowa. Janis was baptized and confirmed at the United Church of Christ in Westside, where she nurtured her deep faith throughout her life. She graduated from AR-WE-VA schools in 1970, then continued her education at Northwest Missouri State University, earning...
Serilda Block
December 10, 2024
Serilda Louise Block was born on November 21, 1938, in Exeter, California, to Fredrick Cleo and Loraine K. (Ogle) Swindell.
Serilda married C.W. “Sonny” Ball Jr., and they were blessed with one daughter, Shelly Lynn Ball. After their separation, she met Robert J. Block, whom she lovingly called “My Bobby Joe.” Together, they created a beautiful blended family with two stepdaughters,...
Jorge Vega
December 10, 2024
Jorge Vega Martínez nació el 20 de abril de 1957 en México, hijo de sus padres Juan Vega y María Ester Martínez. Conoció al amor de su vida, Bertha González Moreno, y el 19 de enero de 1980 se casaron en la Iglesia de la Esperanza en Jacona Michoacán, México. Juntos construyeron una vida y fueron bendecidos con cuatro hijos...
Bernard D. Babe
December 7, 2024
Bernard Dwight Babe entered eternal rest early in the morning of December 7, 2024. He was born on January 5, 1934, to Charles and Edna (Smith) Babe in Moorhead, IA weighing only four pounds. He beat the odds surviving a surgery at just three weeks and went on to live 90 years, 11 months and two days.
He attended country schools...
Wayne V. Maak
December 1, 2024
Wayne Vernon Maak passed away the morning of Dec. 1, 2024, in Altoona, Iowa at the age of 83.
Wayne was born Oct. 13, 1941, in Carroll, Iowa, to Vernon Pete Maak and Caroline Louise Kock. He graduated from Ar-We-Va High School in Westside, Iowa, in May 1959. Wayne’s father died when he was 10 and his mother later married Wayne’s...
William "Bill" Norman Benson
November 26, 2024
William Norman Benson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born on March 1, 1935, in Perham, Minnesota, to William Edward and Della (Ramsey) Flagg. After the passing of his mother shortly after his birth, he was lovingly taken into the care of his aunt and uncle, Charles and Ruth (Ramsey) Benson, at just eight months old, and was...
Lyle G. Hansen
November 25, 2024
Lyle George Hansen was born on March 26, 1932, at Manning Hospital in Manning, Iowa, to Hugo R.C. and Emma Marie (Jentzen) Hansen. He grew up in Ewoldt Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he attended country school through the 8th grade. He graduated from Manning High School with the Class of 1949.
After high school, Lyle worked various jobs in Manning...